Quick Answer: Bedding pins is a loose term for the small fasteners used to hold bed skirts, slipcovers, and duvet covers in place. The five most useful types for the bedroom are twist pins (corkscrew shaft, for bed skirts), T-pins (heavy upholstery), curved safety pins (quilt basting), straight pins (general fabric), and bedskirt clips (fabric-safe alternative to pins).
In This Guide
- What "Bedding Pins" Actually Refers To
- The Five Common Types and What They Do
- Twist Pins for Bed Skirts and Slipcovers
- Curved Safety Pins for Duvet Covers and Quilts
- T-Pins for Heavier Upholstery Work
- Avoiding Damage to Fabric and Mattress
- Canadian Availability and Alternatives
- FAQs
- Visit Our Brantford Showroom
Reading Time: 8 minutes
What "Bedding Pins" Actually Refers To
The phrase "bedding pins" covers a handful of different small fasteners used around the bed. It is not a manufacturing category, so any search turns up a mix of products. Before buying, figure out which problem you are trying to solve.
The most common bedroom pinning jobs:
- Holding a bed skirt in place on the box spring, preventing the fabric from sliding down or bunching at the corners.
- Keeping a duvet cover evenly distributed over its insert, especially when the cover is larger than the duvet or the insert keeps shifting inside.
- Securing a slipcover on an upholstered headboard or chair so it does not migrate when sat on.
- Holding a quilt top, batting, and backing together during machine or hand quilting.
- Temporarily pinning fabric during mending, alterations, or hemming.
Each of these jobs calls for a different pin. Using the wrong one can damage the mattress, tear fabric, or fail to hold under daily use.
The Five Common Types and What They Do
Here is the short field guide. If you know what you are trying to hold in place, you can usually identify the right pin from this list.
| Pin Type | Shape | Best For | Avoid For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twist pin | Clear head, corkscrew shaft | Bed skirts, slipcovers | Quilting, thin fabrics |
| T-pin | T-shaped head, long straight shaft | Heavy upholstery, mattress toppers | Lightweight sheets, delicate fabrics |
| Curved safety pin | Standard safety pin, curved shaft | Quilt basting, duvet layers | Daily-use bed skirts (too short) |
| Straight pin | Head with small ball, straight sharp shaft | Hemming, sewing, temporary hold | Any use while sleeping on the bed |
| Bedskirt clip (not a pin) | Plastic clip, no sharp point | Bed skirts on delicate box springs | Slipcovers with no edge to grip |
Twist Pins for Bed Skirts and Slipcovers
Twist pins are the category most people actually mean when they search for "bedding pins." They have a clear plastic head and a short corkscrew-shaped metal shaft, usually about one to one and a half centimetres long. You press the pin into the fabric and twist it clockwise; the corkscrew anchors into the foam or stuffing underneath.
Uses in the bedroom:
- Bed skirts on box springs. Place one twist pin at each corner and one in the middle of each long side. Five pins total per queen or king bed. The skirt will hold through weekly sheet changes without shifting.
- Slipcovers on upholstered headboards. Twist pins pressed into the foam behind the headboard fabric anchor a slipcover without visible damage.
- Loose duvet covers. A twist pin in each corner, inserted through both the cover and the duvet, keeps the two aligned.
Twist pins do leave a small hole if you use them on tight weaves. Avoid them on expensive quilts or delicate fabrics. On standard cotton bed skirts and mass-market slipcovers, the holes are invisible after removal.
A practical placement tip. When pinning a bed skirt, lift the mattress off the box spring, attach the pins through the bed skirt into the top edge of the box spring, then replace the mattress. Trying to pin while the mattress is in place usually leads to a crooked skirt that needs re-doing.
Curved Safety Pins for Duvet Covers and Quilts
Curved safety pins look like standard safety pins with a shallow bend along the shaft. The bend lets you catch fabric without bending your wrist awkwardly, which matters when you are pinning through multiple layers.
In the bedroom, curved safety pins have two main uses. The first is traditional quilt basting: pinning the quilt top, batting, and backing together before machine quilting. The second is holding a duvet insert inside its cover. If your duvet keeps bunching to one side overnight, four curved safety pins at the corners (one per corner, catching both layers) will keep things in place.
For duvet use, pin on the inside of the cover, not through to the outside. Close the pins carefully after insertion so the points do not work loose and catch skin.
T-Pins for Heavier Upholstery Work
T-pins are the long, heavy-duty pins you see in upholstery work. The shaft is usually three to four centimetres long, and the head is shaped like a T for easy pulling. They hold through multiple layers of heavy fabric.
T-pins are mostly useful for bedroom projects rather than day-to-day bed making. If you are re-upholstering a headboard, tacking a slipcover in place before permanent stitching, or holding a mattress topper in a specific position during assembly, T-pins do the job.
Do not use T-pins as a permanent solution on the bed itself. The long shaft can damage the mattress surface over time and can press into skin if it works loose while you sleep.
Talia, Showroom Specialist: "The question we get every few months in the showroom is 'how do I stop my bed skirt from sliding.' Nine times out of ten the answer is a five-pack of twist pins from the craft store, about $7, and three minutes of work. We do not sell them, but we will happily describe where to pin and how. It is one of those small bedroom problems that feels annoying until you solve it, and then you never think about it again."
Avoiding Damage to Fabric and Mattress
Pins are small but they can cause small, cumulative damage if used carelessly. A few principles worth following.
- Do not pin through mattress fabric. The mattress cover is part of the mattress warranty in most cases. Puncturing it repeatedly with pins can affect both warranty claims and long-term cover integrity. Pin the box spring or the fitted sheet instead.
- Use pins proportional to the fabric weight. Thin percale sheets or silk fabrics need fine straight pins. Heavy canvas, chenille, or twill bed skirts need T-pins or twist pins. Using a T-pin on silk leaves a visible hole; using a straight pin on canvas simply bends.
- Remove pins before washing whenever possible. Safety pins left in a duvet cover through a wash cycle can scratch your washing machine drum or bend out of shape. Make pin removal a habit before laundry day.
- Store pins so they do not become a hazard. A magnetic pin tray on a dresser keeps straight pins visible and out of reach of curious cats. A small tin with a lid works well for safety pins and twist pins.
- Inspect older pins for rust. Rusty pin points can cause small fabric stains that resist washing. If a pin shows orange discoloration, retire it.
Canadian Availability and Alternatives
Most of these pins are available at Canadian Tire, Walmart, Michaels, Fabricland, and many Brantford-area hardware stores. Some price-and-availability notes:
- Twist pins: Usually sold in packs of 10 to 20 for CA$6 to $12. Clear-head Dritz twist pins are the standard. Look in the upholstery section at Fabricland.
- T-pins: Available at upholstery suppliers and craft stores in packs of 50 to 100 for CA$8 to $15. Nickel-plated steel resists rust.
- Curved safety pins: Sold specifically for quilters. Michaels and Fabricland carry Dritz and Clover brands in packs of 50 or 150.
- Straight pins: Cheapest of the lot; a reasonable sewing box set costs CA$5 to $10.
- Bedskirt clips: Plastic clips that attach a skirt to the box spring without piercing fabric. Sold in packs at Amazon.ca and Bed Bath & Beyond's successor retailers. Handy if you rent and do not want to leave tiny holes in borrowed bedding.
Brantford sourcing note. Fabricland in Brantford's Lynden Park Mall has the widest local selection of upholstery and bedding pins. If you want to match pin length to a specific fabric, a five-minute trip in person usually beats ordering online. For twist pins specifically, they carry both the clear-head decorative versions and plain utility ones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will twist pins damage my mattress?
No, if used correctly. Twist pins are designed to be pushed into the top of the box spring, not into the mattress itself. The corkscrew shaft anchors in the foam or fabric of the box spring without piercing the mattress. If you are pinning through to the mattress, you are doing it wrong.
Can I use regular safety pins instead of curved ones for quilt basting?
You can, but it is harder. Regular safety pins require more wrist twisting to catch all three layers of a quilt sandwich, and your hands will tire after 30 or 40 pins. Curved safety pins are specifically designed for this task and are worth the few extra dollars if you plan to do more than one quilting project.
How many pins should I use on a queen bed skirt?
Five is the usual number: one at each of the four corners and one in the middle of each long side for a total of six, though many people skip the middle pins and use four. Queen box springs can easily hold five to eight twist pins without any visible or structural effect.
What is the safest way to use pins around children or pets?
Use pins only when the bed is being made up, then remove any visible pins before sleep. Twist pins set into a box spring underneath the mattress are effectively hidden and safe. Loose pins left on a nightstand or under the bed are a hazard. Keep a magnetic tray for collecting dropped pins.
Are there pin-free alternatives for bed skirts?
Yes. Bedskirt clips use plastic grips that attach to the box spring edge without piercing any fabric. Elastic bedskirts stretch to fit and do not require pinning. Wrap-around skirts that attach with velcro are also widely available. All are worth considering if you rent or if you want to avoid any marks on box spring fabric.
Sources and Further Reading
- Dritz. Upholstery and quilting pin product references. dritz.com
- Canadian Upholstery & Allied Workers Union. Professional upholstery techniques. unifor.org
- The Sewing Directory. "Guide to Pins." thesewingdirectory.co.uk
- Quilters Guild of Canada. Resources and techniques. canadianquilter.com
- Dritz Quilting. Pin selection and basting technique guide. dritz.com/quilting
Visit Our Brantford Showroom
We are located at 441½ West Street in downtown Brantford. Free parking available, wheelchair accessible. Our team does not work on commission, so you get honest advice based on your needs.
Mattress Miracle, 441½ West Street, Brantford, ON. (519) 770-0001
Hours: Monday–Wednesday 10am–6pm, Thursday–Friday 10am–7pm, Saturday 10am–5pm, Sunday 12pm–4pm.
We do not stock pins, but we can show you how a properly fitted bed skirt, sheet set, and mattress protector go together in the showroom. If you have a specific bedding problem that pins might solve, describe it to Talia and we will usually have a better answer than buying more hardware. Outside store hours, our chat box is available whenever we are not sleeping.