6 (or 7) Uses for the Common Safety Pin

In an effort to improve my blog, I have joined the Back to School, Back to Blogging challenge. 

This week’s homework is:
Take any ONE topic from the Idea Bank list and use that as inspiration your post for this week.

I chose a topic on safety pin uses, this topic was made for me. I use safety pins for everything and anything.

1. Hem your jeans (and have them actually look good).

I do this ALL the time with my pants. I have actually posted this idea before, click the image below for the complete how-to.

2. Create the “ruching” effect on a shirt.

If you shirt’s too long, or maybe you feel a bit extra fat today and want to hide some belly roll… that can be fixed with a safety pin.

Sew up the inside seam with two large safety pins on each side. Each pin should be pushed through 2-3 times. Makes a world of a difference.

Right side is before the pins, left is after (shirt is inside out)

3. Conceal a bra strap that just won’t stay where it belongs.

I have a shirt that I really like, but it’s constantly slipping off my shoulders and revealing my bra. I can’t exactly go to work like that.

Place a safety pin inside the shoulder seam. Open the pin and loop your bra strap through it. (Just remember it when you go to get undressed)

4. Temporary darts to make a skirt smaller.

Works best if you just make existing darts smaller, but you can make your own. Fold the waist of the skirt back on itself and pin the inside on a slight angle away towards the fold. Place a second pin lower on the same angle. After trying it on, you may want a third.

5. Turn pants into capris or cropped pants.

I have a favorite pair of black pants that fit amazing. But in the summer I wish they were a bit shorter. Tada! Safety pins.

Fold the pants leg up inside and safety pin the bottom seam to the inside seam. Use smaller safety pins, otherwise they pant leg will slide down the pin and change the length a bit. As long as the folded piece of fabric comes below your knee on the inside, it looks great.

Left is before pins, right is after (Pants are inside out)

6. Tack down pants pockets when they puff out.

Put 1-3 pins on the inside seam of the pocket. Make sure that it only goes through one layer of the external part of the pocket.

Inside of pants

Outside of pants

 7. Push through a drawstring that has pulled free.

Attach a large safety pin to the drawstring, this will give you something more substantial to pull through.

Got any other safety pin tricks? Leave them in the comments, I’d LOVE to hear them.