Beauty Pins - What are they?

Lily Abello

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Mar 30, 1996, 3:00:00 AM3/30/96

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In Martha Pullen's book for series 100, her directions for
the heirloom party dress say that she closes up the back
with a *** beauty pin ***. What in the world is a beauty
pin? It also says I can put buttons, but I don't have
time, as it is 12:30 a.m. on my daughter's birthday
AND I'M STILL NOT DONE WITH HER BIRTHDAY DRESS!

I'M SEWING FURIOUSLY!

Lily

MarthaD5

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Mar 31, 1996, 3:00:00 AM3/31/96

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Beauty pins are little pins that are used to close the back of little
girl's dreses. In Alabama they can be purchased at an heirloom smocking
shop but they can also be purchased at a jewelery store if you want 14
karat gold. They ones I use for my little girl's dress are just gold
plated because she sometimes takes her dress off by herself and this is
the second pair I have had to buy.
They are a authentic or should I say period way in closing the back of
dresses and they are very pretty, almost like a piece of jewelery. They
come in many styles and some are plain and can be monogramed with the
child's initials.
I have only seen them on real little girls down to babies, but guess you
could use them on an older girl's dress if the dress lent itself to that
kind of closure.
Hope this helps and if you want to know where to purchase some I will be
glad to email you the address of my source of pins.
Martha

Lily Abello

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Apr 1, 1996, 3:00:00 AM4/1/96

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: Hope this helps and if you want to know where to purchase some I will be

: glad to email you the address of my source of pins.
: Martha

Yes, please post the sources as your pins.
Thank you!

Lily

GTownSand

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Apr 1, 1996, 3:00:00 AM4/1/96

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A beauty pin is a tiny, ornamental pin, usually rectangular in shape, that
is used to close the back of a dress or heirloom garment. They are
usually used when the fabric is delicate, such as swiss batiste, and
buttonholes would not look right. I've also used them on velvet.

They can be purchased individually or on cards of 2; some are enameled,
some are gold or gold-plated and can be engraved.

I used them on my daughter's Christmas dress, when I realized 2 days
before Christmas I had forgotten to do buttonholes!!!

You can usually find information on purchasing them mail order in the back
of Sew Beautiful or any of the other heirloom sewing magazines.

Good luck with your dress; sounds like me a couple of years ago, when I
decided I didn't like the way the collar looked on one of my girls' Easter
dress; so I found myself at my Mother-in-Law's taking the collar off and
putting in back on BY HAND! I was up until 3:00 or 4:00 am, and needless
to say, did not get much out of the sermon that Easter Sunday.

Hope you fared better than I.

bgs

BarnMan

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Apr 2, 1996, 3:00:00 AM4/2/96

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Lily,
A beauty pin is a tiny little bar pin that is used to close up the back of an
heirloom-styled garment. They are expensive IMO, and can be ordered from
various companies that advertise in Sew Beautiful or Creative Needle. It is
not "proper" to put a zipper in an heirloom-styled garment, as the garment is
supposed to be old-fashioned. This is why she says to use buttons or beauty
pins. I hope you made your deadline!

Maria

Writing under the disguise of the account of the BarnMan

MarthaD5

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Apr 3, 1996, 3:00:00 AM4/3/96

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The source that I use is as follows:
Heirloom Hemstitch
LeCroy Village
Montgomery, Alabama 36111
334/288-0155
The owners name is Dale and I am sure that we will be glad to assist you
in anyway. They have about 10 or so styles to choose from so that will be
the hardest part.
E-mail me for other info. if someone should need it.
Martha

TOTTX

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Apr 12, 1996, 3:00:00 AM4/12/96

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Beauty Pins are small little "safety pins" that have a full metal back.
They are used in place of buttons and make a garmet very special and
decorative. I have them available in my shop if anyone is interested. E
mail address is TO...@aol.com.