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A little reason to celebrate

Safety Pin Day

History · April 10

A look at the safety pin, the small bent wire with a clasp that holds hems, diapers, race numbers and loose buttons in place.

Safety Pin Day falls on Saturday, April 10, 2027. That is 165 days away.

A safety pin is a single length of wire bent into a spring loop, sharpened at one end and capped at the other with a small clasp. The point tucks into the clasp, so it can hold fabric together without poking the person wearing it.

The coil at the base does most of the work. It keeps tension on the pin so the point presses into the clasp and stays there. That is the whole machine: no moving parts beyond the wire itself, and it rarely wears out.

Most homes have a few somewhere, usually at the bottom of a drawer or clipped inside a sewing kit. They turn up when a strap breaks, a hem drops or a zipper gives up halfway through an evening. Runners use them to fasten race numbers to their shirts. Cloth diapers were long held closed with larger versions that had plastic heads. Quilters use curved ones to hold layers together before stitching.

They come in a wide range of sizes, from tiny brass pins for delicate fabric to long ones for blankets and kilts. Some are made of stainless steel so they will not rust and leave marks on clothing.

A good way to spend the day is simply to look at one closely and notice how much it manages with so little. Then put a couple in a wallet or bag, where they tend to be needed most.

Ways to celebrate

• Tuck a few safety pins into your wallet, bag or car.
• Fix a loose hem or strap with a safety pin.
• Sort a drawer of stray pins into a small tin.
• Look closely at a pin's coil and clasp to see how it works.

Dates

All national days on April 10

Also on April 10

• National Siblings Day
• National Hug Your Dog Day
• National Farm Animals Day
• National Cinnamon Crescent Day
• Encourage a Young Writer Day
• Golfer's Day

Categories: History days