Come see a "Hand hammered" sterling blanket pin

**Hipbilly** · 9th April 15, 06:13 PM

I've decided I like the plainest old fashioned kilt pin there is. I saw a 2 pack at a fabric store a bit back and got em, but they aren't enough; I wanted sterling silver. I searched around, and decided it'd be easiest to just make one, so I have!
I bought 12" of 12ga sterling wire on eBay for $13, and a pair of round nosed wire working pliers. The wire showed up today, so I started:

Here's the wire (pointed with a file):

Too clean. I continually strive for art which manifests itself as rugged simplicity. So I took a hammer to it to roughen it up a bit:

Still killing time, waiting for the pliers, I coated the roughened wire with gun blue, and set it aside. I came back in 15min, degreased it, and skimmed it with 1500 grit sandpaper.
Still not enough time kilt. So I got to work. Working from the 3" kilt pin, I bent and shaped with channel lock pliers and a scrap of leather for padding, here's the result:

Here it is with the store-bought, for comparison:

And here it is stabbed through my first handsewn kilt, once and for all!

Hope ya'll like it!

**Elizabeth** · 9th April 15, 07:07 PM

What a beautiful pin! I love the simple and functional too!

**GrainReaper** · 9th April 15, 07:36 PM

That looks great! Well done

**Tenmiles** · 9th April 15, 10:37 PM

I'd just try to make sure that you've sanded/polished it as smooth as possible... the texture from the hammering looked like it could have potentially been something to snag & pull on fine wool threads, which would be a shame.
Otherwise, a great-looking piece of work! I really like your crafts and mods!

**Jack Daw** · 10th April 15, 05:34 AM

Well crafted! Handsome pin!

**Hipbilly** · 10th April 15, 06:30 AM

Originally Posted by Tenmiles

I'd just try to make sure that you've sanded/polished it as smooth as possible...

Na'er ye worry! the wire was well smoothed with 0000 steel wool before tarnishing, then sanded with 1500 grit emery paper.
After working (with leather padded pliers), I sanded again to make sure there were no snag points to be found.
I paid special attention to making sure the point of the pin was thin, but round, so it would push between yarns rather than through them.

**Hipbilly** · 27th April 15, 11:30 AM

Due to some confusion on eBay, I wound up with an extra length of sterling wire. So I made another one.
This one came out at 3.5" instead of 3". Both use 12" of 12ga wire.