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A Shawl Pin-They Hold it all Together

Shawls and wraps are a popular accessory in the knit and crochet world. In order to keep your new item secure around your shoulders as you work and move a shawl pin is a necessity. Today, shawl pin is a loose term. Searching online I found shawl pins, sticks, coils and buttons. Let’s break down the shawl pin and help you figure out which you need for your project!

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In order to complete the mission of figuring out which shawl pin is right with so many options available I sent Katelyn out to do some research. Below is what she found along the way.

Picking a Shawl Pin:

Turtle Wood Shawl Pin

Finding a shawl pin isn’t too hard. You can pick them up at your local box store, local yarn shop, craft fairs and online.  It wasn’t hard for me to find beautiful pieces to use but once I started seeing all of the options I started to question if there was a reason they were so different and so I started to ask.

Rather than going with the more mass produced options for shawl pins I reached out to a few talented artists on Etsy to share with you the unique options available. To test out the difference in the pins I used two shawls, one light weight and one heavier weight. Here is what I found along the way.

Getting Started:

When searching for a shawl pin you will find that some are large and some are small. Some shawl pins have two pieces to them and others only have one. When selecting a shawl pin you need to consider what project you will be wearing it with. I am not saying that you need to have a different shawl pin for each shawl that you make but you should have a few in your collection.

Size Does Matter When Choosing a Shawl Pin

Crafty Flutterby Creations Shawl Pins

Yarn weight will determine the size of your shawl pin. Just as you would use a different needle size depending on the yarn weight, you will also select a different shawl pin size.

Lighter weight shawl, like the lace weight one I used, will need a smaller pin. If you use too large of a pin on these shawls it will stretch it out. On the other side, if your shawl pin is too small for your project it won’t be able to hold the fabric to keep your shawl in place.

Breaking it down a little easier: if you have a lace weight or lightweight item you will want a shawl pin that is about 1-2″ in size. For those items that are bulkier you will want to look for a shawl pin that is 3-5″ in size.

What A Shawl Pin is Made of

Selecting what the shawl pin is made of is based on the color and texture of your finished piece. You will see in some of my photos that there are pins that stand out much more depending on their color and their materials.

Lighter colored woods work great on darker colored shawls. You will find that metal will stand out when there isn’t a lot of color changes in the pattern or yarn. Size is easy to figure out but the material is a little harder.

When you go to a craft show or local yarn shop be sure to take your finished project (or WIP) with you to hold the pin with the fabric to see what fits best.

Shawl Pin Options

I can’t tell you which pin is exactly right for your project. Ultimately you will need to see what you like with the texture and color of your shawl. I have put together a collection of some of the unique shawl pins I found on Etsy. This is not all of shawl pins available and each of these business has more than one option. Be sure to click through to each of their websites and be amazed at their work.


Satin Domed Sterling Shawl Screw

This shawl pin really isn’t a pin at all — this is a shawl screw. At first glance this looks like a button holding together your project. On the back you will find a screw that you can twist around into your project to hold it together.

If you pick up one of these don’t be surprised if it takes a time or two to get it just right. The first time I put this one on my shawl you could see parts of the screw. Just take it out and start again.

Etsy Shop: Leslie Wind


Over at Rajkovich Designs you will find another screw type of shawl pin.

Rajkovich Designs Shawl Pin

This pin reminds me of a wine bottle opener and it works in the same way. This was the hardest pin for me to use. My first attempt missed the second piece of my shawl but after a few tries I got the hang of it.

Brenda has a ton of options for you. She works with different metals and has stitch markers as well. All of her pieces are freeform, there is no jig used to make them. It is pretty amazing at how consistent she is with each of her shapes. If you purchase one of her shawl pins you get a free stitch marker with your purchase.

Shop: Rajkovich Designs


Shawl pin from Just One Skein

Two part shawl pins are very common. When working with these you will stick part of your shawl through the main piece and then use the stick/pin to keep it in place.

This type of shawl pin comes in many different sizes, shapes and finishes. Head over to the Just One Skein shop and you can see the different colors of woods that she has and you will see how the stick part of the shawl pin changes with each design.

Etsy Shop: Just One Skein


JUL Designs Shawl Pin

You may remember this pin from the stocking stuffer post that we did in the past. JUL Designs was part of that round up and I wanted to share their shawl pins again with you.

Over on the JUL Designs website you will find two part shawl pins as well as shawl sticks. Since our stocking stuffer post she has also added a new style that is quite interesting. I really love this shawl pin for lighter weight pieces.

Combining both wood and metals makes it quite versatile for many different looks.

Shop: JUL Designs


Turtle Workshop Shawl Pin

Over on Etsy I found this amazing artists from Russia that makes these hand carved shawl pins. I was lucky enough to be able to get a few different shapes of pins and they are beautiful.

In the Turtle Workshop shop you will find many different varieties of shawl pins. This is a great way to show a little of your personality or what you enjoy. I saw quite a few reviews of people getting the scissor shawl pin for their hair stylist.

The attention to detail in each of these pieces is amazing. Even down to the packaging. Each shawl pin comes in its own bed of wood shavings!

Turtle Workshop is not currently selling, but you can find other octopus shawl pins on Etsy.

Etsy Shop: Turtle Workshop


Ingo Designs Shawl Pin

Ingo Designs has a collection of wonderful metal work shawl pins. If you are looking for an initial shawl pin you can find it in her shop!

The shawl pin I selected from her shop is a petite two piece shawl pin with a pearl bead. I love how perfectly it works with my lace weight shawl. Although I am not sure if it is too pretty to distract from my finished shawl!

When picking metals you will want to think about the color you like and again what will work with your finished item.

Etsy Shop: Ingo Designs


Bur Oak Studio

In my shawl pin search I stumbled across Bur Oak Studio.

Jennifer takes old knitting needs and crochet hooks and gives them a new life. She creates jewelry, art and shawl pins with the old materials.

Bur Oak Studio

I love how her shawl pins allow you to wear the tools that you used to create the piece on the piece. In my photo you can see the heart shaped shawl pin. The heart is made from a knitting needle and the stick part of the pin is made from a crochet hook.

She also has stick pins just using knitting needles. What a great way to repurpose those tools that are no longer being used or wanted.

Etsy Shop: Bur Oak Studio


Tuatha Shawl Pin

A brand new style of shawl pin for me is this C shaped pin. At first I was so confused how to use it but once I started to try it all made sense.

To use this pin you pierce your project with the pin and then turn the base until the opening allows the pin to go through. Adjusting the base to be behind the pin you spin the base again until the pin is away from the opening.

When I first opened this package I was amazed at the detail on this shawl pin. It was way better than I was expecting it to be. It is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

Etsy Shop: Tuatha


Quirky Sues Shawl Pin

Another great shop where you can find the same C style shawl pin is at Quirky Sues. When I originally found this shop I was looking at a more traditional pin style but was then able to try out this style as well.

Looking at this pin vs. the last one you will see that this one is a little bigger. This is a great option for thicker weight projects. It can accommodate the extra heft of the fabric.

Quirky Sues Shawl Pin

Also in the Quirky Sues shop you will find these great pin styles. I hadn’t seen this style before but I really love it. After playing around with it I think it would be better suited for a lighter weight shawl, although I wore it around with my bulky shawl and it held it together.

Once I took the photos I could also see that it is harder to see on a bulkier project. If you take a look at the listing you will see the beautiful colors of the beads that were used with this shawl pin. Hand formed to work just like traditional pin it is another great option.

Etsy Shop: Quirky Sues


Crafty Flutterby Creations Shawl Pins

Our new friend, Michelle, over at Crafty Flutterby Creations has a wide selection of shawl pins to choose from. On her website you will find the two piece pins and her own version of the screw pins.

Some of the styles have beads while others have charms attached to the front. Each pin is worked freehand without a jig. You will be able to find large and small pins for any shawl you are working on.

Crafty Flutterby Creations Shawl Pins

No matter what your style is you will be able to find something in this shop.

Shop: Crafty Flutterby Creations


Brittany Needles Shawl PinLast but NOT least on our list is the shawl stick from Brittany Needles. We love the fact that Brittany Needles is doing everything that they can to be environmentally friendly with the products that they make.

At first glance this shawl pin could be mistaken for a super short knitting needle! I found that these sticks work best with lighter weight items. If there is too much fabric they aren’t able to hold on to it all.

Turn the pin in any direction to attach it to your piece. The light weight of the wood makes it easy to forget that you even have a shawl pin in your project.


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  1. Aida Hartmann says:

    I prefer wood. In the past, I’ve received wire based shawl pins as gifts. I have several shawls, none very lightweight. I really appreciate the intent of the giver. However, the pins for my shawls just don’t work. The friend who’s given them to me makes/sells jewelry. The metal she uses is too soft and bends easily thus, I often need adjust the shawl, and consequently the pin bends and shifts. Her designs are very pretty but not very useful for m shawls. Good review Molly!

  2. MaryAnn Sines says:

    I really enjoy Crafty Flutterby Creations shawl closures. I have 4 different ones and like matching the designs or stones with my shawls. I have given her pins as gifts. I recommended Crafty Flutterfly Creations to my local yarn shop, She Sells Yarn & More in Daytona Beach, Florida and am pleased to say that the pins are being offered there.

  3. Jean Jones says:

    So glad to see this review of the different shawl pins. So far I’ve finished 8 shawls to give as Christmas gifts and I was just getting ready to search for pins to go with them. Now I’ll have to check out all of the places you suggest. Decisions, decisions, decisions. Thanks again!

Marly Bird

The One and Only, Marly

Marly is a knitwear and crochet designer (and yarn addict) that is here to help you learn how to knit and crochet in a way that's fun and approachable.

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