Ideas to display Enamel Pin Collections

Looking for enamel pin display ideas that don't leave your favorite pins stuck in a drawer (or poking holes in a random bag)? I know many of you are avid fans. As my own pin collection has grown, I wanted a simple way to keep everything in one place and actually enjoy it. So in this post I'm sharing an easy DIY embroidery-hoop pin display you can put together quickly (no sewing required), along with a bunch of other creative ways to display an enamel pin collection so your pins can double as fun, personal and memorable décor.

DIY No-Sew Embroidery Hoop Enamel Pin Display

This simple tutorial uses a large embroidery hoop to hang and display a pin collection. It's a no-sew project (except for some optional hand stitching) so it's super easy to put together with lots of room for extra customization. I've also put together a list of 12 other ideas for displaying and using your pins below, so there's sure to be something for everyone!

Supplies You'll Need

For this project I bought a large 14" quilting or embroidery hoop but you could use any size embroidery hoop you'd like. Other supplies include fabric slightly larger than the size of the hoop, Shape Flex 101 fusible interfacing, and a glue gun.

For my fabric I chose a woven linen/cotton blend. I like the slightly larger weave of the fabric for texture and to make it easier to put the pins through the fabric. (Be advised, the enamel pins are heavy so they need a large pin shaft. They will leave a small hole in fabric.)

Step-by-Step: How to Make the Hoop Pin Display

Cut a piece of fabric and a piece of Shape Flex larger than the hoop you are using. Fuse Shape Flex to the back of the fabric.

Place fabric in hoop and pull taught. Tighten hoop. Cut away excess fabric leaving about 3". Use hot glue gun to apply a small stream of glue on the back, inside hoop and pull fabric over to secure in place. Go all the way around the hoop. Trim remainder of excess fabric away (to about ¾") and glue to inside of the hoop.

Once your edges are securely glued down, trim away the remaining excess fabric, leaving roughtly the same amount as the depth of the hoop. You can then glue the fabric to the inside of the hoop if you want.

From there I used some embroidery floss (6 strands) and an embroidery needle to do some simple handstitching ¼" away from the outside edge of the hoop - just to customize a little bit.

Obviously there is SO MUCH more you can do to customize your hoop! You could:

• paint the wooden hoop a different color before you add the fabric (just be careful about paining around the screw at the top for loosening/tightening so that it doesn't get stuck!)
• wrap fabric around the hoop for a colorful edge or add felt flowers like this example
• add more decorative embroidery stitches, applique, buttons, etc to give it a really custom feel.

I purposely decided to leave the wood and use a neutral color of fabric so that the colorful pins would pop, but I do think at some point, when inspiration strikes, I may embellish my hoop. In the mean time, I'm so excited to finally have a place to display my growing pin collection.

More Enamel Pin Display Ideas

There are SO many great ways you can display a pin (or flair 😉) collection like wearing pins on a favorite bag or denim jacket.

Patchwork + Quilted Hoop Display Idea

Here are a couple of other cute hoop variations:

A more graphic, modern variation by See Kate Sew

Or you could make fun low-volume patchwork with quilting like this variation

DIY Pin Banner Displays (Fabric)

These two banner variations are both so cute! Different details and embellishements give them their own style. The tutorial on the left (with those beautiful Liberty prints!) is by Heidi Staples of Fabric Mutt. The tutorial on the right with the adorable pompoms is by Sarah Ashford and found on the Polkadot Chair blog.

  

Another option for making a banner is to use quality felt. The one pictured is by Benzie Designs who shares other ideas as well. Felice makes cute and simple double sided version variation with felt.

An obvious option is to simply display them and use them on your bulletin board! Here's an example from Andy of A Bright Corner.

Holly of Maker Valley has been collecting enamel pins for a long time. (I have her partly to blame thank for my new collection...).

She shares in her Instagram Stories how she displays and uses them on her bulletin boards in her sewing studio - combining all kinds of memories and memorabilia. (Plus, don't you love all of those mini quilts?)

Here's another quick and simple example using a frame and cork board.

There are also SO MANY cute corkboard options to buy. Target has some really good ones like these cork hexagon tiles or check out these felt/cork combo hexagons.

I also put a few on this cute little thread catcher made by my friend, Emily. It's heavily quilted and sturdy enough to stand with the pins. (Thread catcher tutorial here.)

So there you go! I few ideas to get your creative juices flowing. I'm sure there are lots more out there.

What about you? Are you a pin collector? What are your favorite ways to save and display?