The first time I tried to pin a dress closed, I ran the pins vertically, and it about drove me to distraction. Then someone told me about doing them horizontally, and it was SO much easier. They almost disappear that way too. I've been trying to find a picture that shows the pins, but this is the best I've been able to do: https://www.flickr.com/photos/23597713@N05/10608069275/in/dateposted/ They disappear too well! They're spaced about every inch and go through all layers of the jacket going in then all but the outermost layer coming back out. I lap right over left and put the pins in from the left, but I'm left-handed so the opposite may be easier for you.