12 Reasons Why The Safety Pin Is Everyone's Knight In Shining Armour

By Aashmita Nayar

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Behind every successful woman - who has avoided meltdowns over saree pleats, sandal straps coming off on the road and shirt buttons forming little windows on their chests - is a safety pin.

Yes ladies, that diamond most of you will never get, isn't your best friend. That string of safety pins which doesn't even dent your loose change bank, is.

Remember the time a safety pin quite literally got your back when the bra strap clasp decided to break while you were in college? Or the zipper tag to your favourite bag broke?

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Not just that, this teeny knight in shining armour has also coaxed that stubborn drawstring through the folds of many a salwaar. Imagine putting a drawstring into a petticoat without a safety pin!

To give credit where it's due, it's pretty much difficult to imagine a day without having to reach for a safety pin. Here are some unlikely situations where putting the pin to use will render delightful results.

Wear A Sari Perfectly

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Every Indian woman can identify with this: For generations, the safety pin has been handed down to ensure that the sari stays magically perched on the side of her shoulder. (Kareena Kapoor is clearly no exception to the rule, except in this case, she might have forgotten to detach her safety pin)
Decorate Your Home

Pinterest/ http://inspireme-blog.blogspot.de/

This creative blogger made a beautiful lamp from safety pins! No reason why you can't too. Follow her instructions here.
Stitch Marker

INKWELL86/FLICKR

For those who like to knit, a safety pin works beautifully as stitch marker. Bonus tip: add a bead with different letters to help you remember, like 'F' for front to the safety pin. It could also make a cute gift for grandmothers or new mothers.
Stay Clean

ullstein bild via Getty Images/ EQS-M via Getty Images

There's nothing more disgusting than looking closely at your ear phones, and noting a wad of ear wax stuck in. A safety pin with a bit of sticky tape/ cotton goes a long way in cleaning those tiny spaces in addition to other difficult surfaces like keyboards, or musty corners of your phone.
Stay Matched

Mightygirl.com/ Pinterest

Pin your pairs of socks before chucking them in the washing machine, and keep it that way even when you're folding them. It's a great defence mechanism against that one odd sock always pulling the disappearing act. Mightygirl.com says this works very well with children's socks.
Dress Up

Fashion Guru

Instead of throwing away old favourites, attach holey bits with safety pins, or make scattered patterns, like Indian Fashion Guru has.
Kit Your Kit

Sakura ZIPPER jewelry/Flickr/ ullstein bild via Getty Images

More often than not, a kit (be it a lunch box, make-up kit or a shaving bag) is often replaced as soon as it loses it's zipper tag (y'know, the little things you use to pull up the zip with). Simply slide a bunch of coloured safety pins through the tab, for a funky look that'll also help identify your kit or your luggage easily.
Sello Tape Marker

woodleywonderworks/Flickr

Trying to find the sticky end of a tape can prove a time-consuming job. Safety pins serve beautifully as a tape-roll marker. Simply pin it to the sticky end that needs to be unravelled, after you're done using the sello tape.