The exact origins of the phrase “pin money” seem a little sketchy. One online source reveals that pins were expensive in the 14th and 15th centuries and were sold only on the first two days of January. Presumably, women would have “to save up” for them.
The expensive French pins that one of King Henry VIII’s wives brought to England necessitated an special expense account, according to another online source.
The term “pin money” in the United States commonly means the amount of money doled out to a wife, by a husband, to provide for her personal spending.
In 1912, Henry G. Freedman, Jr. set up a trust account with his two million dollar estate. The trust calls for giving a stipend of $12,000. per year to the First Lady for her own and absolute use … for pin money, after all his other heirs died. Stirring his wish to endow this money was a conviction that presidents did not make a large enough salary.
The first president’s wife to have been awarded the amount was Barbara Bush. Hillary Clinton gave the entire sum to charity.
“Pin money” is a rather antiquated term. With the rate of spending, by quilters alone, touching billions of dollars each year, money to cover the cost of pins is a drop in the bucket. After all, quilters have to buy fabric, threads, fancy fabrics and embellishments, stencils, calendars, memberships, magazines, classes, retreats, long arm machines, notions and gadgets, batting, quilt hoops and frames, books, quilt show entrance fees, and yes, needles and pins.
Patricia Cummings
