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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The two openings in an ordinary spring clothespin are not documented as a pin-to-pin connector. Although a second pin may appear to fit through an opening, no manufacturer instruction or tested method establishes that the holes were designed for joining clothespins. A documented alternative does exist for two old-fashioned, non-spring wooden clothespins: a thick rubber band forms the connector.
Can the two holes actually join two clothespins?
Not in any way established by the sources available for ordinary spring clothespins. The familiar wooden spring pin has two shaped halves, a metal spring, and openings in the handles. Those openings can invite a clever-looking experiment, but visual compatibility is not the same as a documented connection. No source identified a hole-to-hole procedure, a manufacturer-approved coupling feature, a rated load, or a test showing that one ordinary spring pin can safely support another through its openings.
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That distinction matters because the question asks for a specific mechanical use: joining two pins together. A hole might be useful for hanging, positioning, or passing a line without being intended to receive another clothespin. Unless the maker specifies dimensions, orientation, and load, forcing one pin through another can bend the wood, displace the spring, or simply leave you with a loose stack rather than a joined pair.
For a reliable answer, separate three ideas that are often blended together:
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- A hole-based connector: no documented method was found for ordinary spring clothespins.
- A reported way to use the openings: a recent article proposes line and fabric positions, but another review says that design explanation is unproven as a universal rule.
- A documented way to join two pins: an ERIC-hosted activity uses a thick rubber band with two old-fashioned, non-spring wooden clothespins.
That last option is the only joining procedure described step by step in the material available here, and the rubber band—not either opening—is the connector.
What the two openings are sometimes said to do
Tom’s Guide, in an article published October 9, 2026, proposes a position-based use for the openings on a spring clothespin. Its explanation places the smaller opening near the spring on the clothesline and uses the larger opening nearer the tips to accommodate fabric. The article also associates that arrangement with fewer marks on clothing.
Those are reported tips, not settled specifications. An iTechGuides review published on the same date says the available evidence does not establish a separate, universal purpose for the openings on ordinary spring pins. It notes that the claim did not identify manufacturer instructions or a supporting test. Consequently, you should not present the smaller-hole/larger-hole explanation as a rule that applies to every brand, size, or style of clothespin.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThe same caution applies to the claim about garment marks. A hole may provide a different contact point on a particular pin, but the reviewed material does not provide a controlled comparison, a measurement, or a guarantee that clothing will be protected. If you try the reported positioning tip, treat it as an experiment on a spare item rather than as a proven feature. It also does not answer the separate question of joining two pins together.
The documented rubber-band method
Gerald Wm. Foster and Anne Marie Fries describe a joining activity in the ERIC-hosted “42 Twisting and Turning Clothespins.” The activity calls for two old-fashioned wooden clothespins without springs and one thick rubber band. Its purpose is an educational demonstration of stored and released energy. It is not presented as a clothesline repair, a load-bearing fastener, or a manufacturer-approved modification.
Materials
- Two old-fashioned, non-spring wooden clothespins. These are the simple two-piece pins that do not have a metal spring between their halves.
- One thick rubber band. The band supplies the flexible loop that holds the second pin. The activity does not identify the two openings as part of the connection.
Using the specified style is important. Ordinary spring clothespins have a different construction, and the documented procedure does not establish that a spring-loaded pin can be substituted. If your pins have a metal spring, do not describe the following steps as a validated way to join them.
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Step-by-step connection
- Set out the two non-spring pins and the thick band. Confirm that both pins are the old-fashioned wooden type named by the activity.
- Wrap one end of the rubber band around the first pin. The band must encircle that pin so a loop remains available for the second one.
- Form the loop. The wrapped band creates the opening through which the other pin will pass. This loop is the connector in the procedure.
- Insert the second clothespin through the loop. Foster and Fries give the key instruction as: “Insert the second clothespin through the loop that has been created and twist them together.”
- Twist the pins together. The final twist uses the tension of the rubber band to keep the pair together for the activity.
Nothing in those instructions calls for threading a pin through one of the holes in a spring clothespin. If you have been trying to reproduce a hole-to-hole trick, the rubber-band loop is a different method and should be labeled that way.
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What this method does—and does not—promise
The activity demonstrates a connection between two specified non-spring wooden pins. It does not publish a safe working load, a duration, a line tension, or a test of repeated use. It therefore should not be converted into a claim that the joined pair can replace a clothesline clip, suspend an object, or carry a person’s weight. The source also does not establish compatibility with spring pins, plastic pins, miniature pins, or unusually thin bands.
Use the method in the context for which it is described: a hands-on activity involving stored and released energy. If you need a fastening device for laundry or another practical job, choose a product intended and rated for that job rather than treating the demonstration as a structural connector.
Why a patented hole is not proof about ordinary clothespins
US10683602B1, a patent titled “Dual-clip clothespin for clothes-drying system,” describes a particular dual-clip design. In that patented design, a proximal through-hole and a ramped guide can catch a line, rod, cord, or hanger cross-member, while the distal end grips clothing.
That description shows that a hole can be deliberately engineered into a specialized drying clip. It does not show that the two openings in an ordinary spring clothespin perform the same function, and it does not describe joining two ordinary pins together. Patent drawings and claims apply to the specific design covered by the patent; they are not general instructions for every similarly shaped household object.
When comparing the patented clip with a common clothespin, look for the complete design: the through-hole, the ramped guide, the dual-clip structure, and the intended line-catching action. A regular spring pin may lack those features even if one of its openings looks similar. Generalizing from the patent is therefore another way to mistake resemblance for evidence.
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Choosing the right approach
| What you have or want to do | What is documented | What remains unverified |
|---|---|---|
| Join two ordinary spring clothespins through their openings | No hole-based joining method is documented for ordinary spring pins. | That either opening is a connector, that the pins will stay aligned, and that the pair can carry any particular load. |
| Join two old-fashioned, non-spring wooden clothespins for an activity | Wrap a thick rubber band around one pin, insert the second through the resulting loop, and twist the pins together. | A safe load, long-term durability, clothesline suitability, or interchangeability with spring pins. |
| Try the reported small-hole/large-hole positioning tip | Tom’s Guide proposes the smaller opening near the spring for a line and the larger opening toward the tips for fabric. | Universal design intent, manufacturer approval, and the claim that the arrangement prevents garment marks. |
| Catch a drying line through a hole | US10683602B1 describes a proximal through-hole and ramped guide in a particular patented dual-clip design. | That the patented feature exists on, or applies to, an ordinary clothespin. |
| Buy a connector made specifically for pin-to-pin joining | No validated hole-based connector product or tested performance option was identified. | Whether an unverified listing has suitable dimensions, strength, or compatibility. |
A practical decision process
- Identify the pin. Is it an old-fashioned wooden pin without a spring, or a standard spring clothespin? The documented rubber-band activity applies to the first category.
- Define the purpose. An educational twisting activity is different from hanging laundry, joining a temporary line, or making a load-bearing assembly.
- Use the documented connector when it fits. For two non-spring wooden pins in the activity, use the thick rubber-band loop. Do not replace the band with a hole simply because the hole is visible.
- Reject unsupported load assumptions. No source gives a rating for the joined pair, so do not infer one from the apparent tightness of the twist.
- Treat opening-position tips as optional experiments. The line-and-fabric explanation is reported, but its universal intent and garment benefits remain unestablished.
- Look for design-specific evidence. If a clip advertises a through-hole and guide, check that the product is actually the specialized design described by the manufacturer or patent, rather than an ordinary pin with a superficially similar opening.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Mistaking two openings for a manufactured coupling
A hole can be part of a handle shape without being a connector. Do not force a second spring pin through it or claim that a snug fit proves design intent. The evidence available does not document the dimensions, direction of insertion, or retention needed for such a method.
Substituting spring pins in the rubber-band activity
The ERIC activity names old-fashioned, non-spring wooden clothespins. A spring pin changes the geometry and introduces a metal component, so the activity should not be rewritten as a general method for all clothespins.
Calling the rubber band a load-rated fastener
The band is the connector for an educational demonstration. No safe load or durability figure is supplied. Avoid using the joined pins for elevated, heavy, or safety-critical purposes.
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The Tom’s Guide explanation may be interesting, but iTechGuides reports that it lacks identified manufacturer instructions and a supporting test. Present the hole-positioning idea as a claim associated with that article, not as a specification for every pin.
Generalizing from the patent
The patented dual-clip design has a proximal through-hole and ramped guide engineered to catch a line, rod, cord, or hanger cross-member. An ordinary spring clothespin is not automatically equivalent.
Cost and buying considerations
The documented activity requires only two old-fashioned non-spring wooden clothespins and one thick rubber band. Those are ordinary household or craft items, so a modest product mention can be relevant when it stays next to the rubber-band activity. A listing should clearly identify the pins as non-spring and the band as thick enough to form the specified loop.
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Do not use a product listing as proof that hole-to-hole joining works. No validated connector product, performance comparison, or tested strength option was identified for that purpose. Availability, exact listings, and any retailer-program eligibility can change, so verify those details separately. The purchase is for reproducing the documented activity, not for converting ordinary spring-pin holes into a rated coupling.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put one ordinary spring clothespin through the hole of another?
There is no documented method establishing that as an intended or dependable connection. A visual fit does not supply a load rating, retention test, or manufacturer instruction, so it should not be presented as a proven connector.
What is the documented way to join two clothespins?
For two old-fashioned, non-spring wooden clothespins, the ERIC-hosted activity by Gerald Wm. Foster and Anne Marie Fries uses a thick rubber band. Wrap one end around one pin, create a loop, insert the second pin through it, and twist the pins together.
Do the holes play any role in the rubber-band method?
No. The rubber-band loop is the connector described in the activity. The procedure does not require threading either pin through an opening in a spring clothespin.
Can I use the rubber-band procedure with spring clothespins?
The activity specifically names old-fashioned, non-spring wooden clothespins. It does not establish that spring pins, plastic pins, or other styles are compatible, so do not describe the procedure as validated for them.
Which hole is supposed to go on the clothesline?
Tom’s Guide’s October 9, 2026 article proposes that the smaller opening near the spring sits on the clothesline. iTechGuides, also on October 9, says that the explanation is not established as a universal design intention.
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Which hole is supposed to touch fabric?
The same Tom’s Guide article proposes using the larger opening nearer the tips for fabric. The reviewed material does not provide manufacturer instructions or a test proving that this arrangement prevents marks on all garments.
Will using the holes prevent clothespin marks?
That benefit is reported but unverified. No controlled test or supporting measurement is identified, so treat it as an optional tip rather than a guarantee.
Does the patent prove that normal clothespin holes are connectors?
No. US10683602B1 covers a specific dual-clip clothespin with a proximal through-hole and ramped guide for catching a line, rod, cord, or hanger cross-member. Its features should not be generalized to an ordinary spring pin.
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Can the rubber-band pair replace a clothesline clip?
The activity presents the setup as a demonstration of stored and released energy and gives no safe load or durability rating. It does not establish a clothesline repair or replacement for a rated clip.
What should I buy to reproduce the documented activity?
Buy or locate two old-fashioned, non-spring wooden clothespins and one thick rubber band. Product availability and exact listings vary; purchasing those items does not validate a hole-based joining method.
Why does a second pin sometimes seem to fit an opening?
The opening may have a shape that permits an apparent fit, but the available sources do not identify its dimensions, intended direction, retention mechanism, or load capacity as a pin connector. Apparent fit is not proof of design purpose.
Is there a tested hole-to-hole connector for ordinary clothespins?
No validated hole-based connector product or tested performance option was identified. The documented joining approach uses the rubber-band loop instead.
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The two holes in an ordinary spring clothespin are not documented as a way to join two pins. For two old-fashioned, non-spring wooden clothespins, use the documented thick-rubber-band method: wrap the band around one pin, insert the second through the loop, and twist them together. Treat the proposed clothesline and fabric uses for the openings—and any claim about fewer garment marks—as unverified tips, and do not generalize a specialized patented dual-clip design to ordinary clothespins.
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