Basting the 'Sandwich'

I use the spray and then large safety pins and being a new quilter I have
found that this works good with even the big quilts or small wall hangings.


--
Fran
http://community.webshots.com/user/busterbuffy
Remove QUILT to reply

"Laurie G." wrote in message
t...
I would use basting safety pins if you are planning to machine quilt it
yourself. If you are hand quilting, then you would use thread......and a
good idea for that is the dissolving thread. If it's a small type quilt or
wallhanging, then spray baste is ok..... I haven't used one of the guns so
I can't comment on that.

The important thing is to get good, smooth layers without any tightness or
puckers.

Good luck!
~~~~~~~
Laurie G. in CA
www.finishingtouchesquilts.com
http://community.webshots.com/user/lagrant7
~~~~~~~

"Edward W. Thompson" wrote in message
...
Can I initiate some discussion on the preferred way to secure the
sandwich for quilting. As far as I know the four methods commonly
used i.e. basting using thread, safety pins, spray basting and basting
'gun'.

I am sure there will be proponents of each of the 'methods' and
perhaps others. I would like to know whether or not there is an
overall prefered method. Most of my 'circle' tell me basting with
thread (4" pitch) is the 'best' method however my instincts for large
quilts is for safety pins. Can I have your input on the 'debate'.

On Mar 28, 12:45 am, Patti wrote:
I most often use fusible batting, with basting tacks (from the new, tiny
gun) around the edge - just in case. I mostly make wall hangings and
such, so they don't need to be soft, and the fusible lies beautifully
flat.
When I make a cot quilt or anything else hat needs a more snuggly
batting, I will use my microtack(h) gun. I started with one of the
original sized 'guns', but this micro one is fantastic. The two main
complaints about the 'original' were that the needle left large holes
(and sometimes actually damage the fabric/split thread), and that the
'stem' of the tack was too long, and allowed for movement. The tiny one
has answered these concerns.
.
In message , Edward W.
Thompson writes

Can I initiate some discussion on the preferred way to secure the
sandwich for quilting. As far as I know the four methods commonly
used i.e. basting using thread, safety pins, spray basting and basting
'gun'.

I am sure there will be proponents of each of the 'methods' and
perhaps others. I would like to know whether or not there is an
overall prefered method. Most of my 'circle' tell me basting with
thread (4" pitch) is the 'best' method however my instincts for large
quilts is for safety pins. Can I have your input on the 'debate'.

--
Best Regards
pat on the hill


For basting any size quilt, I use exclusively 505 spray adhesive. I
gave up thread and pins long ago. I machine quilt on a Juki or my
Bernina, I have never had any problem with the sandwich shifting or
the spray gumming up the needle.

On Mar 28, 1:20 am, Edward W. Thompson
wrote:
Can I initiate some discussion on the preferred way to secure the
sandwich for quilting. As far as I know the four methods commonly
used i.e. basting using thread, safety pins, spray basting and basting
'gun'.

I am sure there will be proponents of each of the 'methods' and
perhaps others. I would like to know whether or not there is an
overall prefered method. Most of my 'circle' tell me basting with
thread (4" pitch) is the 'best' method however my instincts for large
quilts is for safety pins. Can I have your input on the 'debate'.

I use basting spray and curved safety pins on all of my quilts so far
and have had no shifting problems as a result. I use the pins at 2"-4"
intervals as the pattern seams permit. I don't do free motion quilting
so that may cause a different basting requirement. For straight
stitching and walking foot joining that is what works for me. This is
on large bed quilts and one child crib quilt. so far. A total of 7
quilts.


My 2 cents.

John

Hi Patti, the regular basting tacks are long enough to reach down and
back up to the surface of a quilt sandwich which means that the tack
is tighter than usual and does not move. It is also a benefit when
removing the tacks since both T-ends are on top of the quilt and there
is nothing left underneath to find later.
I have found that the gun is more useful to price items for my craft
shows than it is to tack a quilt - but in a pinch, I have used the gun
when I've run out of safety pins.
My problem with the plastic tacks is that I have found them to be
problematic during the quilting process - the needle (a) sews through
the plastic (b) bends and jumps resulting in a longer stitch (c) the
plastic tack is harder to remove than a safety pin when quilting
towards it.
After working on the Navan church quilt and buying a larger supply of
safety pins - I now have enough pins to use for any 'normal' sized
quilting project.
jennellh (change the mail to news)



On Mar 28, 2:45 am, Patti wrote:
I most often use fusible batting, with basting tacks (from the new, tiny
gun) around the edge - just in case. I mostly make wall hangings and
such, so they don't need to be soft, and the fusible lies beautifully
flat.
When I make a cot quilt or anything else hat needs a more snuggly
batting, I will use my microtack(h) gun. I started with one of the
original sized 'guns', but this micro one is fantastic. The two main
complaints about the 'original' were that the needle left large holes
(and sometimes actually damage the fabric/split thread), and that the
'stem' of the tack was too long, and allowed for movement. The tiny one
has answered these concerns.
.
In message , Edward W.
Thompson writes

Can I initiate some discussion on the preferred way to secure the
sandwich for quilting. As far as I know the four methods commonly
used i.e. basting using thread, safety pins, spray basting and basting
'gun'.

I am sure there will be proponents of each of the 'methods' and
perhaps others. I would like to know whether or not there is an
overall prefered method. Most of my 'circle' tell me basting with
thread (4" pitch) is the 'best' method however my instincts for large
quilts is for safety pins. Can I have your input on the 'debate'.

--
Best Regards
pat on the hill

In article ,
Edward W. Thompson wrote:

Can I initiate some discussion on the preferred way to secure the
sandwich for quilting. As far as I know the four methods commonly
used i.e. basting using thread, safety pins, spray basting and basting
'gun'.

I am sure there will be proponents of each of the 'methods' and
perhaps others. I would like to know whether or not there is an
overall prefered method. Most of my 'circle' tell me basting with
thread (4" pitch) is the 'best' method however my instincts for large
quilts is for safety pins. Can I have your input on the 'debate'.

Here's my twocents...

Thread basting - I love it but then I like hand sewing a whole lot. I
use this mostly for hand quilting though when I started quilting I used
it for machine quilting to and never had any problems.

Safety pins - hate 'em. I know, I am way in the minority on this one,
but that's ok, more pins for the rest of you. Cumbersome to do, HEAVY
for large quilts (500 pins are not light weight when coupled with the
weight of a large quilt) A pain to adjust out of the way when quilting.
I'm a klutz so stabbing myself is not uncommon.

Spray basting - love it for machine quilted projects. Too sticky on the
needle for hand quilting.

Basting gun - I haven't tried this for fear I will clip my quilt when
cutting off the plastic tabs (see klutz comment above - I'm a girl who
knows her limitations!)

Fusible batt - not on your list but my very favorite method of basting
for machine quilting. Hobbs is the brand I use. Easier than even spray
basting with out the worry of overspraying or the smell of the spray.
Re-positionable and re-ironable (ok, likely not a word but you know what
I mean) if something peels apart you can press it again to secure. I
find it too sticky for hand quilting though.

marcella

Sadly no. I bought about 3 gazillion way back when, occasionally toss out
dull ones, and there are still lots, at least 2 gazillion. So I'm hoping
they will last a while yet. They came in a box weighing a kilo IIRC, and
cost about 250 Danish kroner, which was then about $30. Seemed dreadfully
expensive to me then, but I'm still using them after about 15 years! And I
quilt a lot.
We'll be visiting Denmark this summer, and I plan to have a look in the shop
the pins came from.
Roberta in D

"Polly Esther" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
...
Roberta, have you found a good source for pins? Mine have become dull
too. How I would love to have some fine, sharp ones. Polly

"Roberta Zollner" wrote in message
...
I use safety pins, about an inch long in brass. And lots of them, about 4"
apart over the whole surface. I like them because:
-easy to use
-easy to remove when machine quilting, which is what I mostly do
-thread basting is incredibly tedious so I tend to make the stitches too
large, and I hate having to rethread the needle
-pins can be recycled many times before they become too dull to use.
And I will keep on using them regardless of which method wins the poll!
Roberta in D

"Edward W. Thompson" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
...
Can I initiate some discussion on the preferred way to secure the
sandwich for quilting. As far as I know the four methods commonly
used i.e. basting using thread, safety pins, spray basting and basting
'gun'.

I am sure there will be proponents of each of the 'methods' and
perhaps others. I would like to know whether or not there is an
overall prefered method. Most of my 'circle' tell me basting with
thread (4" pitch) is the 'best' method however my instincts for large
quilts is for safety pins. Can I have your input on the 'debate'.

I only do machine quilting. So I find that safety pins - the CURVED
ones - work very well. I take them out as I quilt. (as a bonus I like
how the quilt gets more and more cuddly with the removal of the pins)
Allison


Edward W. Thompson wrote:
Can I initiate some discussion on the preferred way to secure the
sandwich for quilting. As far as I know the four methods commonly
used i.e. basting using thread, safety pins, spray basting and basting
'gun'.

I am sure there will be proponents of each of the 'methods' and
perhaps others. I would like to know whether or not there is an
overall prefered method. Most of my 'circle' tell me basting with
thread (4" pitch) is the 'best' method however my instincts for large
quilts is for safety pins. Can I have your input on the 'debate'.

I'll "second" Allison. I've also found that the curved pins are easier to
put in. I've also found a neat "non-quilting tool" to be handy - especially
when my arthritis acts up: There's a little scraper used to scrape off the
boxes or numbers when playing the lottery or bingo - used upside down, it
helps to push up and open the pin. (Gotta love those "Senior" Fairs with
all the cheapo give-aways!!!)
ME-Judy


"Allison" wrote in message
...
I only do machine quilting. So I find that safety pins - the CURVED
ones - work very well. I take them out as I quilt. (as a bonus I like how
the quilt gets more and more cuddly with the removal of the pins)
Allison

Howdy!

As the Gershwins said,
"It ain't necessarily so..."

Pin baste, hand quilt, every quilt in my world. ;-P

R/Sandy


On 3/28/07 9:02 AM, in article
, "Laurie G."
wrote:

I would use basting safety pins if you are planning to machine quilt it
yourself. If you are hand quilting, then you would use thread......and a
good idea for that is the dissolving thread. If it's a small type quilt or
wallhanging, then spray baste is ok..... I haven't used one of the guns so I
can't comment on that.

The important thing is to get good, smooth layers without any tightness or
puckers.

Good luck!
~~~~~~~
Laurie G. in CA
www.finishingtouchesquilts.com
http://community.webshots.com/user/lagrant7
~~~~~~~

Marcella Peek wrote:
In article ,
Edward W. Thompson wrote:


Basting gun - I haven't tried this for fear I will clip my quilt when
cutting off the plastic tabs (see klutz comment above - I'm a girl who
knows her limitations!)


I have one of the guns which has the smaller size tacks, like Pat's and
it works wonderfully. Did not like safety pins at all - sore fingers,
and never enough pins, and they were always in the way, My little tacks
are quick to do, happy fingers, and I have a special little tool to
remove them with so I don't cut the quilt.

Have hand basted a small wall hanging, but a large quilt would take me
forever and make my back hurt.
--
Sally at the Seaside ~~~~~~~~~~ (uk)
http://community.webshots.com/user/sallyswin