I need your expert opinion please :)
08-21-2013, 09:20 AM
#31
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Location: Central NJ
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I usually pin baste (with safety pins - straight or bent - whichever is handy). If it's a king-sized quilt I'll likely thread baste so as to not add all the weight of the pins. I hand quilt so don't have issues with dealing with removing the pins during machine quilting.
08-21-2013, 09:31 AM
#32
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 548
I use straight pins to baste big quilts. I use Pinmoors with the pins and never get stuck. I have tried all the make do items to use but nothing works better for me then the actual Pinmoor. The fine pins slip right in and stay until I take them out. I now use a Pinmoor with every straight pin I use. I use long fine pins for basting. If you have to push the pin through the layers the pin is too dull. I have started using Elmer's washable school glue. It's fast and easy for a bigger quilt. The basting spray is too messy for me.
08-21-2013, 09:34 AM
#33
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Pennsylvania
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I'm another Elmer's School Glue convert. I used to use the pins and it took forever, to get the layers perfectly smooth. With the School Glue, sandwiching the quilt has turned into an actual pleasure! I always wash my quilts, before gifting them, and the Elmer's School Glue washes out completely. I also use it, for binding.
I use the Warm & Natural/White cotton batting; not sure if it'd work well with poly batting.
I use the Warm & Natural/White cotton batting; not sure if it'd work well with poly batting.
08-21-2013, 09:58 AM
#34
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Join Date: Aug 2013
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I have used almost all of the possible methods to baste, and spray basting with 505 won for me hands down! That is what I would recommend to a newbie. It is worth every penny. (1) It is fast. (2) It is easy. (3) If you make a mistake, it is easy to re-position. (4) It holds all layers in continuous contact with each other -- unlike pins, which make contact only every 4 inches or so -- and this pretty much ensures the layers won't shift on you while machine quilting. (5) It is removed in the first wash, which again saves time.
When I pin-basted with safety pins (small brass pins are the best; brass won't rust if your quilt happens to stay pinned for a decade or so in the forgotten UFO pile), a pin I didn't see got caught on my very expensive Bernina walking foot and ruined the spring in it. That's when I decided to finally try spray basting.
If you decide to spray baste, definitely read some of the old threads about it. Using a good technique and using the best basting spray you can find (for me that is 505 for a variety of reasons) makes the process almost magical. Without good technique, you learn everything the hard way (as in ending up with batting fluff stuck all over you
).
Edit: Elmer's school glue basting is newer than spray basting. If I couldn't spray baste, I would definitely try the Elmer's glue basting method.
When I pin-basted with safety pins (small brass pins are the best; brass won't rust if your quilt happens to stay pinned for a decade or so in the forgotten UFO pile), a pin I didn't see got caught on my very expensive Bernina walking foot and ruined the spring in it. That's when I decided to finally try spray basting.
If you decide to spray baste, definitely read some of the old threads about it. Using a good technique and using the best basting spray you can find (for me that is 505 for a variety of reasons) makes the process almost magical. Without good technique, you learn everything the hard way (as in ending up with batting fluff stuck all over you
).Edit: Elmer's school glue basting is newer than spray basting. If I couldn't spray baste, I would definitely try the Elmer's glue basting method.
08-21-2013, 10:14 AM
#35
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Blue Springs, MO
Posts: 2,167
I spray baste all the time. Hate to use pins of any kind because i am always pokeing myself either putting them in for taking them out. I mostly make baby quilts when i quilt and stuff. I do wash the quilts a couple of times before giving it to the mom however just to be on the safe side.
08-21-2013, 11:57 AM
#36
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Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 3,111
I have done both spray baste and safety pinning. I find spray basting works like a miracle... no matter how much I twist and bunch and flop the quilts around. I also find the smell of some overwhelming...and while I do like 505 I find it sort of expensive. The quilt I am working on now I am pinning with brass safety pins.. but not really sure how far apart to place the pins. I am really curious about the Elmer's school glue technique. Can someone explain that technique to me? Or point me to a thread that does explain it? Thanks
08-21-2013, 12:02 PM
#37
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Location: Western Wisconsin
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Hey, Lovequilting22, I just realized you are pregnant. If using basting spray, you really want good ventilation -- even more so in pregnancy. So, if at all possible, you want to use it outside in the open air. This applies even to the basting sprays that do not smell so bad (such as 505).
08-21-2013, 12:04 PM
#38
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Location: Western Wisconsin
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meyert, here's a link to a tutorial on basting with Elmer's glue:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...e-t208057.html
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...e-t208057.html
08-21-2013, 02:44 PM
#39
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1,203
I've been spray basting with Sullivan's spray, it's stinky, so it's better done outside or somewhere with good ventilation.
I've been meaning to try glue basting, but haven't yet. I used to pin baste with safety pins, but I had problems with pleats (folds) appearing on the back side. I don't get that with spray basting.
I've been meaning to try glue basting, but haven't yet. I used to pin baste with safety pins, but I had problems with pleats (folds) appearing on the back side. I don't get that with spray basting.
08-21-2013, 03:36 PM
#40
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Location: Southern Indiana
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