I have always used 505 basting spray to join the layers of my quilts together. It is easy to do in my garage (see photos and details in the link to my post above) with a couple of folding banquet tables and the adhesive has always done an excellent job. With my latest quilt I've found that the weight of the fabric has been causing the layers to shift - perhaps I didn't use enough product to hold such a large quilt together. As I smoothed and reapplied some 505 I also added in a few safety pins here and there as a bit of extra insurance.
I'm not sure why I was so opposed to pins from the beginning and chose the spray method, but I've discovered that it is really no trouble to insert the pins and physically secure the top, batting, and backing together. However, In order to refresh my memory and learn some tips and tricks to pin basting, I went back to rewatch one of the most informative quilting classes on Craftsy: Machine Quilting taught by Wendy Butler Berns. It is also one of the first ever classes I registered for and is full of great lessons teaching how to complete the quilting process from start to finish. Wendy covers all aspects of preparing the quilt, basting, stabilizing, walking foot designs, free-motion work (3 whole lessons on that alone!), thread choices, wholecloth quilts, and binding and finishing a quilt. It is a VERY full course (I think some of the older ones are!).
Anyway, it was great to pop back through the class to the pin basting section (Wendy's preferred method for basting) and get some guidance. I also saw this video with Pat Sloan and she used a cool tool called a Kwik Klip which helps close the safety pins. I'm not sure where I heard or read about it, but after seeing that I recalled that a grapefruit spoon can be used for the same purpose. Since I own a grapefruit spoon, I ran to get it and gave it a try. It works wonderfully! The ridges of the spoon hold the pin in the groove so you can lower the head and close the pin. Works like a charm!
So I think I might actually LIKE pin basting and I am probably going to try it exclusively on my next quilt. I do like 505 spray but it is ridiculously expensive in Canada (and they generally won't ship aerosols over the border). I'm ready to give pin basting a fair try and hope it holds layers of a bigger, heavier quilt together better than the spray. It's not too much of a pain to stop quilting to remove them anyway and I think the layers may come out smoother. I just need to buy some more pins...(about 100 average needed to baste a twin quilt).
One other thing. I was inspired to actually eat a grapefruit with the spoon after reading this post from Mary Fons. It's a tale of eating grapefruit adorned with honey and microwaved. I couldn't not try that, even though I enjoy my citrus plain and natural. It was interesting...and different. Too sweet for me but worth a try! Whether eating a grapefruit or pinning a quilt, I'm glad to have a grapefruit spoon on hand!
Love the grapefruit spoon idea! But since I don't have one, and am too cheap to buy a Kwik Klip, I use a plain ole chopstick. Those free chopsticks made of soft wood, that you get with your Chinese take out, work perfect too! Give 'em a try. Free, easy to use, easily replaced, and you can baste while you use your good spoon to eat your grapefruit at the same time! LOL
Posted by: Jose | June 07, 2014 at 08:45 PM