Basting a flannel backed quilt

[Lotti D.]

I am taking apart my first attempt at quilting this 6 foot square quilt. The back was wrinkly. T pins were used to stretch the layers. I am thinking of starching the top and backing before rebasting it. Ironing a quilt this large proves to be a bit crazy. As I go over it to iron other areas become wrinkled. I am going to use spray baste on the batting on both sides this time.

Any advice on starching, ironing and basting something this big?

[E.M. T.]

I do use starch for my quilts...and especially with flannel as it is soft and stretchy by its nature !
It is possible to pull backing too taute, causing wrinkling when let loose. Using a patting motion when
spray basting rather than a smoothing motion will help reduce distortion, too. Don't ask ops: ops: !
I tend to pin closely even when spray basting. Have faith..it gets easier !

[E.M. T.]

Thanks, Marilyn. I will abandon the T pins and starch and pat. Will let you know how it goes.

[Karen G.]

Check out Sharon Schambers basting video. Since I have started using her method where you wind the top and bottom over boards and then unroll them as you baste, I have not had a wrinkle in any of my quilts. She shows you thread basting, but I have used the same method and pin basted. This video was on the TQS site as well as on a video that you can search for on the internet.

Karen

[E.M. T.]

It is SLICK, SLICK, SLICK !!!! I use it often !

[E.M. T.]

Thanks Karen and Marilyn. I think I'll be basting on Monday. It makes sense that pulling the flannel caused rebound wrinkles. I'll have to look at the video.

[E.M. T.]

I love to sew with flannel but I always spray it with sizing (not starch) before I cut out the quilt pieces they sew so much esier and hold their shape. I'm getting older so getting on the floor to snadwich a quilt is no longer a step in my quilting process that I can do. I live in an area with lots of longarm quilter so I give them my quilts to baste.
They use their longest stitch, some meander and some do it in a grid. I don't care which they do. My quilts stay together nicely and all I have do is clip thread as I qult. Hope you basting went well on Monday and hope you enjoy quiltling with flanne.
Linda in KY

[E.M. T.]

Hi, Linda, I let it go this week. I had company and didn't have the time. I'm going to spray baste. I just subscribed to a Craftsy video on quilting large quilts which explained how to spray baste. I have to watch it again to see where she sprayed the spray baste whether on the fabric or the batting. I have started to dejunk my house, so I may continue the trend which is badly needed. I have to stick at it. Is sizing better for flannel than starch? Jan

[E.M. T.]

I either ran in a book or took a class that said sizing was better than starch when you used flannel. I have used sizing for years and never had a problem and my flannel sems to hold its shape and is easy to sew.
Linda in KY

[E.M. T.]

I also use Hobbs fusible batting. It is fusible on booth sides and has always been easy to iron and it is easy to removed and do over. Good luck with your project. I always do my front first and backing next.

[E.M. T.]

Thanks, Linda.

[E.M. T.]

Well maybe I should wash out the starch in my flannel back to do it over. I tried spray basting and it still is wrinkly. Has anyone ever washed out spray baste as well??? I will post a new thread to find out.

[Terry K.]

Jan, Take a deep breath and try again! I tape my back to the floor (if it doesn't fit on the cutting table or the wall); then place a layer of newspapers next to the backing edges so I don't get overspray on the floor. Then I lay out my batting on top of the backing. Next I fold the batting in half so that the backing is exposed. I lightly spray the backing that is exposed. Lay the batting over the sprayed backing. Flip the other side of the batting on itself so the other half of the backing is exposed and lightly spray the backing, lay the batting on the backing.

I don't smooth the batting because for me that seems to cause wrinkles in the backing. I do lightly pat the batting if needed.

Next I lay the top on top of the batting. I fold the top in half--like I did the backing--so the batting is exposed. I then spray the wrong side of the top and lay it on the batting--repeat for the other side. I've found that spraying the fabric uses less spray and seems to work just as well.

When I'm finished quilting, I wash the whole quilt and all of the spray baste washes out.

I hope you will give it another try!

[Meg E.]

Thank you for this topic & discussion. Pinned a flannel back quilt yesterday (secured corners w/ clamps & sides w/ tape on my table.) I inadvertently stretched it...so I took out the 200+ pins yesterday afternoon & found this forum last night. Fortunately was able to see Susan Schambers (SP?) videos & DH is a woodworker. Used her method (NOTE: it probably works better if both boards are the same... but needs must!)
So far, so good!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Meg

[The quilt is for my friends whose cancer came back & spread to her brain & lungs. I’m calling it ‘Monica’s Quilt’ All she wanted was ‘homemade’ & ‘Pink!’]

[Helen W.]

Meg, I am doing a mini version of Over and Dowm Under by Bonnie Sullivan. It is flannel. I would love to hear and maybe see pictures of how you quilt your flannel backed quilt. The person you were referring to is Sharon Schamber. She has a great You Tube
on putting on quilt bindings. It is called Binding The Angel (it is a angel applique wall hanging). It is in 3 parts. She is an expert on accuracy. HelenW