...and a question on machine basting....

[Anne B.]

I have heard many talk about machine basting with wash-out thread, and I have a question on that --- if basting is to stabilize the quilt so that it doesn't distort/etc when going to the machine, then, ummmmm, what keeps it from distorting/etc while machine basting????

I think Ricky said in his Grand Finale video he uses a spray baste to secure it enough for the machine basting, but would not use/rely on that for actual quilting.....? I feel like a dunce, but what's the difference?? If the spray baste is enough to hold it while machine basting, which is still running it through the machine, how is it not enough for just go ahead and start the quilting????

help me understand this please......

and, while we're on the subject, what spray baste do you use, &/or what pins for basting?? I *hate* basting. Hate.It. I suspect because I do not have the right tools for the job. So, fill me in

[Renata L.]

I am probably VERY WRONG on this but when I have heard about machine basting, it's usually been in the context of having a quilt basted using a midarm or longarm machine. I don't remember what Ricky said in Grand Finale about spray and machine basting so I can't offer any more of an explanation, but look forward to what others have to say about this topic.

[Renata L.]

hmmm......that would make sense.

I do think Ricky did it with a regular machine, but of course that video's gone now.....

(now, if only I could convince my husband that a long arm is a needed thing all just so I can baste more easily, LOL!)

[Renata L.]

It might be that Ricky doesn't 'trust' the spray basting to cope with all the manouvering that he does to get this quilt through his machine. For a large quilt going through a domestic machine that is an awful lot of re-folding and creasing (as I am sure you have found out now). It is a bit of a 'belts and braces' method. Also he might be only doing a very light spraying of the spray baste adhesive and thus wants it reinforced with the machine basting.

As for hating basting - join the rather large club, it is a boring part of the preparation that doesn't feel enjoyable, and it all has to come out afterwards BUT and it is a rather large but, if you don't spend the time on it it needs, your finished quilt suffers. This is probably why there are a lot of quilters who are actually just piecers :wink: , because they have a large pile of quilt tops awaiting basting before they can be quilted. :roll:

[Norma H.]

You are right about Ricky thinking that the 505 basting spray is not enough to secure his quilt totally. So he does both methods to be sure.
I think for smaller quilts the 505 works great. I have had no shifting when I used that.

But when it comes to bigger quilts I use Sharon Schamber's method with boards and handbasting like she does. You have a lot of control over the quilt when it's on a board. I'm lucky to have a lot of tables so I can handle my quilts there without having to crawl on the floor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhwNylePFAA
that's a link to no 1 of her videos on basting

[Rita C.]

Machine basting is not something we think to do on a domestic sewing machine - but I have done it on a baby quilt just like Ricky demonstrated in the current show and it worked fine. i use 505 basting spray a lot and I have found it works really well. But I will also put a few pins in about every 6" as well. I don't like using pins because they are very hard on my thumbs - particularly removing them for some reason. Patsy Thompson uses 505 as well and she talks about it in her class here in the classroom above. She even uses it for king size quilts without any pins.

[Rita C.]

thanks, all! I will watch the video in a while, but using table instead of floor sounds brilliant!! *anything* to make it easier!

For pin basting --- what kind of pins???

[Rita C.]

You can use straight pins, but you do end up with lots of stabs & scratches unless you put something over the ends Ie. Pinmoors or alternativly, bits of plastic cork or washed/unused earplugs.
Safety pins work well, curved safety pins are much easier to handle than straight ones - just don't close them until the end and you are certain they are where you want them to be; then it is easier to use a spoon to scoop up the point and close it (doing one or two by hand is ok, but you will be needing to close several hundred and your fingers get real sore after the first several dozen)

[Rita C.]

I use 505 to baste my quilts. I spray it on the batting(although I found that doesn't work well with the wool batting I used) put the top to the batting, turn it over, spray the batting again and put the backing in place. If it is a large quilt, I pull the backing over the front and pin to keep it from shifting. I start in the middle and stitch in the ditch working my way out to the edges. When all of the in the ditch stitching is done, I take the pins out and add whatever other quilting I want to add. As Margo says "there are many ways to do the same job, find what works for you". This is what works for me. Hope it helps.

[Rita C.]

I don't use the curved pins anymore because I find them too stiff. I have found these coloured pins that are oxidized or something. They are really light and so they are easy to close as well. (Sorry I don't have the brand name.)

[Rita C.]

Heather,
I have basted smaller quilts on my old Bernina that has a nice basting stitch but also like using basting spray. For hand quilting larger pieces I have had them basted on a long arm. I am currently hand quilting a lap top quilt which is only machine basted (my own) and am machine quilting a double which is basted with 505 spray.

Jeanine (a Brazilian living in Canada)

[Annette R.]

I think Ricky does some of his basting with Superior's wash away thread so then when he soaks the quilt to square it up, the basting disappears. I have done this on a few quilts but since most of mine are small I haven't done it for a while. I haven't watched Grand Finale for a while but I think he mentions it there. Otherwise e-mail him at rickytims.com and he will usually give you a responxe in a hurry. hugs, Ann

[Lois B.]

I have machine basted a quilt with water soluble thread on a domestic machine. But I have done the basting after having first pin basted the quilt. I did that because I hate to have to stop FMQ to remove pins. I only do that if for some reason I don't want to do enough stitch in the ditch to secure the quilt.

[Margo C.]

I helped a friend machine baste two large quilts with Superior's VANISH on a HandiQuilter yesterday. It was her first time on a long-arm and she got them both done in 3-1/2 hours, which is a whole lot less time than it would have taken us to hand or pin baste them!

[Margo C.]

I have taken Ann Petersen's class on Craftsy which includes how to spraybaste a large quilt, her method is also described on her website: http://obsessivequilter.weebly.com/t...rge-quilt.html. I have since done all my basting this way and it has worked very well! First of all she is spraying the back of the top and backing fabrics, not the batting, then she is heatsetting the spray through ironing the quilt. After I have ironed I will either stitch in the ditch or baste with water soluble thread, depending on the quilt and what quilting I am planning. Thanks to Ann for sharing her method, it has certainly been a super help for me.