question about using Golden Threads paper

[Robin G.]

For the last quilt I made, I had to quilt 120 8" blocks. I was considering using Golden Threads but had a hard time attaching the paper to the blocks - with so much bulk of the quilt, the paper kept wrinkling, ripping off its pins, etc.
What is the best way to use Golden Threads with a large quilt?
Thanks.

[Robin G.]

did you try to pin the paper to the whole quilt? I've never had a problem just pinning it to the block I'm working on, then pinning a new bit once that's done.

[Robin G.]

Can you use basting spray? I've never used that paper, but I think that would be what I would do, especially for my edge to edge quilting on my frame.

[Teri L.]

Whenever I've used something like Golden Threads I've just pinned on maybe two blocks at at time.

Teri

[Teri L.]

I've applied this with basting spray... it held it down better than just pinning. I agree with Teri, pinning (or spray-basting) it to just a couple blocks at a time is easier. The more you handle it, the more it wrinkles and starts peeling off. (if using a frame quilting machine, this probably wouldn't be an issue).

The main problem I had with the Golden Threads paper is that tiny bits of it end up stuck under your stitches after you tear it away. I tried washing the quilt, but this didn't get rid of the bits, so I picked them out with tweezers while watching TV. Depending on your fabric color/pattern, these bits might not be noticeable and could safely be ignored.

I tried once using a water-soluble embroidery stablizer for this purpose, but it was too stretchy and kept rucking up under the presser foot. I wonder if one of the water-soluble foundation papers would work for quilting designs. Has anyone tried this?

[Robin G.]

Thanks for the good advice. I just seemed to have a devil of a time keeping ONE piece of the paper from getting scrunched up as I quilted.
Ordinarily the thought of basting spray would appeal to me but the last time I used the spray I did not like to way it affected the performance of my needle. Even a very thin layer of good spray caused the needle to catch while quilting. It was so bad, I had to redo the quilt (it was small, not to worry).
Basically, next time I will decide what I am going to do before the quilt is constructed and mark the top before pin basting. I have shied away from that in the past because I am eager to get the sandwich together yet can't make up my mind until the quilt is actually under the needle how I'm going to do the quilting.

[Robin G.]

This is a very belated reply...but I wonder how it would work if, instead of pinning the Golden Threads paper to the quilt, you instead basted it on using water-soluble thread. I haven't tried this, but I think it would work well.