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Stitching & Crafting Room:  The "quilt sandwich": baste or pin?  |
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CindyG
True Blue Farmgirl
293 Posts
Cindy
Fairfax
VA
USA
293 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 31 2015 : 2:55:31 PM
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Hi ladies,
To date I have only made baby quilts, and wrestling the "quilt sandwich" was not an issue since the size was so manageable.
Having graduated to a larger size, and having fallen victim to my own thoughtlessness of putting on a larger outside border than originally planned, I now have a quilt that requires a little wrestling.
I'm at the stage where I need to either pin or baste all the top, wadding and backing layers together, and I'd love some advice. What is your preference between hand basting and pinning and why? What are the benefits and pitfalls of either one?
BTW here is an extremely important lesson I learned: while a six inch border does frame the quilt top better than the planned three inch border, it then makes the entire quilt....sniff....just enough bigger than the piece of backing fabric I bought for the original plan. I thought "it doesn't make THAT much difference, does it?". It did. Thank goodness pieced backings are in!
Thanks in advance-
Cindy |
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ceridwen
True Blue Farmgirl
899 Posts
Carole
New York
USA
899 Posts |
Posted - Mar 31 2015 : 5:16:10 PM
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Cindy,
I am a pin gal! Safety pins (I use the curved ones) are easy to remove and are re-usable. You can use a fancy tool called Kwick Klip or a spoon (grapefruit) to help you close the pins. Also, if you have access to large tables (church, banquet hall, local quilt shop) that works well. At least you are not crawling on the floor on all fours (been there done that many times). But, if you've got to crawl, pin from the center and work you way side ways going either up or down. You want to pin no less than 6 in apart.
The problem with basting is that you have to baste a lot in order not to have your layers shift. The larger your quilt, the more stabilizing you need. You also have to remove the thread when you're done. You can use water soluble thread, but that has it's down fall on humid days.
Here is my safety pin collection. I use those Silica packs to keep the moisture level down. They shouldn't rust, but you never know.
They are the special quilting curved ones. I bought them a bit at a time during sales etc. I have enough safety pins to pin 3 queen size quilts.  I work on various projects at the same time and sometimes I just didn't feel like machine/hand quilting! So they sat around until I quilted them. As a matter of fact I still have a quilt that is full of safety pins, waiting for me to continue hand quilting it. Sew little time!
Hope this helps.
Carole
Farmgirl Sister 3610 - Nov 7/2011
http://www.carolesquiltingetc.com
http://www.fibrejunction.com |
Edited by - ceridwen on Mar 31 2015 5:19:50 PM |
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forgetmenot
True Blue Farmgirl
3602 Posts
Judith
Nora Springs
IA
USA
3602 Posts |
Posted - Mar 31 2015 : 8:47:24 PM
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Hi, Cindy.
I'm new to quilting. So far I have made baby quilts, one throw and a twin size. My first class was two years ago. We were taught to use the curved safety pins. We used a large table and taped the 3 layers of fabric to the table with masking tape. Then starting from the middle and working toward the outer edges we pinned the layers together. We were told about the spoon method too; but, I haven't tried it yet.
My twin size quilt is awaiting a friend who does long arm quilting. The baby quilts I have done on the machine. Although, I would like to try very simple hand quilting on the baby quilt I am working on now.
Thanks for the tip! Yep! I'm still learning with each one I make.
Carole, thanks for the Silica pack idea. Never would have thought of that!
Farmgirl sister #3926
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the belief that something is more important than fear." Ambrose Red Moon |
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ceridwen
True Blue Farmgirl
899 Posts
Carole
New York
USA
899 Posts |
Posted - Mar 31 2015 : 9:45:58 PM
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Judith, hand quilting is so relaxing. Well, any form of hand work really. You do not need a quilting frame and can do it using a hoop (for me, no greater than 16" other wise it become difficult to hold). As I mentioned in the prior post, I pin my layers together. On tables you can use clamps to hold your backing down. I only tape or clamp by backing and not the batting or top. I've never had a problem. Once my backing is stable (do not stretch it) I lay my batting (large quilt) folded in quarter (fold centered on the quilt) and open it accordingly. Smooth things out and do the same with the quilt top.
If you are going to hand quilt, make sure you research your batting. In other words, you do not want to be needling a heavily punched cotton batting (like warm & natural). The ideal batting for hand quilting is wool. It's like passing a needle in butter! lol If you want to use cotton, find a batting that is hand quilting friendly otherwise it will be less enjoyable.
Cheers!
Carole
Farmgirl Sister 3610 - Nov 7/2011
http://www.carolesquiltingetc.com
http://www.fibrejunction.com |
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CindyG
True Blue Farmgirl
293 Posts
Cindy
Fairfax
VA
USA
293 Posts |
Posted - Apr 01 2015 : 05:38:09 AM
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Thanks, ladies! You all are such a rich resource of advice and experience, and I am grateful you are willing to share.
I love the silica packet idea, especially since I love right outside our national swamp also known as Washington DC. Humidity is a way of life.
I think I need to start using some a.c. moore and Joann's coupons on curved quilting pins!
Thanks,
Cindy
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forgetmenot
True Blue Farmgirl
3602 Posts
Judith
Nora Springs
IA
USA
3602 Posts |
Posted - Apr 01 2015 : 07:35:07 AM
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Oh boy, Cindy..I'm so glad you started this thread!
I was taught that Warm and Natural was probably the best batting to use (instructor was a school home ec teacher and quilt shop owner). Of course, I only took one class. So, there was only so much info she could give. Carole, I guess I will wait to hand quilt the next quilt as this one has one has warm and natural and I don't want to be frustrated. You are right! I guess I did just tape down the backing!
And, I think you are right about the hand work being so relaxing.
Cindy, I hope you show us a pic of your work.
Farmgirl sister #3926
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the belief that something is more important than fear." Ambrose Red Moon |
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churunga
True Blue Farmgirl
3957 Posts
Marie
Minneapolis
MN
USA
3957 Posts |
Posted - Apr 01 2015 : 08:01:06 AM
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I have heard that an unmade bed is a good place to put down the layers and pin in a quilt.
Marie, Sister #5142
Farmgirl of the Month May 2014
Try everything once and the fun things twice. |
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Bonnie Ellis
True Blue Farmgirl
2474 Posts
Bonnie
Minneapolis
Minnesota
USA
2474 Posts |
Posted - Apr 01 2015 : 10:32:30 AM
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I have done both. If you are hand quilting, the pins can get in the way and your thread gets caught in them. They can also tear the fabric. I prefer to baste the quilt together. On a large table, one at home or church, lay out the backing right side down. Lay on the batting. Tack in a few places to hold those together. Then add the top. Baste about every 4". This way. You can roll up the parts of the quilt you are not working on and it keeps the sandwich together. But I know there are many opinions to this topic. You have to try what is best for yourself. Happy Quilting.
grandmother and orphan farmgirl |
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ceridwen
True Blue Farmgirl
899 Posts
Carole
New York
USA
899 Posts |
Posted - Apr 01 2015 : 11:55:01 AM
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Bonnie, I would agree, you have to do what works for you. I tend to remove the safety pins if they get in the way of my hand quilting. I have never had the problem of tearing my fabric. However, I do use good quality nickel-plated brass safety pins size 1, which are not has thick and work wonderfully.
Judith, Warm & Natural is a good batting to use for both tying and machine quilting. I personally stay away from polyester, but that's just my preference. My winter quilts mostly have 100% wool batting and my summer quilts have cotton.
Here are other basting options:
1) You can purchase a Quilt Basting gun (similar to those used in chain stores to attach the tags on clothing). The ones for quilting have small plastic basting tacks. I have never used one, but I have heard good things about it from those that do. The only problem is that you have to remove all of those plastic tacks. You can buy a special removing tool.
2) Use a basting spray. Many quilters use that. I personally am not a fan of it. You have to spray the stuff in a well ventilated area. It hasn't been on the market long enough to know what the glue will do to your quilts later on. They claim it washes out, but who knows. I stay away from aerosol products. But, that's just my personal preference.
3) Use a fusible batting. It has heat activated fusible on both sides. You iron it onto your backing and quilt front. Hobbs (one of the companies that makes it) claims that you can either hand or machine quilt and that the fusible washes out. I have not used this product so cannot attest to its claims.
So there you have it, other options for basting quilts. I will admit that I now only baste small quilts that I will machine quilt on my DSM. I do most of my machine quilting on a long arm. I enjoy machine quilting.
FYI, I teach anything that has to do with quilting (hand/machine quilting, hand/machine applique, hand embroidery, hand/machine piecing). I am delighted to share my knowledge. I find it rewarding to see new quilters catching the bug!
Cheers!
Carole
Farmgirl Sister 3610 - Nov 7/2011
http://www.carolesquiltingetc.com
http://www.fibrejunction.com |
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CindyG
True Blue Farmgirl
293 Posts
Cindy
Fairfax
VA
USA
293 Posts |
Posted - Apr 04 2015 : 08:57:04 AM
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This is all very useful info and advice - thanks!
I just recently learned I can reserve a large meeting room at the library for just little ol' me, push together several of their big folding tables, and have a nice, high table to get the layers attached to each other. Whooooohooooo!
Cindy |
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ceridwen
True Blue Farmgirl
899 Posts
Carole
New York
USA
899 Posts |
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CindyG
True Blue Farmgirl
293 Posts
Cindy
Fairfax
VA
USA
293 Posts |
Posted - Jul 13 2015 : 06:56:10 AM
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Hello ladies,
While this particular quilt is not completed, you can get the general idea of what it looks like with all the funky fabrics and the border as I laid it out to make that quilt sandwich.
I don't consider this to be a "pretty" quilt per se, but I love the looks of it and the meaning in all the fabrics. I probably said this earlier, but here it is again: I made quilts for the graduating seniors in my Girl Scout troop, and included fabrics representing lots of the things we've done together. It was a hoot finding just the right fabric - hooray for easy and eBay! Some of the fabrics include:
-Candyland for a Candyland-themed father/daughter dance they hosted
-Matches for all the campfires and camp stoves we lit on trip
-S'mores
-Pup tents
-Different fish for the "teach a (wo)man to fish" saying - our troop went through a HUGE transformation when they decided it was well past time (8-9th grade) for the leaders to be doing everything for them and they needed to learn to run meetings and events on their own
-Bandanas present at every campout
And lots more fun and meaningful things.
I learned many important lessons while making these quilts, and thank you all again for the advice.
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traildancer
True Blue Farmgirl
485 Posts
Loyce
Glide
OR
USA
485 Posts |
Posted - Jul 29 2015 : 09:16:04 AM
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How fun. And what nice memories.
Sharon Schamber has a video on sandwiching a large quilt using boards. I don't know how to embed links. Also Amelie somebody has a video on sandwiching quilts that are larger than the table you have. Neither method has you crawling on the floor.
I go to our church and tape the backing to the floor and spray baste all the layers. Then I take the completed sandwich and put it on some tables and pin baste. That way I don't spend as much time on the floor. I used to only spray baste my quilts, even the queen size ones, with very little puckering on the back. But I have come to prefer the additional security of pins since I free motion quilt on my home sewing machine so there is a LOT of wadding and shoving and maneuvering and sometimes there is quite a lag between sandwiching and quilting. I just finished an 80x80 Swoon with no puckers using this combination.
Check out Missouri Star Quilt Company. They have a forum similar to this with lots of helpful information.
The trail is the thing.... Louis L'Amour |
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quilterdawn
Farmgirl at Heart
6 Posts
Dawn
Monterey
TN
USA
6 Posts |
Posted - Aug 10 2015 : 5:49:30 PM
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I use a homemade spray glue to baste my quilts. I iron as I am using the spray. The fabric comes out nice a smooth for quilting and I don't use any pins. A few can be used for larger quilts. I had used the glue on a twin quilt without problems. It doesn't gum up the machine and I do free-motion quilting without problems. You can't tell you are using it and it washes out. It is safe to use indoors. Here is the link.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutorials-f10/homemade-spray-glue-t214212.html
May all your weeds be wildflowers, mine are. |
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quiltee
True Blue Farmgirl
7546 Posts
Linda
Terrell
TX
USA
7546 Posts |
Posted - Aug 10 2015 : 6:58:53 PM
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WOW! Think I will try that. I hate quilting around pins. And want to free motion quilt.
Farmgirl hugs,
Linda O
Lone Oak, TX
Farmgirl #1919
"Women are Angels, and when someone breaks our wings, we simply continue to fly . . . on a broomstick - we're flexible, like that."
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Stitching & Crafting Room: The "quilt sandwich": baste or pin? |
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The "quilt sandwich": baste or pin?
