Which basting method best for troubled hands, etc.?

[Granma2five]

Hi everyone,

I'm getting ready to baste my first large quilt for machine quilting. I have diminished strength in my hands and arms, due to MS and arthritis and tendinitis. I'm like to know what method might be the best, easiest for me to work with before I make the investment.

I can imagine not getting very far very fast with traditional safety pins or thread basting. What about the basting guns that use tacks much like those in clothing at stores? Has anyone used them? Is any brand better than another? I sure would appreciate any feedback on this.

Thanks so much!

[Quiltcreator]

When you say machine quilting, do you mean that you are going to quilt it yourself on your sewing machine? If you're sending it to a longarmer, you do not need to baste at all. I have heard that the basting guns do not work. Have you considered sending it to a longarmer to be basted? It is reasonably priced and fast, and then you can quilt it as you choose. There is also basting spray to consider, or fusible batting.

[HomespunMary]

I love the 505 basting glue spray. Having tried it, I can't see myself ever using safety pins again. Not only is the basting spray so much quicker, it is certainly a lot easier on hands, arms, shoulders and the back. And, although I have very little experience, I'd say that the basting spray also holds the layers far more secure than any other method, thereby considerably reducing the risk of unwanted puckering...

I'd recommend the glue spray any day!

[sewbug]

The ladies in guild who have had to give up hand sewing due to arthritis now use the quilt as you go method. No basting needed for that and the quilts look the same as the whole quilt method.

[Granma2five]

Thanks ladies,

I SO much appreciate your insights to my query. Sewbug, I've heard of the "quilt as you go" method, but don't really know the particulars as to how to go about it. Any idea where I can glean this info from? It might be helpful for some future quilts, right now I have 3 quilt tops done and ready to be quilted.

HomespunMary, thanks so much for the reminder on the basting spray. I'd forgotten all about that alternative. I do have some, from June Taylor, but it's been so long since I last used it - I don't even remember if I liked it or even what I used it on! LOL I have heard good things about 505. That sounds like an excellent option, at least in the warmer months when ventilation isn't a problem. Do you use it in the colder months? Any problems with ventilation?

Yes, Quiltcreator, I do plan to machine quilt myself. Sending quilts out to a longarmer is, unfortunately not a luxury within my budget. Our local longarmer starts at around $50 for a small size. Thanks too, for your insight on the basting guns. My DH even mentioned that he couldn't imagine me having the strength in my hands to operate one.

Happy quilting,

[HomespunMary]

I've used the 505 spray three times now - once in March, which is quite cold in Sweden, and twice the last three weeks. I must say that as long as you can have a window open, when you spray it and for a couple of hours or so after that, you'd be fine. It only smells a bit when you spray, but the smell goes away really quickly after that. Once it has dried (it took my baby quilt sandwich some three hours, maximum, to dry yesterday!), there is no smell at all. I think this differs with various brands, but for the 505, the smell/ventilation is really not an issue at all in my view.

What may be an issue is whether you want to give away quilts that are still "glued"... They don't smell or feel stiff or anything - actually they feel remarkably soft and I think only other quilters would notice that the layers are glued - but in particular for babies you may want to wash the quilt before you give it away, because of the chemicals in the glue.

[gardenquilter]

I am with quilt creator you may want to check and see how much a local longarm quilter would charge to baste it for you

I have heard that the guns do really well

knew a lady that spray basted everything and claimed great success - it did make her sick one time - I cant remember why and she moved from here several years ago

[sewbug]

Georgia Bonesteel perfected the quilt as you go method. Her book is still available, check your local library first. Anita Murhpy has a great way to assemble quilted blocks. The pattern Fun and Done has a good block assembly method. If you type quilt as you go method in Google, lots of good sites with intructions come up.

[cindyg]

Gramma2five - I heard the guns were not any good. They don't hold the layers together tight enough AND as you are pulling and twisting on your quilt while quilting the little plastic thingers are moving around, too, and making holes in your fabric. That's what I was told so I never tried the gun myself.

[lhostelley]

Grandma2five,
I really wish I could say that the basting gun would be great for you but I can't. When they first came out I decided to try one. The clips are long enough that it doesn't hold the layers together, they shift. The gun jam's up easily, and the clips leave a farily large hole in the fabric. I have not been impressed with them.
If you have a quilt shop with a long arm, they may be reasonalble in price to baste the layers together for you.
I am not sure of where you live in Colorado, but I would be more than happy to help you get your quilt basted. I am south and west of Denver.
Linda