Since I had moved some tables for better access for my friend last week, I decided it was time to baste a couple of my own quilts. I find thread basting very relaxing and can do it while watching 'The Good Wife' and the 10 o'clock news. I know a lot of people complain about basting, and I would be cranky too if I had to open and close 500 safety pins.
Thread basting is natural and easy if you use the right tools: a very good quality 60 wt. 2 ply thread and size 7 John James basting needles. I talked about it some more here.
This is the fabric I put on the back of this quilt. For more photos of the layout fun of this quilt check here and here.
The better you bast the better the quilt. At least I found out anyway. I wish I had two tables to move together. I have to get on the floor to do mine, but it does work better to baste with thread. Chris
I absolutely agree with thread basting. I have cones and cones of free poly thread that I got from a local garment factory and they will probably last me the rest of my life! Why would I BUY spray or safety pins? I thread baste for both hand and machine quilting.
What a wonderful quilt! I just love it! Now I know what to do with those scraps that don't fit the size blocks for those zig zag scrap blocks I have been making. Do you pull the thread basting out after you are done or as you go? I am a pin baster and I have gotten pretty fast at it. I can do a baby quilt in about 25 minutes. The most pins I ever put in a quilt was millenium quilt - over 1000 safety pins! Now that one took me awhile to do - it was 8' x 10'.
I once pin basted and it made marks on my Plexiglas glass table as I quilted. I have to got to a friend's house though to baste or I can do it at our guild UFO day at the civic center.
I see chairs by the table -- do you sit while you baste? I guess when I pin baste I do a combination of sitting and standing, and after awhile, my back gets unhappy.
I had forgotten about this quilt, I like the layout! And, you just gotta love large blocks, you can make a quilt so much faster than using smaller ones.
How are you keeping the backing taut? When I thread baste (I've tried other methods, but the final product always turns out better when I thread baste), I usually use extra backing material so I can staple gun it to some 1x4's which I hold together with C-clamps.
I am glad to hear you can thread baste even if you machine quilt. I didn't know that was "allowed."
Enjoying the whole process is really what it's all about, isn't it? You made a good point about basting being relaxing. It's good to slow life down sometimes :-)
I have never minded the basting myself. It makes me realize that I am approaching the next step - a fun one too. Do you baste your quilts that you quilt on the Babylock?
I love the layout of those gorgeous scrappy blocks! I have always pin basted my quilts. I was told to do so when I wanted to machine quilt and I never questioned that wisdom.
If I knew the right way to baste I think it would be best. I usually use my dining room table to sandwich my quilts. If I baste that involves leaning over and it kills my back.
I should give that a try but I can't imagine how long it must take to remove it all when you're done?! I do hate buying that spray (so pricey). Right now my issue is trying to figure out a space in this house to lay it out.
I never minded thread basting and I used a frame too. My problem was barely enough room anywhere in the house. In the summer I took it outside a few times, but then I couldn't stand the frame up against a wall to baste standing up without bending over.
The better you bast the better the quilt. At least I found out anyway. I wish I had two tables to move together. I have to get on the floor to do mine, but it does work better to baste with thread. Chris
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with thread basting. I have cones and cones of free poly thread that I got from a local garment factory and they will probably last me the rest of my life! Why would I BUY spray or safety pins? I thread baste for both hand and machine quilting.
ReplyDeleteThings like that are definitely relaxing! Love the quilt!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful quilt! I just love it! Now I know what to do with those scraps that don't fit the size blocks for those zig zag scrap blocks I have been making. Do you pull the thread basting out after you are done or as you go?
ReplyDeleteI am a pin baster and I have gotten pretty fast at it. I can do a baby quilt in about 25 minutes. The most pins I ever put in a quilt was millenium quilt - over 1000 safety pins! Now that one took me awhile to do - it was 8' x 10'.
I once pin basted and it made marks on my Plexiglas glass table as I quilted. I have to got to a friend's house though to baste or I can do it at our guild UFO day at the civic center.
ReplyDeleteI see chairs by the table -- do you sit while you baste? I guess when I pin baste I do a combination of sitting and standing, and after awhile, my back gets unhappy.
ReplyDeleteWhy are you basting? I thought you had a longarm. Amie in Tn.
ReplyDeleteI had forgotten about this quilt, I like the layout! And, you just gotta love large blocks, you can make a quilt so much faster than using smaller ones.
ReplyDeleteThe back is pretty, is that a Kaffe fabric?
Linda
Love the quilt and the bright backing fabric too! I actually don't mind pin basting - I use a grapefruit spoon to help close the pins.
ReplyDeleteHow are you keeping the backing taut? When I thread baste (I've tried other methods, but the final product always turns out better when I thread baste), I usually use extra backing material so I can staple gun it to some 1x4's which I hold together with C-clamps.
ReplyDeleteI am glad to hear you can thread baste even if you machine quilt. I didn't know that was "allowed."
Christi W.
Enjoying the whole process is really what it's all about, isn't it? You made a good point about basting being relaxing. It's good to slow life down sometimes :-)
ReplyDeleteI have never minded the basting myself. It makes me realize that I am approaching the next step - a fun one too. Do you baste your quilts that you quilt on the Babylock?
ReplyDeleteI love the layout of those gorgeous scrappy blocks! I have always pin basted my quilts. I was told to do so when I wanted to machine quilt and I never questioned that wisdom.
ReplyDeletePerfect backing for this quilt. Colorful and whimsical as your design on the front.
ReplyDeleteI always appreciated your information on needles it was a great refresher course to go back again.
J~MT
If I knew the right way to baste I think it would be best. I usually use my dining room table to sandwich my quilts. If I baste that involves leaning over and it kills my back.
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy looking at your work.
ReplyDeleteI should give that a try but I can't imagine how long it must take to remove it all when you're done?! I do hate buying that spray (so pricey). Right now my issue is trying to figure out a space in this house to lay it out.
ReplyDeleteI don't really mind basting either - love that quilt - so colorful!!
ReplyDeletePerfect
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/
I like how you ended up putting this one together, and the backing fabric is just perfect! You make scraps look better than anyone!
ReplyDeleteI never minded thread basting and I used a frame too. My problem was barely enough room anywhere in the house. In the summer I took it outside a few times, but then I couldn't stand the frame up against a wall to baste standing up without bending over.
ReplyDeleteNext time I've got to baste a quilt, I'm trying the thread basting. I use safety pins and my hands protest for a few days afterwards!
ReplyDelete