Basting a quilt........
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.
21 comments:
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.
Things like that are definitely relaxing! Love the quilt!!
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.
Why are you basting? I thought you had a longarm. Amie in Tn.
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.
The 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.
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."
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 :-)
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.
Perfect backing for this quilt. Colorful and whimsical as your design on the front.
I 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.
I do enjoy looking at your work.
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 don't really mind basting either - love that quilt - so colorful!!
Perfect
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!
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.
Next 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!
Post a Comment