Does anyone use a basting gun? I have been looking at the Micro Stitch Gun. Do you find it is an easier way of basting the layers?

I like spray adhesive the best. I use Sullivan's. $10. I've used it for about 8 baby size quilts now and still using it.

I have a Quilter's something basting gun, paid about $29 for it.
I don't like the holes in pokes in the fabric, and I don't like having to baste every four inches. Also, it works better with a basting grid underneath. My back doesn't hold up.

I don't like basting with thread for the same reason. My long arm quilter charges $20 to baste. That's too much to me.

My friend uses the quilting basting safety pins. Same problem with my back.

Hi there, I do use a basting gun. Bought one myself and didn´t read the instructions before I touched it and promptly bent the needle (Now useless) So I use the one we have had our Group. You get two types of plastic teeth that go through the material and the smallest ones are the best and work just great, doesn´t make holes that I have noticed they are very fine. Only think is you have to be careful you don´t catch the material when you are taking them out, I find scissors that have a bend in the tip are the best for this.

I wish I could get Basting Glue here, well I could if I travelled about 1 hour and then spent a fortune because its so expensive. Next time I go to England will treat myself, I think that is far the better option. Or when I have visitors will get them to bring me some.

Elle

I have a micro basting gun don't use it a lot but have used it with success....there's my two cents.... :D

I just started to use the basting gun. Cuts down the time to bast the quilt ;but the red things get in my way when I quilt by hand.

I bought 1 on ebay and have used it once. It left holes that I didn't like , however, when I washed the quilt- they went away. The little thingies did hand up the thread some when I was machine quilting though.

I had tried one a few years ago. I also did not like the holes it left in the fabric. I love my quilt basting spray. :mrgreen: It saves lots of time.

I use quilter's safety pins only. They work great for me.

Linda D.

I bought the Dennyson microstitch - wouldn't be without it :D Heres a picture or two so you can see how tiny the tacks are, leaves no holes, and Elle you can get a tool that is like a little fork that slides under and you lift up and it clips the end off :D

Izy that is awesome...my microstitch uses this same size and I too have no problem with clipping the little thingys...and it was fairly cheap at our local store...that work you've done is awesome too!

Ah ha, so thats how its done easier. Thanks Izy. By the way WHAT is that you are making something NEW :wink: So you have finished that gorgeous first one that you are making ....right.... and the one for your Nephew.....right.... LOL LOL LOL Love it, I am just the same now..

Thank you Izy, very helpful with the illustration. Thats the gun I was thinking about getting. Do you use a basting grate as well, or is that not necessary?

Katrine - I wouldn't bother with the grate, I just follow the usual procedure for layering up, the just add a few long pins to hold it then transfer to the kitchen table moving all the regular chairs away, and sit myself on my office chair on wheels and swing myself around the table. Basically just place my hand underneath with my forefinger and middle finger spread apart, then push the needle through until the fabrics are butt right up tight as far as they will go to the top of the needle then fire it, be careful though as the needle is VERY sharp and can scratch your skin, just brushing against your fingers. You need to put at least one tack every 2" of quilt and you can stitch right over the top of the tacks with no distortion or damage to your needle. It took about one hour to baste half a king size quilt!! :D

Cathie this is my first quilt (still in progress!!) here is a link to the topic if you would like to see more!! :D

http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/4544.page

I have a Quiltak and love it. I also got the grate for Christmas and I think it makes it a lot easier to use the gun

I cannot get down on the floor to baste so bought a $59 cutting table at JOANNS. It is only 36 inchs wide but I center the quilt on it and pin then move it to each side and pin. I bought those plastic clips that hold the quilt to the table but you can use those big black clips. Got those at the dollar store. The plastic ones you use on the backing then put the batting and top on and clip with the black clips. I do stretch my backing not the batting, just smooth it out nice. I do stretch my top a little.
It works every time and no backaches. No folds either.
I use the bent quilting pins and got the plastic covers for the pins with a 50 percent off coupon at Joanns. You can clip them with a crochet hook .But I bought the hooker with the wooden handle. Now basting is a breeze.

Izy, that great, thanks. I have read all the advertising blurb about the Dennison, but much better to ask someone who has used it successfully.

Rose Marie - yes, I got knee problems so cant get down on the floor with the quilt. I have two 3 metre long x 60cm wide tables I can put up and have pinned together on these before, using the bent pins, but thought I could make it a bit easier still.
Wish I could bring a big truck over to the US to fill with all the quilting goodies just not available here - oh would I shop til I dropped!

Wow!! You are doing a fantastic job on your first quilt!! You either have lots of sewing experience or you are gifted. I won't show my first quilt to anyone. :oops:

Cissy...only ever did straight line sewing prior to starting this quilt, most of the blocks were done by hand until I realised it would be alot quicker by machine, so basically just got stuck in, I have just been quilting it this afternoon :?

I'm partial to getting down on the floor with 5000 safety pins and not being able to walk upright for 3 days after I get all the pins in.

I bought a basting gun at Joanns and it broke quickly. My DH bought me one like dept stores use for pricing garments from uline.com and it uses the same tags as the other guns (also more expensive but built much better). I also bought the grate. I like to use the grate but it would be better to have more than one (more like 3 or 4) because you have to keep moving either the quilt or grate and if you are in a confined space, it gets kind of crazy! I was able to tack my quilt and stabilize it before quilting. The tacks didn't get in the way. I used sharp snips to clip them.

I read quite abit about the basting guns and grids, and one tip I read was to add long straps to each corner of the grid which you can use to slide the grid up and down easily. The Microstitch Gun by Dennyson is what I have and our group shares one between several of our quilters and upto now we have had no problems with it. :D