Basting Pins
 

Does anyone use basting pins to hold their quilt in place when quilting? If so, what size should I use? I usually hand bast my quilt before quilting but this takes so long to do. So, I was thinking about using basting pins.

The ones I use are about 3/4 to 1 inch long I think. My friend uses some that are almost the size of what used to be called diaper pins. I put them about a hand-width apart in each direction.

I use large safety pins but there are pins especially for basting. They are curved so they are easier to insert through all layers. I've seen them but already had the others.

I use the 1.5" curved basting pins when I pin. Have been spray basting with a few pins for safe measure.

I pin baste, with the large (curved) basting pins. 1.5" sounds about right. I have some straight ones and I hate them. Definitely go for the curved pins - they are much easier to work with. And larger ones mean you have lots of room to pick up all layers, without having to deform the quilt to get through it all.

Don't forget to get the Kwik Klip if you are using pins for basting.......I wouldn't be without it. It helps you close the pins and really saves your hands.

There is also a gun that shoots plastic tacks. That is how my friend bastes all of her quilts. I have used the flower head straight pins when I ran out of basting spray for a baby quilt. I definitely don't recommend those--OUCH--but they worked in a pinch (and more than a few pokes--LOL)

I am a novice at quilting, so with each one I try a new method. I first tried the herringbone basting stitch with basting thread and long needles and then tried the saftey pins using the Kwik Klip tool. The saftey pins are easier and faster to put in, but I felt more uneasy while learning FMQ when those pins were there. Even though I removed some in the area I was FMQ, I still felt apprehensive that I would veer off-course and hit a safety pin. Stitching near basting stitches that hadn't been removed wasn't as scary!

Harriet Hargrave wrote a book about machine quilting on a DSM. She recommended pinning/basting on a table with the edges of the quilt hanging off. You should be able to reach the middle of the quilt from both sides and gravity pulls the layers to the correct amount of tension without having to tape. All you have to do is mark the table's midpoints with something like a taped toothpick so you keep the backing and top centered.

Sharon Schaumber (sp? sorry I'm at work) has a you tube video that demonstrates how she layers the quilt by rolling on a board and basting with the herring bone stitch.

I'm going to baste a new queen-sized quilt in the next few weeks, and I think I'll go back to using Harriet's table method and Sharon's basting stitch.

and if you don't get the Kwik Klip to help close the pins, just use an old grapefruit spoon. it works fine too.

Silly me. I had bought one of the Kwik Klip's to use when pin basting. Never remembered it when the time came. One day I cleaned out my sewing drawer and saw it. As I was looking for my pins to baste a quilt, I took it out. How did I ever live without it??!! Guess I should go thru my stash once in a while, whether it is fabric or notions, to see what I have. Never know what you will find!!