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-   -   Question on pinning a quilt. (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/question-pinning-quilt-t123848.html)

nclauri 05-17-2011 04:46 PM

Most of the quilts I have made are wall hanging size. I have made 2 double size quilts. I am currently working on a queen with a deep drop.

I hate pinning a quilt.:-( Everytime I have had to do this it looks smooth on top and I turn it over to look at the back side and it is wrinkled and I can see that it will have tucks. So I have to repin. There has got to be an easy way to do this. (I am doing this on the floor, which adds another challenge). I have a quilt top that has been ready for over two months just sitting in my sewing room. I even thought of having it quilted by a LAQ so I won't have to pin, but I am on a budget and can't afford that option right now. I plan on machine quilting the top with my sewing machine.

Any tips or pointers would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks!

sewingsuz 05-17-2011 04:53 PM

I have seen the suggestion on the board to tape the backing down. Good luck.

BeeNana 05-17-2011 04:55 PM

Google Sharon Schambers. She has a video where you can use boards to roll up the quilt. She used it for basting but it may work for pinning as well. If you can contact a local quilt quild they usually have someone who has a frame that your quilt could be put on. Maybe some of the ladies will help. Nice chance to meet other quilters.
Having a large table like at a senior center or library. Even some churches have social halls where you can put more than one table together helps.

littlehud 05-17-2011 04:56 PM

I always taped my backing down. Pull it a bit to get out all the wrinkles. I tape the corners top and sides. Then I add the batting and tape it down too. Last comes the top. The thing that made it so much easier for me was to use basting spray. It worked much better then pinning for me.

Lisa_wanna_b_quilter 05-17-2011 05:10 PM

I do it backwards.

Put the BATTING on the floor or table. Smooth it out. (The batting seems to sit still better for me.)
Lay the BACKING on top of that. (I find I get the wrinkles out of the backing better when I can see it.) Pin as needed.
Flip it all over and put the top on. Smooth it out and pin.
You can then remove the pins from the backing that only went through the batting and the backing.

This also works very well for me with spray basting.

irishrose 05-17-2011 05:11 PM

I take mine to the church and push tables together. If I time it right, my daughter will stop on her way home and help me move tables and with the taping, then leave me to pin. So far no wrinkles at all.

Jennifer22206 05-17-2011 05:16 PM

I do it the same way as Lisa_wanna_b_quilter does. I use the round top pins for going through the backing and the batting. When I turn it over I use quilters safety pins.

SharBear 05-17-2011 05:17 PM

I use basting clamps from Me Sew (http://mesew.com/clamps.html) and clamp the backing and batting to the table; then lay the top on. I've done this on my dining room table and have been able to pin baste a queen quilt in an evening. If I act pathetic I can even get my husband to help. No wrinkles!

Good Luck!

sewobsessed1 05-17-2011 05:26 PM


Originally Posted by littlehud
I always taped my backing down. Pull it a bit to get out all the wrinkles. I tape the corners top and sides. Then I add the batting and tape it down too. Last comes the top.

This is how I do mine, also. But I don't spray baste, I still thread baste all mine. Just my personal preference as it definitely works the best for smoothness for me.

JCquilts 05-17-2011 05:30 PM


Originally Posted by BeeNana
Google Sharon Schambers. She has a video where you can use boards to roll up the quilt. She used it for basting but it may work for pinning as well.

I use this technique for both thread basting and pin basting and it works great. No more crawling on the floor...good for my knees...

Also, you can usually enlist some help as you can sit side by side to get the job done faster.

When pin basting, put all the pins in a section first, then go back and close them then move the quilt up. The closing of the pins tends to distort the fabric..


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