I dont know if it is the spray or me,but I bought a can at JoAnns and followed the directions [shake the can for a full 2 minutes] then sprayed the quit backing from 10 inches, then layed the batting down on the backing and sprayed and lay the quilted piece on top of that. It was a little wrinkled so I tried to move it, and it was hard to take apart, really glued hard. Then I tried to quilt, and the needle got all gunked up and it would skip about four stitches where it would not sew then sew a bit more and skip. I had to rip all the quilting apart....yuck! I put in new needle and it did the same thing. Then I tried just putting a piece of the batting inside some junk fabric and quilted without any spray , and it seemed to sew fine. the can cost $12 so I am very unhappy. I hate to go back to basting by hand. Uny Ideas?

I've never used basting spray. Hand-basting is my least favorite part of quilting. Wish there was an easier way.

I don't think I like that stuff. I used it on a flannel baby blanket and it made it wrinkled.

Hmmmm.....I recently had the same problem with long skipped stitches in spots. Tried everything....cleaned the race, changed needles, rethreaded top and bobbin, took deep breaths, sew and un-sew, over and over. Even though I didn't come to a conclusion as to what the problem was, I finally worked through it, but it was making me crazy!! Never thought about the spray basting. My problem spots MAY have been where there was a little more spray than necessary???

I have used different brands of spray and have found one brand that works well for me. I use it for my art quilts and have never had any problems with sticky needles. Try 505.

Sounds to me like you used the June Tailor spray basting. I almost gave up on spray basting because of this brand.. had the same experience as you. Do try the 505 it will change your mind. And remember a little goes a long way.

Thank you all , it was June Tailor Spray. I will try the 505, do you know who selles it?

I've never had luck sandwiching a quilt with spray, even 505. Just don't feel secure enough for me. 505 doesn't gunk your needles up as bad but I still do the good ole curved pins to hold mine together

I had the same trouble with June Tailor. I have 505 now but have not used it yet. I just basted a set of placemats with it but have not stitched them yet. That's todays project.

Dritz is very sticky, Sulky is OK but I do prefer 505 also. just hard finding it.

I bought a can of this stuff and have been reading all the posts about it. I am not sure I will ever use it. Just call me "chicken"..but I think I would spend more time cleaning up the floor and surrounding area plus positioning the quilt than it would have taken to baste. Count me out on that product!!

I mostly use Sullivans Quilt & Basting Spray from Hancocks because that is the closest fabric store, however, I have used other brands and not had a problem. Spray is the only way I baste quilts, large or small. Is it possible that you sprayed it on too thick even though you were at least 10" away? I use large circle motion when I spray. Sorry you had so much trouble because it really is a pain free way to sandwich a quilt. (I also sandwich standing up, not bending over a table or crawling on the floor.)

I find 505 is the only one that doesn't gunk up the needle, and I don't spray alot, just a quick sweep, enough to give a little tack.

Let me know how that works for you, I have a lot of placemats that I want to make to sell at my shop.

I put an old plastic tablecloth on the floor and then there is no mess.

Sullivans is the only one I also use. I lay a sheet across the tables to help with overspray, and if the glue come in contact with a hard surface, orange oil takes the glue right off.

I love 505 or Sullivans. They work best for me. 505 doesn't smell as bad as Sullivans. I keep having to remind myself not to spray to heavy.

I only use the 505 spray and don't have any problems with it!

me too..and i spray and sandwich on the hallway wall..

http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/blog.php/blog_id/2566

I have used spray since I began quilting 10-12 years ago and would not do it any other way. It sounds to me like you have used a lot more of the spray than is necessary. I know it took me a while to realize that generally one "swipe" across the area is enough. Someone mentions wrinkling, which it does often do, but it washed out easily so I don't consider that a problem.
I have pinned 2 or 3 but now I occassionally use a pin at the corners just to be sure the backing doesn't get folded under, but otherwise, I do not pin. Most of my quilting is in the ditch with fancy stitches. I encourage you to try it at least once more, using a minimum amount of the spray. Good luck. And I have always used June Taylor spray (if that is what Walmart sells, and I think it is.) I'm at my sister's and can't look at my cans of spray--I always try to have 2 or 3 on the shelf.

I've only used the basting spray once and hated it. I just pin baste. It takes a while but I've never been unhappy with the results on my quilting using pins.

I used spray baste for the first time yesterday, and I have June Tailor. It was a bit wrinkled so I had to peel it apart and re-smooth out several sections. But I thought it was just my inexperience that caused it. Or maybe that spray basting works better on smaller quilts (this one is lap sized). I'm tying this quilt, so I guess I won't know what it does to my machine. One thing I did notice is that it's not keeping the edges together. I think I'm going to pin along the border before I start tying.

But now I'm nervous using the spray basting spray on my next quilt!

I use spring clamps with my cutting table and large safety pins for basting....works like a charm.

I'm fairly new to quilting and love to spray baste! I tried the other brands mentioned here, but 505 is the best, IMHO. When I complained to the shop owner where I bought my machine about the "gunked up" needle, she said I was using too much spray. I used less the next time and problem solved! In a quilt class I was taking, the instructor taught us to spray baste. It is much easier if 2 people do it, so I put my quilt on tables covered with an old tablecloth, DH and I work together to work from the center and move out. The 505 is very forgiving and it's easy to move if you have a bump or wrinkle. The instructor told us to use our largest ruler's edge for smoothing, but I like my hands. One big item- NEVER spray the fabric! Always spray the batting- don't know exactly way but it does work better!

I use the 505 all the time. This is for small items only. I have a frame to quilt all lap and bigger quilts. What I do is - lay the backing down and iron it - starch it flat - spray - not too much -lay the batting down and smooth with your hands many times until there is no more give to it - lay the top on the batting. The top has been starched so it lays smooth and flat. Smooth with your hands again so there is no wrinkles or give. Pull half of the top back and spray that area. Now, pull that back onto the batting and smooth that in place. Next - pull the other half back and do the same thing you did with the other half. Sometimes it takes more than just halves.
When I get done spraying and smoothing, then I iron both sides to get the whole thing flat. I iron it from both sides. Just remember not to use too much spray.

I use June Taylor all the time, so far for 120+ quilts and have never had the problems you explained. My first thought when reading your post was that you sprayed too heavily. Also, when layering, I use a different technique. I cover my bed with a large flannel sheet, smooth the back down, arrange the batting on top then fold back half of it and spray it sparingly, then carefully smooth it back down and repeat the process for the other half. Then arrange the quilt top on the batting and repeat the fold back, spray, and smooth down process. The trick is to spray sparingly and give it a few minutes to set up. Some fabrics take to the spray better than others and you can always lift the layers and squirt a bit more if needed. Give it another try on a small project. It is such a back/knee/time saver and so worth the effort.

505 is on sale at Joanns.com for 50% off and free shipping as of yesterday!
D inTX

If you have the room get yourself 4 boards and clamps and thumb tack your pieces to these boards and there is no need to baste.

I use spray all the time, with good results. I like Sullivan's the best. (pink can) You can get it at Hancock Fabrics. I have tried Dritz, and threw the can away- did not like it at all. I'm also not crazy about June Taylor.

Yeah, the 505 is wonderful. I get mine from Connecting Threads.

I use June Taylor brand and never had a problem. I do it the same way as Delilah

Thanks for this link, Kim! I am such a visual learner - this really helped.

June Tailor spray for me, less cost efficient (cheap) and does the job.

Lots have said that June Tailor works, but I still have problems with stitches skipping when I use it, and I use sparingly as I am cheap. One quick swipe across fabric is all I use. I usually use a few pins on corner just to make sure it does not shift because I use so little spray and I still have problems. Can is now in garbage.

I have only used one by Dritz and it did really well. I have looked for 505, but no one around here carries that one....I'll keep looking.

I tried it once and didn't care for it. I now only pin or thread baste.

Connecting Threads has it. I've never seen it in a store.

I like the 505 spray the best also. I usually used another brand but a friend offered me her 505. The difference was amazing! I will definitely use 505 from now on!

I've used the quilting spray but I only use it on small projects that can be laid out in one go. Other then that I don't really like spray basting products.

the 505 spray works for me also. If your batting is of lessor value I noticed it wrinkled for me and change batting and worked fine.