I still thread baste by hand and prefer the technique on larger quilts. I began this years ago when I had one 6 foot folding table to work on and a dozen jumbo bulldog clamps to help layer the quilt. I take long 1.5" stitches with a contrasting waxed quilting thread, such as YLI, in rows about 4" apart horizontally across the quilt, never diagonally. moving the quilt and clamps to fit the quilt to the table. For me, this method holds the quilt very well through hand or machine quilting and much manipulating or the fabrics and I'm not exposed to the spray or its stickiness. I just enjoy the process.
I spray baste placemats, wallhangings, etc.
Jan in VA