Katrine

Should be fine Purplemem - mine has had very heavy use for 3 years and is fine!

bunniequilter

Had one when they first came out, it ended up in the garbage where it belonged. May as well of tried to baste with a knitting needle. Sounds like they ahve improved since I had mine.

Debra Mc

The Dritz & the Prym are a total waste of money. I have broke three of them. They work for a little while, then jam or parts fall out. or the needle shoots across the room & you can find it. I am thinking the Avery-Dennison might be better. Going to check it out.

Katrine

Sounds like they are - I've never had any problems like that with the Microstitch.

thepolyparrot

:lol: Absolutely!

Katrine, thanks for the link to the MicroStitch. If I break this gun, I will try that one.

I should get one of those removal tools - I pick up one crossbar between my fingernails and snip the darn thing with scissors - the tool would probably be a lot faster.

I use the Kwik Klip (Quik Clip?) with the gun and that helps save wear and tear on your hands. (You can use just about anything including the bowl of a spoon or a nutpick handle or screwdriver.)

You just lay the tool on the top, push the needle down and under the backing and back up through the top and over the tool. Push on the tool to move the fabric all the way up the needle before you pull the trigger.

It takes a lot longer to say it than to do it - you can baste a big quilt in nothing flat.

Katrine

Yes the removal thingy safeguards against cutting a hole in your fabric - all too easy to do when trying to get the tacks out with scissors!
And with the Microstitch, the tacks are smaller, so you only need to go through the layers once - you do not need to bring the needle back up again, it holds securely with just one piercing. And the tacks are small enough to not leave marks/holes in the fabric.
I have a Kwikclip to use with safety pins, but have never had to use it with the gun.

Quilter Day-by-Day

Thanks for all the info so far it sounds like the Micro Stitch is the way to go I'll check into it.

ann clare

I use Micro Stitch and find it very good. For a very large quilt I add a few safety pins. Weighty quilt once pulled the tacks apart.

Maus

Thank you for starting this thread. I have never heard of basting, much less thought of doing it this way.
Thanks also for the link to the gun otherwise would not have had a clue to what this was about. So it looks like I may have another 'tool' in the box soon!!

Carrie

I have a Dennison and love it. Also use it to keep stacked pieces together for blocks as I'm cutting for a quilt. Keep track of yardage on fabric stash; measure and record amt. on slip of paper and then tag it. Record new amount if I cut from piece.