Beginning my first Quilt Basting any last words of advice???
02-17-2012, 10:44 AM
#1
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SOO, MI
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Beginning my first Quilt Basting any last words of advice???
I am laid out and all set to start spraying.
Any last words of advice would be great. I am laid out of my kitchen table with tile flooring so not too worried about over spray.
Any last words of advice would be great. I am laid out of my kitchen table with tile flooring so not too worried about over spray.
02-17-2012, 11:37 AM
#4
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
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I recommend laying the biggest flat sheet you have over the table first (or possibly on the floor, depending on how big your table is and how big the quilt is) to catch overspray. Just toss it in the laundry afterwards. This is a lot easier than scrubbing a floor!
What I do is first smooth out the backing. Then I smooth the batting on top of the backing until I am satisfied that it is well-centered. At that point, I peel back half of the batting, spray the wrong side of the batting, then smooth the sprayed half of the batting back over the backing. Doing it like this ensures you don't have to struggle with a sticky batting that is not centered on the backing. After the first half is done, do the other half of the batting. Add the top the same way, making sure it is smooth and centered on the rest of the sandwich. Then peel back half the top, spray the batting, and smooth the top back over.
I bought some really nice large clamps at the hardware store that I like to use on the layers when spray basting. Blue painter's tape comes in handy too, for keeping backing fabric from moving around while you are adding batting.
Final tip: Always spray from the outside of the quilt towards the center. This will minimize overspray.
Best of luck, and let us know how it goes!
What I do is first smooth out the backing. Then I smooth the batting on top of the backing until I am satisfied that it is well-centered. At that point, I peel back half of the batting, spray the wrong side of the batting, then smooth the sprayed half of the batting back over the backing. Doing it like this ensures you don't have to struggle with a sticky batting that is not centered on the backing. After the first half is done, do the other half of the batting. Add the top the same way, making sure it is smooth and centered on the rest of the sandwich. Then peel back half the top, spray the batting, and smooth the top back over.
I bought some really nice large clamps at the hardware store that I like to use on the layers when spray basting. Blue painter's tape comes in handy too, for keeping backing fabric from moving around while you are adding batting.
Final tip: Always spray from the outside of the quilt towards the center. This will minimize overspray.
Best of luck, and let us know how it goes!
02-17-2012, 01:01 PM
#5
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 593
Originally Posted by AshleyR
Spray the backing then fold it in. Spray the top then fold it in. Then spread the backing out, then the batting then the top per your usual method
02-17-2012, 03:30 PM
#6
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SOO, MI
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Thanks for all the info. My first spray basting was a GREAT SUCCESS!! I had DS help me with layering the layers teaching him to work from the center out. Proud to say I had NO overspray what so ever so it was an easy clean up. I will be spray basting for now on, this is so much easier then pinning. I have a quilt for my mom that was supposed to be a Christmas gift. I pin basted and started quilting it, I was so frustrated with all the scratches I was getting from the pins i folded it up and put it away. I am now going to pull it out and get it finished, she will be visiting in 6 weeks and instead of mailing it to her I think I will use it on her bed while she is visiting.
Originally Posted by Prism99
I recommend laying the biggest flat sheet you have over the table first (or possibly on the floor, depending on how big your table is and how big the quilt is) to catch overspray. Just toss it in the laundry afterwards. This is a lot easier than scrubbing a floor!
What I do is first smooth out the backing. Then I smooth the batting on top of the backing until I am satisfied that it is well-centered. At that point, I peel back half of the batting, spray the wrong side of the batting, then smooth the sprayed half of the batting back over the backing. Doing it like this ensures you don't have to struggle with a sticky batting that is not centered on the backing. After the first half is done, do the other half of the batting. Add the top the same way, making sure it is smooth and centered on the rest of the sandwich. Then peel back half the top, spray the batting, and smooth the top back over.
I bought some really nice large clamps at the hardware store that I like to use on the layers when spray basting. Blue painter's tape comes in handy too, for keeping backing fabric from moving around while you are adding batting.
Final tip: Always spray from the outside of the quilt towards the center. This will minimize overspray.
Best of luck, and let us know how it goes!
What I do is first smooth out the backing. Then I smooth the batting on top of the backing until I am satisfied that it is well-centered. At that point, I peel back half of the batting, spray the wrong side of the batting, then smooth the sprayed half of the batting back over the backing. Doing it like this ensures you don't have to struggle with a sticky batting that is not centered on the backing. After the first half is done, do the other half of the batting. Add the top the same way, making sure it is smooth and centered on the rest of the sandwich. Then peel back half the top, spray the batting, and smooth the top back over.
I bought some really nice large clamps at the hardware store that I like to use on the layers when spray basting. Blue painter's tape comes in handy too, for keeping backing fabric from moving around while you are adding batting.
Final tip: Always spray from the outside of the quilt towards the center. This will minimize overspray.
Best of luck, and let us know how it goes!
02-17-2012, 08:19 PM
#7
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Northern Idaho
Posts: 476
I took a class several years ago and the instructor showed us to smooth the layers with our forearm rather than just our hands. It is amazing how well it works. Sometimes the smallest ideas make the most difference!!!
02-18-2012, 09:57 AM
#8
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 926
Congratulations! SO much easier than pin basting. I've tried over and over and just can't get both sides smooth with pin basting...probably operator error, as many do use that method.
I smooth with an old 24" ruler that was losing its markings. I lay the batting down first, then lay the backing on (straighten & smooth) and then pull half back & spray directly on the batting...flip and repeat with the top. I do mark centers on the top/bottom to assure the top & bottom are lined up.
We usually lay down a big plastic painters sheet, which I re-use, that way the batting doesn't stick to it. Do be careful with overspray, it is not easy to clean up, even on tile, and beware of anything acrylic (like nails, ask me how I know). It is almost impossible to get off of acrylic nails without a solvent.
I smooth with an old 24" ruler that was losing its markings. I lay the batting down first, then lay the backing on (straighten & smooth) and then pull half back & spray directly on the batting...flip and repeat with the top. I do mark centers on the top/bottom to assure the top & bottom are lined up.
We usually lay down a big plastic painters sheet, which I re-use, that way the batting doesn't stick to it. Do be careful with overspray, it is not easy to clean up, even on tile, and beware of anything acrylic (like nails, ask me how I know). It is almost impossible to get off of acrylic nails without a solvent.
02-18-2012, 02:09 PM
#10
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: South Yorkshire UK
Posts: 1,145
So does spray basting alone really hold the layers together? When I've tried, they've started to come apart again. How much spray do you put on - do you try to cover the whole surface of the fabric and/or batting?
I'd love to find a method of basting a quilt that works for me. Recently I seem to be quite unable to do it successfully, and have had terrible battles with trying to eliminate tucks and creases on the backing. I don't really have a suitable surface to use for basting: my floors are all carpeted, I've no big walls, and my table isn't that big (and is too thick to use the clips from the stationery stores). It's the part of quilting that I dread most.
I'd love to find a method of basting a quilt that works for me. Recently I seem to be quite unable to do it successfully, and have had terrible battles with trying to eliminate tucks and creases on the backing. I don't really have a suitable surface to use for basting: my floors are all carpeted, I've no big walls, and my table isn't that big (and is too thick to use the clips from the stationery stores). It's the part of quilting that I dread most.
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