Has anyone ever used Aqua Net as a basting spray?

This is a posting from a person who wrote about the hair spray.

"I love 505, but it's expensive. After a recommendation, I tried Aqua Net (yes, the awful hairspray!) and it works great. You can reposition, it stays stuck, and there's no discoloration. The ingredients are also almost identical to 505...and it's less than two bucks for a HUGE can."

Yep, I posted a thread about that a while ago, let me find you the link...


http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/15847.page

Well it smells the same :lol:

I am not at all surprised about this!! My grandma used that stuff. It was awful!! I never felt it but I bet her hair was hard as a brick!

that may work just fine. be sure to soak it out when done though. as you should with any "basting" spray. good luck :mrgreen:

I never used it on quilts but it's a cheap fixative if you draw with pastels or charcoal.

You must have read the same link. It was on iVillage :wink:

My only concern with the hair spray would be gumming up my sewing machine. It certainly would not be worth it, if that would happen.

Did you ever give it a try?

LOL! yeah, I always used to use hairspray on my chalk pastel, conte or charcoal drawings.



ETA: I never used the hair spray because ppl told me it really gums up the needle.

I guess it would wash out ok. I would be worried about gumming up my machine. I know what it did to my hair.

I have never used it for sewing, but I think the rest of the ladies are right about it guming up your needle & machine. I think I would be leary of this thought!! :(

if it has the same ingredients...then I would imagine I am gumming up my machine with 505 too. Wow, I know i have cleaned needles with vinegar after sewing on 505. don't use it much but it comes in handy.

Pretty sure I wouldn't want 505 on my hair!!!!

I too have used this on charcoals and pastels. One thing that I remember from "way back when" When it was THE thing to use on your hair is that there was an article about being very cautious as it was quite flammable. Not sure if it's still just the same, but I'd be very careful about washing it out. It is a laquer.

I have used aqua net to set and seal the starched crochet thread ornaments and different paper mache items I used to craft. But it was not one of my favorite hairsprays when the big curl up dos were in style. It was a shellac feeling stuff and the humidity made it sticky. Think I'll keep using pins instead of spray. :lol: :lol:

Thank you everyone for your input. I too was leery of the hair spray as a basting tool. It was an interesting idea, but think I'll just skip the sprays, and stick to pin basting, even if the back is wrinkled or puckered.

Any other ideas on how to get a smooth backing when machine quilting. I've tried the 1/3 quilting as I go, and had to take out the stitches on that technique too.

I get my backing really smooth by washing my fabric, and then starching it really well. When I lay it on the floor I use masking tape or painters tape to hold it in place. I then tape the batting to the floor as well. I'm lucky, in that, I can do this at work where I have enough floor space.
Rose Hall

I completely forgot about starch. Do you use spray starch? :?:

Try 606 Spray and Fix no-sew fusible adhesive for applique and quilting. GiGi

Never heard of 606 Spray. Any residue on machine or needle?
Where can it be purchased?

Thank you for your input.

I don't think I would take a chance on it. The stuff stains and is very flammable.

I mix liquid starch (like you would use in the wash) in a spray bottle with water. Don't have an exact ratio, if I need more stiffness in my fabric I use more starch, less stiffness--more water. It's cheaper than buying the pre-made spray--I'm all about cheap!!!!

Have a GREAT Friday everyone!

Rose H.

Thank you for your quick response. I would like to finish this quilt for a friend who has been very sick for a long time. I know she will appreciate it, and not care if there's puckering on the back, but it's still frustrating. Starching sounds like the ideal answer.

:D LOL sorry can't help it!! I wouldn't use just for the fact I used it on my hair back in the 60's with our bouffant hairdos. Smelled bad but we endured it anyway. Ignor

:D LOL sorry can't help it!! I wouldn't use it just for the fact I used it on my hair back in the 60's with our bouffant hairdos. Smelled bad but we endured it anyway.

I have used aqua net a lot of times on small quilts and totes,,,,works great!!! And smells good too!

Have you tried Hobb's Fusible Batting? I like it. You layer your quilt and iron. It keeps everything from shifting.
Angie

Thanks for all the great hints!!!

I put the back down on my quilt table with the very big 2 inch binder quilts. You an get one containter from Staples for a reasonable price. I just clip the backing to my quilt table, place the batting and top on and then either pin, or baste depending on whether I am going to machine quilt or hand quilt.

Di

Do you stretch the backing before you pin? I use masking tape (If the table top is too thick, or if it's on the floor) If you are pinning on a table, you can use big binder clips to secure the quilt backing. Then put the batting and top on to pin. This usually prevents the bunching that leads to pleats on the back.

No, I haven't tried the fusible batting. I will give it a try. Thanks for the info.