Need input: Spray basting and handquilting
 

I'm a hand quilter. I'm about to put together a small crib size quilt that I will handquilt. I've always hand basted all of my quilts, but I'm thinking with a small one it would be great to try the spray basting.

My question is for anyone who has hand quilted. Does the spray basting add to the "drag" on the needle and does it gum up the needle?

do you use a hoop or frame?
i tried the spray on a small project just to try it out---was very unhappy- it did not hold for me like basting - my needle did not glide the way it normally does- it didn't really gum up but it was not smooth either- i just didn't like it- but there are people who love the spray- so maybe put together a little (practice) piece to try it out before you actually use it on your real project- to see how you like it...just because i didn't doesn't mean you wont either.

What about trying it out by making something small, like a mug rug, or small table topper ... with similar fabrics and batting as you would for your larger quilt.

It'd be the best way for you to know whether you'll like working with it and the results you get.

i am so nervous about these sprays. chemicals and fabric are a tricky mix. i remember my first quilt teacher telling us about a marking pen she used that, over the course of a couple years and several washes, bleached out a line everywhere she had drawn one.

i stick to chalk, thread and light pencils.

so i'm no help, just a nay sayer :)

aileen

I spray baste all my quilts and hand quilt a lot of them. I think it is a wonderfully simple way to go and have never had a problem at all.

i understand your dilemma - I have thought about the same thing!