Pin basting question
 

I pin baste my work, using a large table and bull dog clips to hold the layers to the table edge. Usually I baste my quilt in one session, setting aside an afternoon to do it. Can there be any reason why I couldn't clip my layers out on the table and start to pin baste and then leave it for a day or two before continuing? Must it all be done in one "session"?

I don't see any reason why it needs to be done in one session. However, I'm no expert at pin basting. I've only done a couple with pins. I now spray baste.

I use the same process as you. Seems to me I've left mine overnight or longer while in the midst of pinning. Particularly the monster king/queen sizes. No reason not to leave it. Have to do a bit more smoothing when re-positioning but I do that anyhow.

I baste same as you do, with pins and clamps.
I have left mine overnight (about 17 hours) with no difference seen.

As I see it, there should be no problem with leaving it for a short time--overnight or so. I would try to support the overhang if it was very large and heavy to prevent stretching or distortion. JMHO.

Usually I just use the bull clips to hold the bottom smooth, then lay out the batting making sure it is smooth and then lay the quilt top down. I have left a quilt just as is and came back to finish pinning the next day with no worries but I don't have a cat in the house. Why not just pin the outside edges and then you could reposition the bull clips to hold everything in place.

Thanks everyone. Appreciated.

What size bull clips do you use?

Do you get them at an office supply store or some place like Home Depot or on Amazon?

I don't see a problem with leaving it for overnight. I think I've done that before & don't remember it being an issue. The next time I pin baste I'm going to try it by leaving the pins open. I can't remember if I read that on this board or on a blog somewhere but it sounded good to me. I also read that one quilter left her pins in while she did stippling & just stippled around her pins. That way she didn't have to take them out during the quilting process & it saved a lot of time. These are a couple of things I want to try in the future.

Hi Janecat......I don't know what size bulldog clips I use, just got a box of some big ones from the local Office supply chain over here. Works well.

You could just flip the overhang up onto the table. Not going to go anywhere. just take it easy when you let it down[QUOTE=QltrSue;7440312]As I see it, there should be no problem with leaving it for a short time

Thanks everyone for the advice. I did the first half yesterday and as suggested just flipped my overhang up onto the table. I'll finish the second half today.

you should try the 505 spray baste. The stuff is amazing

I wish I had a table big enough to try basting standing up. I had a knee replacement done in November and have two baby quilts to sandwich.....today! I may try dining table. I spray baste.

I use the same process as you do. My quilts are usually huge and it takes me several days to get one completely pin basted. I've never had a problem. (I do, however, continually have problems when I spray baste, which I've tried, thinking I can avoid all the pinning and unpinning.)

Watched this last night from Man Sewing--some good tips. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-SC63erclc

If I can't finish basting a larger quilt, or sometimes even a small quilt, if I'm dealing with something that needs my immediate attention, I have left it overnight. I seriously doubt that leaving it for a night or two would be a problem. I just noticed that you live in Australia? Where in Australia? I ask because my daughter moved to Sydney to be with her new husband about a year ago and she really likes it there and just started to work at the Sydney Airport. Australia is one place my DH and I have always wanted to visit. We'll see if we can afford the plane fare to go there some day.

sept97....I have used 505 before but I prefer pinning for large quilts that are going to take me a long time. My daughter, the quilts at present are all for grandchildren, prefers that I don't use any spray adhesive no matter that it is supposed to wash out completely.

MargeD...yep, I'm in Australia but not up in Sydney. I'm down in Melbourne. I'm glad your daughter is happy with the move "across the sea". I haven't been up to Sydney for about 50 years but once we retire and start travelling again we hope to get up the east coast for a wander.

Quilt basting all finished yesterday but had a lousy night sleep so doubt I'll get the energy to start quilting today; might just get the machine ready and then sit and read the day away!

As long as there are no cats to jump on it, I say it should be just fine.