I am in the middle of making my first bed size quilt sandwich. (100 x 100) One friend says pin, no spray and another friend says she only sprays. With this big of an area wouldn't it be much easier if I can do a combination of both? If I spray down the edges it is much easier to pull the fabric taut. What are the down sides of the spray?

The smell and over spray mess.

Typically, if you want to do both, you spray baste first and then pin all around the edges.

The downside of spray for me is that it needs to be done in a well-ventilated area. That is hard to do when the weather is this cold!

I spray baste and pin. With all the pushing and pulling through my machine , I want to make sure it holds.

Even on small projects, I atleast pin around the edges after spraying. On a larger one, I would pin some in the center too. I would rather be overly cautious, than have to unsew due to puckering :D:D:D

I spray. Haven't made one that big yet (75x85 is my biggest), but I've never had any problems.

I have some of the June Taylor basting spray, used it, I think after using it, it is not nearly as tacky as 505. I pin very little, that is why now I have come to the conclusion the extra $'s for 505 is worth every penny. Sometimes I do not pin much, if at all.

I spray. Pin in areas thats needed. I also put newspaper under the edges so that if I happen to get crazy the extra doesn't get on the carpet any more than it already has.

I'm currently doing one that's 101x108. I did 3 things to keep it from moving on me. LOL I sprayed, then pinned the borders and did large hand basting on it. Didn't want this puppy to move on me during quilting. LOL

i baste..then move to a glass table top to guilt.i start in the center and work my way out...lovr hand quilting been doing it w/ my g' mq god rest het soul at 6y/o....

I like to pin baste, but have been known to spray in a pinch. I rent time on a longarm for large or particularly important quilts though so I don't have to do either ;)

I've only used June Tailor because that's what Walmart has. I like it MUCH better than pinning. Pinning is too much work. That being said, I spray and then pin a few in the middle and along the edges.

I'm pretty sure the fumes will knock out a few brain cells, so get as much ventilation as possible.

I just finished a 120x120. Spray basted with 505 using Patsy Thompson's method of spray basting against a wall. I did it in the garage, but there was no problem with overspray as I used a drop cloth. I have read many negative comments about spray basting. Some sprays have a strong odor and don't even hold well or for long. The 505 was perfect. The trick is getting just the right amount of product on the back and batt. This was closely quilted on my Bernina 440 EQ and came out beautiful. I will never pin baste again!

I spray only. Haven't made anything real big, just throws and lap quilts but, it works great. I was taught to spray the batting only ------ first the bottom and then the top, half of the quilt at a time. Spraying works much better for me.

The down side of spray basting... having the can run out at 10PM. Downside of Pinning .... the blood I always seem to get on the quilt top in the lightest part of the center.

you need to do what works best for you i think it is a personal thing

Thanks for great input. Does the spray gunk up the needle?

The smell and the fact that you can't touch anothing else until you get all the spray off your hands. It is terrible. I use spray sparingly.

You could do both. Sulky basting spray is non toxic and does not stick on your surfaces. You do have to quilt within 3 days, so work from middle out spray as you go (pinning too is ok) I've found that spraying on the fabric and not the batting is the best way for the spray to work. Good luck and happy quilting! :lol: :lol:

My first quilt i quilted using my sewing machine i just pinned very well and had no problem. The spray i think costs to much without you can use a coupon for it somewhere i do not have a big fabric store close by me and my LQS does not offer coupons and it costs about 13.00 there

Bed sized? I'd pack it up and send the sucker to my sister in law who's a longarmer. LOL....

I just learned about the spray... and the mess it makes. Still, there was another thread on there that talked about how she covered her big bed and floor around it with old sheets? I think, then laid the sandwich over the top of the bed... sprayed the middle first, pinned the edges. Roll up quilt and take it back to the sew room. Roll up sheets and take em to the washer.

I'm going to try that next... sounded like a great idea to me.

I use spray and the smell has never bothered me. I bought a vinyl/flannel tablecloth at Walmart and put that on the table before the quilt sandwich. When I'm finished I can wash off the tablecloth or put it in the washer. The tablecloth is easier to clean than trying to get the spray off of my carpet.

I too used that method on my quilt wall. Put an old sheet up first to protect the quilt wall, then my backing and lightly sprayed it. Then the batting and sprayed it too, worked so well I didn't need any pins at all.

I don't like pinning. Had some puckering with the glue...but pretty good, but for large quilts, I use Sharon Schamber method of basting, it is fast and easy to remove. She has a video on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhwNylePFAA
D in TX

I'm a big fan of spray basting, lightly and in a well ventilated area. The last part is hard to do at this time of year so I go into the sun room, open doors at both ends and spray away. Very hard not to take some basting stitches, but I'm learning.

Works for me, too!

Ya'll might try a fairly new product called bamboo batting. The fabric just clings to it like it was sprayed. I will not use anything else now. It needles well with none of the slubs that cotton batting has. It is very soft and I pin baste very little. It is more expensive, but it is 108" wide and if you add up your costs, it works out to be cheaper.

I mostly spray baste with reinforcement from pins. Be careful of the spray...cheaper isn't always better so I prefer 505 and watch for sales

I have been spray basting with great success. It saves me so much time and pinning was the part I dreaded most about quilting. I just ordered a case of 505 spray - so I won't be running out of spray in the evening hours :) The case was $ 154.00 with free shipping!

I spray basted and hand basted just to be sure.

Patsy Thompson shows how she uses the 505 to baste all her quilts and it looks like a neat way to go.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UoUz..._order&list=UL

i liked the looks of that. wonder if you could spray baste with that method?

I used the spray on my last 2 quilts and love it, I also pin just to make sure. Will use it all the time now.

I spray everything and if it needs more support, I then tack it with large stitches on my sewing machine, which I pull out later.

I started to spray my latest quilt but my husband absolutely refused to let me do it in the house. He said it was flammable plus the smell would make us sick. It was snowing outside so I couldn't try it there either. Guess I'll wait til spring to try spraying something but it sure sounds lots easier.

For the little FMQ I have done, I like the spray. The pins annoy me and sometimes I have a hard time getting them out. Frustrates me. Did I tell you that I haven't done much FMQ?

Plus it's not so good for the sewing machines

I use the spray mainly on table runners. Be careful of your glasses, a friend ruined a pair by getting the spray on the lenses.

i only use spray and will never pin again

I am a pinner. I tried the spray baste but didn't like it. Just me :D