The lady that quilted my last quilt said she staples the top, batting and backing together with a regular stapler...just opens it up and staples all layers. Using safety pins makes my fingers SO sore, and the basting gun allows too much "give" in the layers, so this would be something i would consider.. Has anyone ever tried this? I would think it would destroy a table top real quickly.

I'm shuddering at the thought of stapling the quilt sandwich - staples are a fair bit thicker than pins, and I always make a mess taking them out of paper ... can't imagine working around them while quilting.

Try fabric basting spray!

never heard of that, but I wouldn't want to do it, use safety pins

Craftybear

There is a little gizzmo called aKwik Klip all you do is put in the pin and this little tool closes then saves a lot of sore fingers you can get them at most quilt shops fr about 10 dollars (Canadian)

I would be afraid of rust... and I have stapled clothing in a crisis, and had it pull threads when I went to remove them... the ends are not smooth and pointed like pins.

I think Basting spray is the best bet..no staples..they are to hard to remove and could rust or damage the fabric

staples? Everyone has their preferred way. However, I would never consider staples - rust, pumching holes in the quilt and making bigger holes when taking them out.....so I wouod never, never, never consider this unless on the very edge and that is even questionable.

great gizzmo, sure does save on your fingers.

I've never heard about that - I use cotton basting thread and that works absolutely fine for me. Nothing disturbs when I use my quilting hoop!

Me too shuddering at the though tof staples. Yikes it would hurt if you missed a couple.

I too use the curved safety pins and about two months ago purchased the Kwik Klip and love it. Got mine through Quilt In a Day store on sale.

I'm going to make a sample square sandwich and staple it all over and just see what it does. I can't imagine getting them all out without a hole or tear but I'm game to try. I have regular staples and I don't know if very fine thin staples are available.

Oh, what kind of stapler open up to staple? None I have will do that.

Maybe I should try a sample also.. The lady who machine quilted my quilt does beautiful work, and on close inspection of my quilt, I don't see any holes, any torn threads, any snags, or any left over staples...

Have you considered basting spray?

Regarding the tacks being too loose, you may have the larger type of tacking gun. Some people go in and out the top (so both ends are on the top) like a stitch to keep the layers stable. I have a micro tacking gun -- smaller needle and uses smaller, shorter tacks -- and that one works fine just going through the layers (one end on top and the other on the bottom).

I don't understand how staples would work. If she opens the gun to shoot the staples, the sharp ends will be sticking out the back because there will be nothing there to bend them closed. Is she by chance a longarm quilter? That might work on a longarm setup where you just need to tack down the edges to the leaders.

Staples are a little scary to me. I don't think I would use them.

A grapefruit spoon works great too!

I agree - yikes staples??

I hand baste my quilts. I've use straight pins, curved safety pins and like the hand basted method the best. I would never use staples. Don't want to make those big holes in my quilt taking them out.

I would not use staples. Knowing me I would tear the quilt when removing.

I use large safety pins and one of those tools (Kwik clip?)--a round handle with a non-pointed sort of nail at the end. It works great. I only use the large ones, however. The smaller ones make the work more tedious.

Have you ever tried the curved safety pins? The larger the better. They are easier use than regular safety pins. I have never tried basting spray. Sounds like it works pretty good!

spray or maybe the tacking gun you have has the long tacks. Try the Microtek - the needle is smaller and tacks are shorter. Staple??!! No way. Like someone said - imagine removing those!

No way would I staple, nor would I pin or tack. Spray basting is the ONLY way for me. No puckers, no pin pricks, no broken back. Working by myself I can layer a king quilt in less than a hour.

I need more info on the spray basting... Would have to baste the backing to the batting, and then the top to the batting? Sound like something I'd definitely be interested in learning.

Yes, super easy! Nothing to learn! Just like you said - spray backing, put batting on, smooth out, spray top of batting, put top on, smooth out - Ta Dah! I did one for the first time yesterday. No fuss no muss and up to 2 months to rearrange it? Oh yeah! Very easy to sew!

I usually start by putting a big flannel sheet on my king bed, putting the batting down and arranging the backing to my liking. Then I fold half the backing over and spray either the batting or the back of the backing and smooth the backing back down. Lift the other half and repeat. Then I flip the whole thing over and arrange the quilt top on the batting and repeat the whole process. I find it much easier to layer-fold back-spray-smooth than to spray first then try to arrange backing or top to batting. The flannel sheet (thanks Mom) is WONDERFUL for holding my work in place without taping and it protects the bedding and furniture from the spray. Basting also lasts much longer than 2 months. Try it and you'll never go back!

Sounds even better!

You don't have to pin at all? It stays put while you are sewing? I machine quilt and have to roll up the sides and move it all around.

I machine quilt also. Will the spray basting hold when you have to move the quilt so much?

It stays unbelieveably well. I usually just scrunch the quilt up under the needle and SITD and/or FM away. Attaching an example of a really big quilt done that way. Also attaching a smaller one, just because I like the design I did in the solid square.

I am going to have to get some of that stuff! A new trick. Yippee.. Thanks for the info.

Hmmm.....A quilting variation of a stapler might work very well. Using 'pins' instead of staples.
Could be a winner.
Any mechanically minded entrepeneur out there?

Love your German Shorthairs. Great dogs!

Beautiful quilts! Thanks for the pics, and the great idea!

Thanks Delilah! They are awesome and spoiled rotten.

Yikes!! What happens if you can't get to it for some time? I would be afraid they would leave marks.

try going on the quilt show .com ,you might find the one i saw on basting they have some free video,s. but just in case you can,t these are the steps i learned from this video i saw for basting from video,there a lady i forgot her name but she shows how to bast your quilt from just using your wall without getting on your knees or hurting your back using newspapers place enougth to protect and cover your wall from bigger then your quilt size to protect wall and then she pins the top only from her back ground fabric frist,next she sprays backing fabric with 505 spray evenly starting from top to bottom next place batting to back ground that has been sprayed with 505 know need to pin just press frimly starting top to bottom next spray other side front of batting evenly put quilt top to sprayed batting and press all over frimly and your done with sandwiching you quilt ,she said it will stay togather for a long time till your ready to quilt it ,hope i help you

Many longarm quilters use staples to attach the quilt to the leaders on the machine rather than pinning.

You are the first one to acknowledge that staples are used! The lady who machine quilts my quilts has a long-arm machine... I had never heard of using staples, so had wondered if it was a technique I could use also.

I agree 100%. I have now used the spray on 2 quilts and will never go back to hours on a cold floor hand-basting.

I just wish the spray was cheaper or the can was bigger!!!
(hehe)

Most of the time I use June Taylor's brand and I get it at Joann's with a coupon. It works as good as any, as far as I'm concerned. I have also used it a little more sparingly with good results lately. You can always add more if needed. The relief on the back and knees is worth every penny though.