Well, it won't be done for Christmas morning.
 

I'm just sick. I've been making a larger version of the quilt pictured below for my daughter in California for Christmas. (Can't remember where I saw this one, may even have been at my own guild, easy to copy. I also made it for our guild's Community Quilts program.) Of course, I have to mail it in order to have it there on time; and therein lies the problem. I'll never make the deadline!

I mentioned before that this quilt has given me no end of picky problems, even though I've made it before -- not even 6 months ago. It's like my skill set just flew away one night. This afternoon, after hand basting all last evening (very sore hands keep me awake much of last night) and almost finishing with that part, I unclamped it all from the table, turned it over, and discovered that the backing was all lumpy and rather loose looking. AND one side of the backing was about an inch short of the edge of the top!! :shock: How in the world.....:hunf:

I was so disgusted, but I cut another strip of backing -- thank goodness I had enough extra fabric -- and sewed it on, going slowly and fighting the bulk of the basted quilt as I did it. But I saw the end also has really close-to-not-enough-backing; and now I feel like I have to address that, too. Sigh

So, after consulting with my DD about that fact she won't get her gift by "the day", I've taken a deep breath and decided to remove all the basting. Boy, is that gonna hurt; probably gonna need a spiked eggnog afterward, too.:( Then I'll have to rethink how I want to baste it the next time.

It's been a while since I tried glue basting and I wasn't all that happy with how I did it then. I'd love to hear some pointers from those experts who do it often and will encourage me.

Thanks.

Jan iin VA

so sorry that you are having all of the problems. But I have been there myself!! Doesn't it seem like the problems always happen on the project that we have to get done by certain time... just adds to the frustration

have a few of those spiked egg noggs you've earned them :)

I am sure that I don't have the answer you are asking for, but I too have tried glue basting and I am not happy with it. I must get something horribly wrong because so many here seem to like the glue basting. I agree that is cheaper and I am for finding more economical ways to do things... but I struck out big time with the glue basting

I know the 505 spray is expensive, but sometimes I just bite the bullet and buy a can. I bought a can today because my time and frustration come with a cost as well

I will be watching this thread, maybe I will get a better understanding on what I did wrong with the glue basting

I really want to use 505 as I have a can, but, it's less than 30 degrees outside so I can't open windows and doors. Won't I be drunk or unconscious or something if I don't ventilate?! :confused: :p :D
Jan in VA

no, but the overspray goes exactly where you dont want it, and it is hard to contain on a large quilt.....sorry for your predicament. Beautiful quilt, though.

Oh dear. I glue baste all the time with no issues. I love it. A poster on here reminded us that glue basting replaces pin basting, not spray basting. At least that's how I look at it. I lay the batting down (cotton) and smooth it out. Then drizzle the glue on the batting either in a grid or meander. I find with a full bottle it doesn't take much squeezing. I do about a half at a time. I have never thinned it with water. Then smooth the backing over the batting smoothing and adjusting. It doesn't take all that long. Then pull back the batting on the other side and glue it up. If you get a glob smooth it out and rinse your fingers. Then flip over and do the front. Once one section is glued you can maneuver the sections around to get it all. At least that is my experience. Let the glue dry and then quilt. Some people iron to speed up the drying process. I have never done that. I have never had a sticky needle or a needle break and none of my machines have gotten "gummed up". The trick is to let the glue dry. Try it on a sample and see if you like it.

I use June Taylor's spray baste and love it. I put the backing face down on my long table, & put the batting down on it. Then I take a long cardboard tube from my poly batting, roll the batting on it, spray & roll it back &smooth it together. I only do small portions at a time & it works fantastic!! Do the same thing with the quilt top & then let it sit overnight to let the spray baste dry so there's no sticky residue to glue up your needles. Hope this helps!

I've spray basted indoors with only the exhaust fans running for ventilation--seemed to go ok.

HI Jan, don't have a good solution (well, I agree with the spiked eggnog), just wanted to commiserate a bit. It seems like every now and then a project goes all wonky. It seems like it's always one that has a time deadline.
BTW, since it's gonna be late anyhow, I would wait until January to send it. I think the closer you get to the holiday, the greater the potential for your package to go astray.

I don't open windows when I use 505 spray...I have never had problems. I better read that can!!!?!?!

Such a nice and simple pattern! I would love to see some measurements to copy it for a donation quilt. I like to make mine with as few pieces as possible.

Do you know a longarmer who could baste it for you?

I have spray basted indoors by turning a fan on low just to stir the air. This time of year west a sweater. Sorry for your troubles.

Gosh, I've spray-basted (followed by safety-pinning) many quilts in my basement where I have a very accommodating pingpong table. While I've always moved my sewing machine out of the area, I've figured that any water-soluble spray would be dissolved in my lungs and rendered harmless.

My squares in the center this time were cut @ 5.5" sq. The pieced strips up the side and across the top were cut @ 3" wide and many were 8" long. The background strips between them were also 3" wide. The squares for the 9 patch at the top left were cut @ 3" sq. The rest of the background was cut various sizes to create the total size quilt that I wanted.

Jan in VA

Jan, I haven't tried it yet, but on Youtube there is a lady who wraps her quilt on boards. It seems like a great way to do it.
Then there is another lady who spray baste hers on the ironing board and then irons it. It seems like it would be a great way to do it. Check it out before you go to all the trouble (what trouble!) again. Good luck with it!

Now that you know you won't get the perfect mom award, relax and enjoy the process knowing your daughter will love it and she'll be happy to get it when it's ready.

I can only commiserate and maybe a little glue high would be okay. Ha!

I spray baste on my basement floor. When it is really cold...like today, I do not open doors to outside, I just do not breathe the spray. I try not to use too much. The cement floor just mops up. You could wear a mask, and tape newspaper around your quilt to prevent overspray if you don't have a large open area. My ceilings in our basement are 10 feet high. Hate crawling around on the floor, but this works best for me. Enjoy your eggnog!

I use the spray basting as well but very lightly...I pin all the way around the edges after I get it smoothed out ...then ironing is a must, both the top and back...you will be adjusting the pins as you smooth it...make sure you have left a good amount of backing fabric on the edges for that....as I quilt I check from time to time to see how it's looking...even take it off the machine and iron again if need be....good luck with your project.....

I also use the glue. I heat up a cup of water in the microwave then let the glue bottle sit in it for a few minutes. Helps make it flow quicker and easier. Be sure to put the glue onto the batting not the fabric! I do iron mine to make it go faster and any glue on the iron simply washes off with water. I usually do it on a large plastic table and keep it moving across the table so it is easier on the back and the knees. Love it so much I bough a gallon of glue to refill my bottles.

Maybe it is time for another set of hands. Can you and a friend find a church or quilt shop with tables you can use? Big quilts are difficult for me to spray baste, but I ask hubby to help or go to my quilt shop. I spray baste all year long with no problem...that I know of???? Wishing you success and a Merry Christmas!

This is my "sweet spot" for spray basting......it works so well for me. I have a design wall that is bolted to my wall, it's just a 2×4 frame that has a BIG piece of batting staplegunned to it. I first of all spread the batting onto the design wall, making sure I smooth out all the wrinkles. Then I take flat king size sheet and spread it out in the backyard (don't be a woose, I did this yesterday and the temp.was about the same.) I then lay out the backing, wrong side up...don't worry about how perfectly it is laying.....spray the whole backing, then fold it in four, sticky side in. Go back to your design wall, smooth the backing into the batting, getting all the wrinkles out. Then you can take it down, press this with your iron, if you wish, to help the glue to set a bit more. Now flip it over, so the batting is towards you and put it back onto your design wall. Smooth out. Now take your quilt top outside (can be right outside your door.....it takes about a minute.) Lay it out, wrong side up...doesn't have to be perfect. Now spray this, fold it in quarters, sticky side in, and get back in where it's warm! Now you can put this up on your design wall, smoothing it out so that it's nice and flat. Again, press so that it adheres a little better if you wish. You can put some pins around the periphery of your quilt if you wish...I usually do....but it is a totally painless, easy, and effective way of spray basting a quilt. Jan from Ontario

So sorry, Jan, that so much went wrong. I can relate about the skill set seeming to have disappeared over night.

I spray baste inside but not sure how good it is for the lungs. What I hate most, however, is the over spray, for which there is no solution...that I've found. Perhaps you could wear a paper mask? Others have suggested some good ideas, including using Elmer's washable glue; hope you find something that works.

To commiserate: I've finished piecing a Union Jack quilt for my DIL for Christmas but I lack the courage to try quilting it, mainly because the backing is solid blue, meaning every stitch will show, I can't decide on color of thread, and I don't really have time, anyway, with all else I have to do. So she may just get the top, with a promise of quilting to come later, alas. I did make a Union Jack pillow, though, out of one leftover block, so there's that......

When I use 505, I put freezer paper all around the quilt. It catches the over spray. I have never had an issue with any order from 505. I use it in my basement, where my sewing room is all the time. Good luck with your quilt. I know your daughter will be happy with it when she receives it. Merry Christmas Jan, and enjoy your quilting.

Jan I feel your pain. Your daughter will remember and appreciate the hard work and care that you put into this quilt forever. Many times we remember the story more than the gift. You'll get there and will be happy you made it to your standards.

Oh Jan, what a bummer!

Unfortunately your post has been edited so I can't see the quilt, but I can commiserate on the basting. I'm sorry you're so far away or I'd volunteer to come help you pick stitches! That sort of thing goes about 10 times as fast if you have even just one helper.

As for my basting technique - I glue baste (Elmer's), up on a plastic folding table that I set up on risers. NO more crawling, hunching, squatting...so much better on my poor back. Also no more taping backing down, and no more poking myself or creating super sore spots on my fingers from pinning.

If I'm doing a baby quilt I can just eyeball things but otherwise, I fold my batting, top, and backing each in half (separately) and mark the fold points with Clover clips, then do the same on the other sides, so I know where the middle of each side is of each layer in the sandwich.

Then I plunk down my batting on the table and I like to start with the table pretty much centered in the batting. Then I lay out my backing and get everything lined up right with the clover clips. Leaving the clips there, I then fold it down to expose half of the batting, and drizzle-dot my glue. Smooth the backing down, repeat on the other side. Shift the whole shebang over to an unglued area, peel the backing back again to expose more batting, add glue, smooth it down. Shift, peel, glue, smooth, shift, peel, glue, smooth...until the entire backing is done.

Then I just flop the now glued backing and batting over and start over for the top - center the batting on the table (naked batting side up), lay the top out carefully to make sure all my clips are lining up OK, then start the "shift, peel, glue, smooth" routine over again with the top.

When all of that is done, it needs to dry. If I'm not in a rush this is when I drape it over something so it's flat-ish and just walk away and let it sit for a couple hours (or more often, overnight). If I AM in a rush, this is when I roll out my big pressing board and spend some time heat-pressing all over the whole quilt. The clips come off as soon as all 3 layers are stuck together.

Once the glue is dry, the quilt is really well held together and will tolerate quite a bit of handling without coming apart. I check for any bagginess, puckers, misalignment, anything weird BEFORE I put any stitches in. If I find anything wrong, I can either spot-wet the quilt for small fixes, or if I've really made a mess of things I can throw the whole thing into the tub with some warm water and soak the layers completely apart and start over. (This is a messy process but I've done it a couple of times and you can never tell when the quilt is done!)

Stitch it all up, and toss it in the washing machine when done. Presto! A quilt with no puckers. :)

When I made my first quilt, I had to add the backing three times. It was a queen size quilt and had a trillion safety pins on it. About glue basting: I only did it a few times but I used the Elmers school glue and just streamed it on, took a ruler and spread it out and ironed it flat. I've also used it while piecing and always wash it out later. Good luck.

I always put a large sheet down first before I spray and do it in another room so I can leave the fumes :sew:

The quilt is gone. Nan got to it before I did.
Jan, could you post a link to it? I would love to see it.

So very sorry to read of all the problems you are having! Always happens when we are on a deadline. I say put it away for a few days. Do something different and then come back after you are refreshed....it will be Beautiful!!

Check with a neighborhood or local DDS, I am sure they would sell you a box or a partial box of disposable face masks or even just give you a few. And maybe inquire about some disposable gloves too (just to have on hand). I use disposable gloves when i need to roll or mix meat as in meatloaf or meat balls or roll cookie dough or cut hot peppers.
I have had those days too where the window must have been open and knowledge and skills flew out.

For glue basting, I lay out the backing, wrong side up, (on top of a thick plastic sheet I bought at Walmart by the yard) I bought a gallon of Elmers school glue, so I transfer some to a picnic mustard bottle to make squeezing easier. I swirl glue all over trying to keep my lines around five inches apart. Carefully lay the center of the batting over the top and smooth. I again swirl glue on the batting, keeping my lines near five inches apart. I lay the top right side up and smooth. Leave in place to dry. Once it is dry (about 24 hours for safety) I can then slide it around to glue baste the sections that were not glued the first time. I have found this to be the easiest way to glue baste since I do not move the quilt while wet, I do not get puckers or tucks on the backing. DH calls the nights the table is drying a quilt, "serve yourself nights" and we eat on TV trays. My dining room table is 53" square so I can glue baste all but the largest of quilts in one pass. I did try spray basting, but the overspray mess was more than I want to clean up.

*(Just a quick note, before I start to glue baste, I find the center of the backing, batting, and top. On the backing I put a safety pin in the wrong side of the backing, one on the right side of batting, and one on the front of the top, so I can center each one as I stack them removing the safety pins as I go.)

I have used the spray indoors but found I had to ventilate it very well. Thanks for showing us your quilt show, your wonderful creations! Wow,, are you ever creative. I could never do such a wonderful job as you. I hope you are able to solve your dilemma and make the quilt turn out the way you wanted it to--even if it is later than you wanted it to be. I agree that I wouldn't even try to mail it now. That would be the one quilt to not make it through the crowded PO. Just wait until the mail slows down. The quilt will be much loved whenever it arrives. Hope your Christmas is a lovely one.

So sorry that you are having so many problems with the quilt. Sometimes it just happens. I made a couple doll quilts for my DGD, one small enough to go with the bedding I made for a wooden cradle that she's getting for Christmas. Those went fine, however, in my infinite wisdom??? i decided to make doll clothes for her American Girl doll that we gave her last year, and the entire process has been one of total frustration - missing pattern pieces, missing cut out pieces, I'm sure the sewing Gremlin had something to do with that. However the doll clothes come out, as long as they are finished, I'm sure that my DGD will be happy with them,as she loves everything I make for her. In fact, last Sat. we babysat her so her parents could go celebrate their anniversary and she asked me if I had an Easter hair band that she could give to her friend. Thankfully, I had made far too many head bands for the Fair in Nov., so I let her pick one. That was a special request, but then she's a very special little girl. Hang in there, I'm sure you daughter will be happy whenever the quilt arrives.

Hi Jan, I am not experienced enough to give you any recommendations or advice but I will encourage you to never give up. You are an excellent quilter and I've seen your quilts. I wouldn't rush and just take my time. Sometimes if you put a project aside and then go back to it, you're refreshed. Also, I don't see the quilt posted either. I would definitely have that spiked egg nog!

I glue basted for years with no trouble at all. I even put a tutorial up on this site. I thinned my glue a bit and used a larger bottle similar to picnic condiment bottles. I would do one side and flip it over and do the other side. I even did 120 x 120 quilts this way until I bought my long arm. Never had any trouble with sewing the quilt, the washable glue would wash out when I washed the quilt and loved the results. I was fortunate to have a ping pong table to do this on, but it wasn't very sturdy anymore and used the money to replace it to help invest in the LA. Best of luck with what ever you decide to do.

Jan, I use 505 for all my quilts and love it. If I was doing it in the living area, I would lay newspaper down to catch the overspray, but I do it on a ping pong table in the basement. I use boards that are the width of the quilt and do half at a time: first tape backing, then smooth batting.........rolling it half way up the backing and spray, unroll. Repeat on the other half. Do the same for the top. A regular member, sorry I don't remember who, said she starches her backing like cardboard to reduce wrinkles. If you have a smaller space, you may have to starch and then re-baste, but since Christmas is no longer a deadline..............take your time and don't kill your hands.

I do basting a lot like Sewnoma and Madame Kelly.
I have found I like it better if I put the glue onto the batt. Then after I have the back lined up, I use my iron and press most of it. It doesn't matter if I miss a few spots, but pressing holds everything in place right now.
Then I can turn it over and put the glue on the batt again, add the top and press. Then it can set for a while or be quilted right away. If the glue has been pressed, it's probably dry enough.

I try to do this process on the large banquet tables at church or at the library. That way I can pin the centers of all three layers right away, lift up one end, glue about a third of the way down, flip down, smooth and iron. Then lift up that end again as far as it has been done and continue on the next third.
When that half is done, I have to turn the whole thing around so that the un-done part is facing me. I have my iron plugged into the outlet near the kitchen serving windows, so that makes it closer for me.
Now I can flip the entire sandwich over and start the other side. I can get this done on a king size quilt in less than an hour. It's the ironing that takes more time.

This sounds like a way I want to try. Thanks for posting it!

PaperPrincess, I feel your pain and disappointment. I agree with the suggestion that you wait until after the first of the year before shipping the quilt. Perhaps you could put it away for a few days, at least until your hands are less sore.

I don't know how large the quilt is, but I have invested in two long maple boards (7 foot = 84 inches). Sharon Schamber's technique for sandwiching the layers works for me. I've had success with spray basting sections or simply using the large "Z" tailor's basting stitch with a single strand of cotton floss. You might be able to accomplish the same thing using the pool noodle or cardboard tube from a roll of batting.

It's too bad that we don't live closer together, as I'd enjoy basting your quilting. There is something about the Z baste that puts me in a relaxed mood. My fingers seem to have less strain. Do you have a buddy who can help? Take care