I, too, use the spray - usually 505 bought at JoAnns with coupon. However, I've seen the demo on 'Pinmores' and may order a bag to try. Leah Day uses them now and seems to like them. Here is the link: http://www.pinmoor.com/index.html

I use 505 spray basting. The tute I watched on youtube said one of hers was still good 5 yrs. later. I'm not a professional but have had on puckers using this technic. Just make sure the bottom is tight. I do this on my wood floor with news paper around the edges. The youtube tute hung it on a wall. I don't have a free wall.

I thought Sharon Schamber's method would be time consuming, but it really isn't. Once you get going on the basting, it really moves right along. And, the payoff you get for having the layers basted without ripples in the back is well worth the effort.

I went to a class where the instructor told us of a method to baste your quilt. She used wash away thread to baste the quilt using her machine. Then when she had finished the quilt, she simply washed it and the basting threads would disappear.

Thanks for all the replies everybody. Lots of good suggestions here. I think I'll try Helenquilt's suggestion first. If it doesn't suit me, I'll try another of the suggestions.

Helen, how long is your basting stitch?

Thanks,
Cathy

Hand basting or machine basting ..... an extra step ... plus another one, to take it all out.


I'm sold on spray basting!! :)

What I have heard is that the fusible batts work okay for wallhangings and small quilts, but become nightmarish in a larger quilt. Fusibles are not repositionable in the way that basting sprays are.

Doesn't anyone use quilting frames anymore? I have one that is about 100 years old, and another that was made by my son (the 9 foot sticks) and my husband (the 4 foot sticks). This gives me lots of flexibility in the sizes of quilts I can baste. Of course these were originally made for putting ties onto comforters. My mother-in-law used to use thumb tacks to hold the back in place and then pin the batt and top onto the back with straight pins. Then the neighbors would get together and tie the quilt. Sometimes they sewed the back and top RST and turned it RSO and slipped the batt inside somehow. Then it was put onto the frame and tied.
Our homemakers club still ties quilts we make for charity. We tie four or more quilts in a morning at the town hall. I usually get to do the binding, which I love dong.
I have "improved" the frames by stapling strips of denim unto the sticks so that I can pin the back, batt and top all together. If I will be free motion quilting on my home sewing machine, I pin baste. I can do the whole quilt in about 45 minutes or less. I don't have to roll the sides in like we need to do when we tie because we can't reach the middle.

I used to use a quilting frame to pin baste or thread baste -- until I discovered spray basting. It's much faster for me, and much easier on my back and hands.

I have had good luck using safety pins, the kind made for quilting. Have not had problems with the backing and I quilt them on my Pfaff 2134. I have used flannel, minky, and cotton for backing without puckers. I do have a large crafting type table that I bought at Hancock's and use painters tape and clamps to hold all layers together tightly while pinning. Also, start with SID around blocks to stabilize before I do other quilting, think a Leah Day idea. I have found her ideas to be the most helpful for me. Good luck on finding a way that works for you! :)