Basting

Title: Basting
Post by: nuffsaid on July 16, 2008, 01:49:00 PM

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I
know that a while ago, someone posted the videos showing how Sharon
Shalmer (?) bastes her quilts using the boards to wrap the layers and
then using a herringbone stitch to baste the quilt. Have any of you
tried this method, and what do you think? I just went through a very
disappointing exercise on some gorgeous fabric that is supposed to be a
double-bed sized quilt. I pin basted and machine quilted it. I *did*
use a walking foot, and I try to be as careful as I could, but I still
had many many tucks, and the block sizes shrunk from 6" to smaller. I
do know that part of my problem is that my machine sits on top of the
table and I do not have an extension table for the arm of the machine .
. . so there is more drag on the quilt than should be. So, I will enjoy
the quilt's fabrics and cringe if I look too closely at the quilting of
it. I am beginning to think I should handquilt these larger quilts,
but they take so much time to do by hand. So, what do you think of
Sharon's way of basting, and do you think that this type of basting
would help the machine quilting go better with fewer problems with the
machine quilting?

Thanks a lot for your opionions and advice, Carolyn

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Title: Re: Basting
Post by: finisher on July 16, 2008, 02:37:54 PM

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Carolyn..I
switched to Sharon Schambers(sp?) method last Summer. I just don't have
room to spread my quilts out on the floor. I have basted 2 Queen sized
quilts with her method. I switched to longer and wider boards to
accomodate the larger quilts..and I just love the method! I hand quilt
mostly..so I dunno if there's any difference between that and machine
quilting? With the larger sized quilts I'm doing, I also set 5lb.
weights at the sides of the quilt sandwich to keep it nice and taut. I
don't starch heavily like she recommends though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhwNylePFAA

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Title: Re: Basting
Post by: Krafty Lady on July 16, 2008, 04:42:09 PM

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I wonder if the reason your blocks shrunk, would have anything to do with how thich your batting was too??? Norma

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Title: Re: Basting
Post by: finisher on July 16, 2008, 06:00:29 PM

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Carolyn..I
know you aren't in this country...but if you can find a source that
will ship to you without a huge cost..try the fusable batting..or the
spray baste stuff. I HIGHLY recommend that for machine quilting! Your
fabrics don't shift around AT ALL and it washes right out of the
finished quilt. I have used the fusable batting for machine quilting
twice..(I'm ready to start a third quilting session) and I just love
it! I had NO puckers anywhere..and that's amazing for a first time
machine quilter. :wink:

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Title: Re: Basting
Post by: Alix on July 16, 2008, 06:32:54 PM

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I'll
put my 2 cents in for fusible batting, I've been using it for an
machine embroidery quilt block and it is really smooth to work with but
expensive I think I paid about $100.00 ausd for the larger package I
forget exactly how much was in it, but I bought the floriani and I
think another brand might have been cheaper. I will shop around next
time.

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T

Post by: missmommy on November 28, 2007, 10:34:02 AM

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I
copied and pasted BuickJim's basting lesson from another thread...hope
you don't mind Jim? I use this method but I baste with pins or thread,
not spray, except on wall hangings.

"Here's my methodology for
basting. It makes for pretty quick work. First, get one of those large
accordian style cardboard pattern cutting mats. I just bought a new one
at Joanns for $17. Find the center of it and tape a button to it. Make
sure the button is thick enough to be felt through a layer of batting.

I
also get a couple boxes of the small (1/4") binder clips. I also use
505 most of the time. It really helps cut down on slippage and
puckering.

Press your back and fold it into quarters wrong
side in. Place the inside corner on the button and unfold on the
cutting mat. I usually have the cutting mat on another table. If the
back is smaller than the mat, tape down the back with blue painters
tape. If it is larger, use binder clips to clip the fabric to the mat.

Fold
your batting into quarters and put the inside corner on the button
unfold and smooth out. If using 505, lift up half the batting and spray
the batting. Lay back down and smooth. Lift up the other half and spray
the batting with 505. Lay down and smooth. If not using 505, using
binder clips to secure the batting.

Press your top and fold
into quarters, right side in. Place the inside corner on the button,
and unfold. Smooth out the top. Lift up half and spray the batting with
505. Repeat with the other half. Remember that if you are using 505,
only spray the batting. If not smooth out the top.

I used
curved pins to baste with. If you are not using 505, baste about every
3 inches or so. If you are using 505, baste every 6 to 10 inches. The
smaller the quilt, the greater the distance between pins.

If
your quilt is larger, shift the sandwich to one side the and clamp the
basted side to the mat while you baste the edge. Repeat until all sides
are done. You'll be ready to quilt!"

I used to do this on my dining room table so I could just bounce from chair to chair and baste a quilt in just minutes.

Title: Re: How to Baste a Quilt
Post by: Calico_Chris on November 27, 2007, 03:57:12 PM

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I found method helpful in basting my quilt. I used the herringbone baste stitch that she used as well.

This is a two part video

Part One:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhwNylePFAA

Part Two:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_EjBGz5vGQ

Credits given to Sharon Shambers Technique

NOTE:
I suggest using wider boards, I think it will keep things from moving
around during the basting process. Also I followed Finishers suggestion
on priming and painting the boards (You don't want sap on your project)
Also look for flat level boards.

I've used Sharon's method a few times now. I haven't had any problem with getting it loaded onto the boards, no problems with any puckers or anything when machine quilting. It sure beats crawling around on the floor on your hands and knees! The only problem I had, and this was with my last quilt which was a lap quilt for my very tall nephew, so it's almost a twin size, was with the herringbone stitch. I machine quilted it, and the basting stitches would get caught sometimes on my darning foot. I had done a smaller quilt and didn't have the same problem, but it was a little frustrating on this one. I think next time I would make my herringbone stitch smaller.

That's a good point. I mostly hand quilt so the herringbone stitches haven't been a problem. I snip them if they get in the way. That's a little harder to do when you're machine quilting. It sort of messes up your rythym? I hope changing your stitch size helps.
This method has saved me. I had a stack of tops to quilt because I didn't have the floor space to spread them out for basting. I've done 2 queen sized tops since learning this..and there's that pesky..not being able to get back up off the floor! LOL

finisher wrote:

..and there's that pesky..not being able to get back up off the floor! LOL

Ann, I hear you on that!!!!! Anymore it seems like my wanna do's and can do's are a lot different. They say, "It's no disgrace to get old, it's just inconvenient".