Title: Safety pin basting
Post by: Pawstoquilt on May 17, 2008, 07:58:52 AM
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This morning I have been safety pin basting a baby quilt. I bought a pkg. of 1" brass pins and I don't think I like them. They seem "sticky" pushing them thru the layers. Are there pins that are better than brass? These pins were not cheap pins. I think my preference is still thread basting.
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Title: Re: Safety pin basting
Post by: Merry Bee on May 17, 2008, 10:33:45 AM
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What if you rubbed them with wax paper; would the wax ruin the quilt? Maybe you could buff them with a good old raggedy wool sock.
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Title: Re: Safety pin basting
Post by: Pawstoquilt on May 17, 2008, 11:21:22 AM
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MerryBee. by the time I did all of that, I could have it thread basted!!!
:2funny: :2funny: :2funny: :2funny: :2funny:
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Title: Re: Safety pin basting
Post by: quilton on May 17, 2008, 12:08:45 PM
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Mrs. Paws this is what I use. Cheap curved safety pins, size 2. They are nickle covered steel or so my store's website says. I also use a tool that is called a Kwik Klip to help. Let me know if you can't find one.....I'll send one down to you.
Lay it on the fabric where the point of the pin comes through. Fabulous tool.
""Kwik Klip™ ends sore fingers, reduces basting time, and ends bunching. Using Kwik Klip™, safety pins close effortlessly, preventing broken nails, stuck fingers (blood on quilts) and the familiar painful indentations in fingers caused by closing hundreds of safety pins. Quilting for children is easier and safer with Kwik Klip™, as their fingers are never near the safety pin point. Kwik Klips'™ unique handle design helps those with arthritic hands to baste without pain. Kwik Klip™ removes safety pins faster and easier. ""
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Title: Re: Safety pin basting
Post by: quiltermarynel on May 17, 2008, 12:19:00 PM
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I know I don't like brass pins, simply because I want to be able to use a magnet to control the pins when NOT in use. Several of my local friends stick all their safety pins in place, then close them using a notched "grapefruit" spoon, or a yard sale spoon notched by their DH's.
BTW, at a recent hardware store sale I bought a telescoping magnet. Since I have not taken it off its plastic display hanger, I can conveniently hang it by the sewing machine, or extend it to pick up pins or scissors that land on the floor.
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Title: Re: Safety pin basting
Post by: Merry Bee on May 17, 2008, 12:58:12 PM
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I glued some extra strong 1/2" round magnets to an old 1"x1" yardstick. I keep it hanging on a nail in the sewing room. It works really well to picking up pins and needles. I also have a fuzzy "feather duster" that is oblong, shaped like a cat's tail, to pull lint and pins out from under the furniture.
I use a Kwik Klip. I think I ordered it on-line from a sewing supply.
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Title: Re: Safety pin basting
Post by: Pawstoquilt on May 17, 2008, 01:32:53 PM
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Bev--I do have one of those Kwick Klip thingys. It worked well once I got those darn draggy pins thru.
Marynel--glad I am not the only one who doesn't like them.
Anyway, I got them all in and thought I would try the SID (never had done that before). Well, I took out all the stitching I sewed in! My stitches were not all nice and even as I wanted them to be. There were places where the stitches were to close (let me tell you that's a pain in the tush to take out!). I used the walking foot too. Looked like a beginner was sewing them--which is what I am at machine quilting. Soooooo....I think I am just going to hand quilt it as usual!!! NOW--has this been a wasted day or not. I really need to and want to learn to do some simple machine quilting!! I have just never done it.
Time to shut the sewing room door for today. We are going out for Italian tonight.
Dumb Dora is leaving home :1087: :tickedoff: .
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Title: Re: Safety pin basting
Post by: betweens on May 17, 2008, 01:42:55 PM
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well.. this topic came up just in time..
I am taking another machine quilting course... #3..
I HAVE to learn my tops are just getting to the point that they are piling like the Princess and the Pea!! I can quilt the machine pieced like the stack and whacks and one block wonders.. the others like applique will still do by hand.
There is a great you tub show with sharon schambers she shows a great technique on basting your quilt.. it is on the bottom of the page really worth watching.. maybe this will be better.. she also shows you how to layer without breaking your back
http://quiltingfriends.ning.com/video/video/listForContributor?screenName=2zq6yh3ag36y8&sort=highestRated--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Re: Safety pin basting
Post by: Pawstoquilt on May 17, 2008, 02:01:01 PM
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Deb, got it basted OK. It was my machine stitching I didn't like. Some of the stitches were just way to tight and I wasn't happy with the way it looked. I know what you mean, I have more tops than I can afford to have a LA'er do.
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Title: Re: Safety pin basting
Post by: quilton on May 17, 2008, 04:40:06 PM
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Paws, what do you have your sewing machine set at for length when you machine quilt? It has been recommended that you use a 3.
Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm, Italian eh? Wish I could have been there!
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Title: Re: Safety pin basting
Post by: tlcquiltnut on May 18, 2008, 01:05:32 PM
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Paws, I have just started using pins too. Here is what I discovered. The silver dull coated ones are a bugger to push through the fabric, aren't sharp enough or something. So I used the shiny nickel ones. They seem to be sharper also. Brand is Dritz.
As far a quilting stitch size I too use the number 3...just seems to give a more hand done look. (I only stitch in ditch,so far) and is easier to frog sew if needed.
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Title: Re: Safety pin basting
Post by: Pawstoquilt on May 18, 2008, 01:07:04 PM
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Bev--great advice!!! I tried it (3 stitch length) and it worked a heck of a lot better. Think I am going to get it done!!!
Italian was good--wish you could have been there too :smiley:!!!
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Title: Re: Safety pin basting
Post by: gimpy cat on May 27, 2008, 05:35:23 PM
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will put this into hints and tips too but when safety pin basting use a teaspoon and save your fingers. A lovely gentleman at a quilt store shared the hint with me. Slide the pin through the three layers then put the teaspoon onto the fabric top where its going to pop through, the spoon angled with force the pin point up through the fabric and hold it while you simply clip it closed, saves using your fingers to guide the point of hte pin through the layers
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