Basting guns?

[Margo]

I am thinking about buying a basting gun - I haven't got a table big enough to take a large quilt and have to resort to crawling around on the floor - to make life more comfortable for my knees I am thinking of a basting gun - has anybody else used one and do they work well? Thanks! :?

[Margo]

I don't have one but before you go that route, check Sharon Schamber's method for basting while sitting at a table. I think there's a link on here somewhere in one of the threads, but it's terrific! You wouldn't believe how easy on the back and knees it is!!
Florence

[Margo]

Yes, I use a basting gun. I find it holds the quilt sandwich together as well as safety pins, and the fasteners are easier to remove as I am quilting. I have been known to stitch right over them...with not to much damage to the sewing needle, and can still nip them out with fingernail clippers afterwards .
I use the Micro Stitch by Avery. It has smaller fasteners and a much smaller needle then the regular basting gun. This means a smaller hole through the fabric and the smaller fasteners hold the quilt sandwich tighter. You will have to resupply yourself with the fasteners. They are not too hard to locate. Both our LQS and the Keepsake Quilting website carries them. I tend to use more fasteners with Micro Stitch then with safety pin basting because they are easier to apply. A handy trick is to use a marble which you can easily roll around under the quilt sandwhich to lift up the area your are basting (a must...to protect the guns needle). The marble (I use a bingo ball...slightly larger and of wood) can be pushed around with your fingers from the front of the quilt sandwich. This is easier then trying to move the plastic grid that you usually have to use with basting guns.
I might still be on the floor basting a quilt, but it goes together quicker and I don't end up ripping up my fingers pushing and closing safety pins. The only downside is you will have the ongoing expense of the fasteners.
Hope this helps.
Mary

[Margo]

Thanks for the info Florence and Mary - I am going to look for that link re basting on a table and I'll have a look at the Avery basting gun as well. The marble/ball idea is brilliant - thanks again!

[Lorchen]

If you want to save your knees and your tables at home aren't big enough, ask if you can use the tables at your local school, church hall, WI hall, Scout hut, etc...... I bet they'll let you push together several tables and baste your quilts when nothing else is going on.

If you don't mind spending a little money, The Bramble Patch (and most other longarm quilters) will thread baste your quilts on one of their longarm machines, and they always make a super job of it.

Lorchen

[Lorchen]

Forgotten to say: For laptop and single size quilts I often use a basting spray (available from Asding, for example).

Lorchen

[kfstitcher]

The last couple quilts I did I used Sharon Schambers method to baste quilts but instead of sewing the basting I used the Avery Dennison gun to baste. I do it on a 6 ft plastic type table and nothing on top of the table. I just push the needle of the basting gun in and back out sideways to take a little stitch and it slides on the plastic tabletop with no damage to the table or needle. It has worked great for me. No puckers and quick to baste. It does take a while to find and remove all the little plastic thingys though.

Karen

[kfstitcher]

I use a table that isn't large enough for the quilt but I am not going to baste a quilt on the floor. I just lay it all out and start in the middle then carefully move the quilt sandwich as need be. I haven't used a basting gun but it sure sounds interesting!

JoAnne

[sandytn]

I received one of Harriet Hargrave Machine Quilting books for Christmas and she has a section on basting a quilt that I am going to try for my next quilt. I have only read it once so can't describe it but will let you know how I like it after I try it.

[sandytn]

Thanks for all the tips - I did think of our local hall Hannelore, but have found one of the Avery micro basting guns on ebay and have got one of those coming - that should make it a bit quicker at least. Thanks again for all the tips!