Wow thanks so much to everyone for some great tips and links. I almost picked up some 505 spray at the quilt store the other day but put it back down. I am a bit concerned about the fumes with spray but thought I could do it on a day when I can open the windows and wear a mask. Of course if pinning works well then maybe that is the way to go. I think I will first try both methods on some place mats and see if I prefer one way over the other.

Dawn, my stabilizing stitches are usually done "in the ditch" around the blocks, if that's the way the quilt is laid out.

Then I go back and add the details, but I always try to keep the density of the quilting even as I'm working. For instance, on Hugs and Kisses, I would start with outlining all of the blocks, then outline all of the applique, then go back and do the background fills.

I have done pin, spray, and thread basting. But my question is: What are stabilizing stitches? Is this a little bit of actual quilting in various areas, or just some basting stitches that will be removed later? And, where on the quilt are these stitches?

Thanks for the tip on spraying the batting not the fabric! As I layer the quilt, I have probably sprayed the backing fabric, placed the batting, and then sprayed the batting, before placing the top. I guess I got it half right!

Dawn
In beutiful Northwest Montana

I used to pin baste before I learned how to spray baste.
Stiff fabric is the result of over spraying and/or spraying the fabric rather than spraying the batting.
A light touch with the spray and spraying the batting are key to using spray baste effectively.
I like to let the quilt sit for 24 hours if I can.
The only time I don't recommend using spray baste is if you have asthma or some other kind of lung or very serious allergy issue.

Teri

I also use the safety pins. Works fine, just smooth, smooth, smooth as you go along. I've never tried the spray, but I am also leery of the fumes and possible stiffness of the fabric.

kathyst2 wrote: This is how I baste my quilts too. For some reason, I have had better success with the end product with this and there are no additional chemicals on my quilt this way.

Don't forget that there is also the option of having a long-arm quilter baste your quilt sandwich for you with Superior's VANISH thread, and it will just wash away when you launder the quilt!

Hi Cathy, I just thought I'd put in an opposite opinion from most . I've only spray basted once, didn't like the fumes and the way the quilt felt while I was quilting it. I use lots of safety pins to keep things from shifting, which has worked fine for me on everything from small to large quilts. I guess the right answer is, try both methods and see what works for you! (One benefit of pin basting that I just remembered, is that you can grab the pins and use them as handles to steer the quilt!-I got this from Diane Gaudynski )
Have fun, Kathy

I totally flunked pin basting but spray basting works beautifully for me. I only spray the batting, never the fabric. And I use just enough to stick, too much spray and it causes all sorts of problems including wrinkles. I use Patsy Thompson's method for large quilts (as Margo notes above) except that I mark horizontal and vertical centers on each layer and adhere the bottom half first, working from the center downward with the top half of the new layer hanging down. Then I spray the upper half of the batting and adhere from the center upward. I stitch my stablizing stitches with the next week or so and the minimal amount of spray I used holds everything smoothly and securely every time so far. Best of luck!

I spray baste smaller items like wallhangings, purses, placemats, etc. I pin baste larger items. It might be because I don't use it much, but I find I have trouble getting everything smooth with spray basting. It seems like smoothing the front causes wrinkles on the back, then smoothing out those wrinkles causes wrinkles on the front. I also really don't like the fumes from the spray baste, even outside, so I keep it for small stuff where I can finish quickly and not breathe much of it in.

Yep, Jean and Ritzy. . .I do the same. I love that 505 spray!

I do the same as Jean.

ccivis wrote:
Cathy, you might want to check out Patsy Thompson's video showing how she spray bastes her quilts!
[url]learn/classrooms/[/url]

I spray baste using 505 Spray. If it is a larger quilt, I put a few pins in until I have stabilizing quilting done.