I am a mistyfuse basting convert. Totally. A little expensive, but I am in love. Best new thing since the rotary cutter, in my opinion. (I am also in love with my new machine - Handiquilter Sweet Sixteen sit-down quilter.)

I'm pretty sure I saw it on Judy's blog. I know there is more of a description somewhere, but I'm supposed to be packing for a trip to Portland.

Anyway, her blog is great...check out the felting!

http://judyperez.blogspot.com/

Maybe this will help? http://mistyfuse.com/?gclid=CKzvz6bp_KkCFQet7QodZC2oZw

Another option I just saw on someone's blog...basting with Misty Fuse (purchased by the roll). Evidently it is so fine, that it doesn't change the hand of the quilt & is a lot easier than pinning, or hand-basting, and stays together a lot better than spray.
I needed to post this to help me to remember to try it sometime. If I ever remember where I saw it, I'll post that link, too.

its so fantastic idea that quilt with basting slip .

I have quilted all my quilts on my regular machine. It has really been a learn as you go process and ALWAYS my least favorite part of the process. I am working on quilting my latest grand daughter's quilt and this is the first one that I have been excited about. It really is a very creative thing. So I guess that practice, practice thing works. Gloria

Thanks again, Florence, for more tips about water soluble thread--these are things you can only find out by experience and it will help all of us to share our experiences with products. Sylvia, I know what you mean by being intimidated by machine quilting. I finally just decided to look at it as if I was just "playing" and I was able to relax. I don't get on the machine if I'm too tired. I also saw what someone said in the Forum about just going for it and learning better by using actual projects to machine quilt on. I took a table runner and just went for it--it turned out pretty good! I'm going to work on some of my UFO's, too. At least I'll be accomplishing something while learning!

The beauty of the water-soluble thread is exactly that... just wash the quilt when it's done & voila-- basting is gone. You can sew right over it w/o concern of picking it out later. I did find that I'd need to cut it every now & then if it got caught on a foot, but still, just left the threads hanging there.
I used it for trapunto also, Ricky's method of marking, so you're really sewing right over it w/o a problem.
I wasn't doing mine in the depths of summer, which gets nasty-humid here too, but in June I didn't have any trouble--didnt' really think about it...But I've handled it plenty and didn't sense any problems w/ sweaty palms-- not even w/ hand lotion.
they do say to store the spool in an airtight container....
Florence

mandysilk wrote:
I've used it in the machine for small trapunto projects, but I have a question about the durability/longevity of water soluable thread basting..
what is the longest anyone has left it in before finishing the quilt? here in the midwest/upper south, it gets really humid in the the summer, would that affect the thread? and I tend to have sweaty hands , does anyone think that would weaken the thread?

I am new to machine quilting as well ( have been a hand quilter for almost 30 years )
So, what is the deal with water soluble thread? Do you just wash the quilt after?
I am so intimidated with machine quilting. I feel stressed when I am quilting on my sewing machine. I have used basting spray and like it, I tried safety pins (the ones for quilters) and found them to be a pain to remove.

Sylvia, in 17degree weather in NH

Hope your're feeling better, Florence!!! We've all had our turn this year with the cruds! I'm going to try the water soluble thread and flower pins--thanks for the tips!

Mandy that's just b/c MY family now has the crud you all were experiencing and yesterday was my turn, I did read the thread but was just too sick to answer & thought "someone else will say it", so thanks! I too am a water-soluble convert!!
Florence

These are some great tips! I'm just a beginner at machine quilting (I've been hand quilting for 23 yrs.) and I can use all the help I can get! I've been using the 505 basting spray and I really like it. That's what we used in the Bernina class I took when I bought my machine. Did you all see the longarmer's tip Ricky demonstrated in the Bill Kerr/Weeks Ringle show?

I'm shocked nobody mentioned water soluble thread I am a new convert to this type of basting (thanks Ricky, lol). I also use spray basting on smaller quilts such as baby quilts (always wash once they are done) and wall hangings. Since you have already thread basted I think I would do as suggested and remove the basting stitches from each area you work on as you go.