Hey, JoJo, Way to go with the 505!! The quilts that I longarm basted in the vertical and horizontal rows were much easier to quilt; but even with washing the quilt after it was finished, I still could see the holes. After I finish the quilting, I wash it and then block it. After it dries, I attach the binding. Perhaps, had I washed and dried it in the dryer, the holes would have closed. I like using the 505 and as long as I stay in the 80 inch range with a project, I have enough space to baste it.

Margo, I had to go back and re-read yesterday's posts. I really did not have enough time to spend on the computer yesterday. Anyway, you say the best basting stitch (If I am going to quilt it on my short arm) is 4 - 6 SPI? Boy, that is a lot different than the one tack every 4 - 6 inches!!! I mean, as Terry said with hers, it is always catching on something! The main reason I wanted it basted on a long arm, was because it was too large for me to sandwich myself. Next time I will specify how I want it basted, since I know a little more now than I did then. And, like Terry, I also didn't like the holes the needle made, but was never going to wash the quilt. It was a wall hanging. So, I manipulated the warp and weft threads around every tack hole, in order to make them disappear. Very time consuming, but I wouldn't have been happy with the holes!

Becky, sounds like your quilt will be perfect after the washing and drying! A quilt to love and snuggle in!

Dawn
In beautiful Northwest Montana

Ritzy,
I love your attitude! sometimes I get stuck on trying to make my quilt perfect. I really enjoy the process and I need to just let it go and have fun! My husband loves the puckers also - he doesn't like flat quilts - so this is perfect for him. Wool is really resilient anyway so it fills in the puffs nicely!

I forgot about washing/drying it when done - good idea - that will help also.

gotta love it!

Thanks,
Becky

Well, since I always wash my quilts, and every single quilting stitch leaves holes, I'm not worried about holes left by basting.
It's never been a problem for me.

Hey Terry -- you will be proud of me because I used the 505 spray today for the first time on the table runner and it worked great. And, I quilted it with my QueenQuilter sit down machine, which was fun but I was horrified at the large holes left after quilting it so I know your feeling about the holes!!! I thought I had ruined the gift and was nearly in tears, but it just came out of the dryer after being washed and all of the holes have disappeared---thankfully. My camera is already packed and in the car or I would take a photo. I'll take a photo tomorrow when we arrive at the hotel in Salt Lake City. Hopefully, we will be in Denver on Thursday evening.

The first time that I basted a quilt on my friend's longarm, I did the tack stitch every four to five inches because that is how my friend told me how to baste. When I quilted that quilt, my foot would catch/stick in those jump threads and what a pain it was. The next quilt, I basted vertically and horizontally every four to five inches. Both times I used water soluable thread from Superior. I didn't like the holes that the longarm basting left so now I've just been using 505 spray and basting my quilt that way.

Okay, I guess the key here was that my freind was NEW at this basting on a long arm thing. It was, at least, 5" long stitches throughout. I could hardly handle it for fear of catching even my hand it a long stitch! I am sure she is much better at it now. And, I am that much wiser! Thanks, Margo!

Dawn
In beautiful Northwest Montana

Okay Margo. I stopped laughing. It is good to know that is always an option. I guess the key is the water soluble thread. I might of stopped laughing but I am still smiling...I am planning the applique border on the "big"quilt. If I am piecing a top or planning the quilt I am smiling. If it has to with quilting...I am smiling!

I hate to disagree, but a quilt can definitely be basted by a long-armer for quilting on a domestic machine!!!

Just ask that they use Superior's VANISH thread and stitch horizontal lines about 4" apart with a stitch length of about 4-6 SPI.

This thread will wash out of the quilt when you launder it, and you won't have the long basting threads to deal with.

Obviously, this is NOT recommended for a wall quilt or show quilt that will not be laundered.

I do this with a lot of my own quilts that I do on the long-arm. It allows me to baste the entire quilt quickly, then I can easily roll to whatever part I want to work on without worrying about shifting and puckers.

Dawn...I am laughing along with you! I was thinking of having my next quilt basted on a long arm. I didn't know it was only for hand quilting either. (I am going to be a big girl and quilt a big quilt. Now it is not a hugh quilt, just 72 x72.) I have used Sharon Schamber's basting method on my crib quilts. (I love her method! Or, love it as much as you can love basting). And with Margo's handy link to Sharon's hand basting video in the forum the other day I watched it again. I am going to get some long boards and try basting my "big" quilt that way. It is the only basting method I have tried that I don't hate. So Margo...thanks for that link. Hand basting Sharon's way is not that bad!

Okay, I am laughing here! At myself. Sometimes we live and learn! I have always heard how wonderful it is to have a quilt basted on a long arm, and since I have a good friend who had just received one and needed some practice, I gave her one of my quilts to baste. I quilt on a short arm domestic machine. :shock: I don't know what I was expecting, but not all of those LONG threads, both top and bottom. So, the first thing I did when I got it back was put a ton of safety pins in it and then clip and pull all of those basting threads. There was no way I would have been able to push and pull a big quilt under my needle with all of those threads! THEN, I find out long arm basting is for those who wish to hand quilt.

Dawn
In beautiful Northwest Montana

Hmm, my first thought is: When I am done making a quilt, the first thing I do is stick it in the washer and dryer. If it comes out whole--it is a quilt. When I take it out of the dryer--it is puckered--it is the look I am going for. Little puffs and puckers. Any imperfections are lost in the puckers. My advice--wash it, dry it and enjoy the puckers. ;~)

Hi Nancy,
finish it and give it anyway. your heart is in it - that is what is important to the recipient! I just know that he or she will love it!

yeah, having a long arm quilter baste for me is sounding like pretty good idea to me right now also. . . . . . . . . . . .

Becky,

You've received some great advice and I don't have anything else to add. I, too, have a quilt sandwich that is about 90% hand quilted with puckers on the back. I was so frustrated that I think it's part of the reason why it's been in this UFO state for more than three years. Only the borders of this queen size quilt need to be quilted, but it's sad to know that I've put in so much time and effort into a quilt that I won't be proud to give to its intended recipient.

In the future, I might pay to have a longarmer baste any large quilts that I plan to handquilt. It would be worth it not to have to crawl on all fours for hours or days to baste it myself. Lap size or smaller are not a problem, since I have a very large kitchen island to use for basting.