Another way to baste: craft foam
Hello, hello! Welcome to the Monday Link Up at Plum and June. Please share your link below and remember:
1. Link up any recent sewing/quilting post.
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If you’re looking for some fun blocks to add to your sewing list, I’d love it you would join me in the Road Trip Quilt Along, going on right now! If you’d like to see the plan, you can find it here. You can see what’s already happening by checking out the tutorials for Virginia Reel and Maryland Beauty. I’d love it if you wanted to make a couple of these lovelies and share in the Road Trip Quilt Along Flickr group.
Today, I wanted to show you the method I use for basting. There are many ways to get this done of course: spray basting, bent safety pins, needle and thread. But I prefer to baste with straight pins. In fact, I’ve always basted with straight pins. When I made my first quilt, that was all I had, but then I just never got around to buying the bent safety pins that are preferred by many.
Problem 1: the pins can fall out and then the quilt sandwich is not secure.
Problem 2: Maneuvering the quilt through the machine means you will get jabbed once or twice. Ouch!
I took a Leah Day class on Craftsy and was thrilled to learn that she prefers straight pins, too. But Leah has it all figured out. She secured the pointy pin tips with a product called a pinmoor. Brilliant! Solves both of the problem. But, now a new problem: pinmoors are expensive!! Almost $20 for a pack of 50.
However, I bought this 12×18 inch sheet of 5mm craft foam for $1.27.
With a straight edge, a utility knife and a little bit of time, I had 192 anchors to use with my straight pins to baste a quilt. The craft foam is not as thick as the pinmoor, but I found it worked just fine. I wouldn’t go thinner than 5mm, but if you could find thicker craft foam, that would be great, too.
I cut the craft foam into 1.5 inch strips.
Then I sliced each strip into a 3/4 inch rectangle. If you want to be precise, you could mark the foam before cutting, but I just aligned my ruler with the edge and dove in.
Now, use straight pins to baste and cap each pin tip with a piece of craft foam. They are quick to put in, stay put, come out easily, and don’t make your fingers hurt with opening and closing all those safety pins.
Hope this helps with the next quilt you have to baste.
Now, link up below with what you’ve been up to this week! Don’t forget to visit a couple other links and maybe make a new sewing friend.
This is so smart. I would be much less apt to sew over my pins and break my needles (which I did twice yesterday … oops!)
I just found you through Plum and June and I LOVE your blog. I am your newest follower. Good luck with your move and everything you have going on!
Very clever idea! Definitely one worth trying out..
What a great idea! Thanks for the tip!
🙂 Kelly
Wow, I love those blocks! Excellent tip too. I have not tried it with straight pins, but it looks easier than safety pins.
A great idea! Thanks for sharing.
That is really neat! Thank you for sharing the tip! Sewing supplies can be so expensive sometimes, it is nice to find alternatives!
Thanks for the fabulous tip! I’ve been working that problem around in my head the past few days. Those pin pricks hurt the worst when you’re tired and they make you want to give up. I prefer straight pins as well. The curved are nice but a bother. Also, I can catch a pin with my seam ripper and remove it if it’s too close to the foot but have to struggle to remove a curved pin. Happy Quilting!
Wow that is really crafty idea! Too bad I didn’t know that before I got my long arm. You don’t know how many times I have stabbed myself in the past. I can honestly say that my quilts were definitely made with “blood”, sweat and tears at times. LOL.
Genius! Now off to buy foam.
Smashing tip, well worth trying 🙂
Have never come across this idea before, will definitely be giving it a try. Thanks for the tip!
What an awesome idea! I knew there had to be a better way(cheaper) than those pinmoor’s. Thanks for hosting. Loving the look of your blog!
What a great idea! When I don’t use spray basting, I always like straight pins more than curved but definitely get my fair share of jabs and pokes. I’m definitely trying this next time around!
What a great idea! I always use basting pins and removing them is a pain. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for hosting today and for sharing your basting tip! :o)
Brilliant!! How are you finding time for all of this sewing in your mother in law’s tiny living room with three beautiful girls?
Such a clever idea to use craft foam instead!
Thank you so much! I’ll be cutting up my fun foam tomorrow. You’ve helped me keep my New Years resolution of not buying any more stuff but use up what I have. Yahoo!