DoryJM Posted February 6, 2009 Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 For those of you with zippers on your leaders, when you load your quilt backing do you pin to the zippers or baste to them with your DSM. If you baste, do you pin first or do you just use your walking foot and stitch? I currently use my walking foot and pin before I baste? Overkill??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainmanda Posted February 6, 2009 Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 personally i only pin and then float the top, i use 2 inch or maybe they are only 1 inch safetly pins to pin my backing to the leaders. It took one time of being stuck with a hat pin for me to realize that no one should swear that much!:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RitaR Posted February 6, 2009 Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 I use the dsm to baste the backing onto the leaders.. don't pin, but I do make sure it's straight across, the backing, before I do anything. (am sure you do too.. don't mean to sound like I think others are dummies..) I use a real cheap thread too.. not Talon though, and then I can rip or frog the basting off real quick. If I had to pin I'd still be putting the first quilt on the machine from 14 months ago. RitaR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoryJM Posted February 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 Okay, this is weird...either that or I've lost my mind:o I looked at this a bit ago and there was a message from Shana. Now its gone???? Anyway...Shana, I remember the gros grain ribbon and bought some the last time I went to town and attached it to the zippers. However, I never thought of actually using the longarm to sew the backing onto the ribbon...can you say, "duh"? Anyway, I'm going to give that a try next time. Manda I've stuck myself more times than I'd care to count. I'm just glad that I never got blood on any of my quilts! Rita, basting on the DSM with cheap thread...another "duh" moment for me. I usually just use what's on there and its usually my piecing thread which really isn't cheap! Thanks for the help ... I can always count on you guys!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThreadWaggle Posted February 7, 2009 Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 I have done both. I usually pin to the zipper but I did do a couple by basting the backing on with my DSM. It took me longer to get the little pieces of threads off the zipper after I was done then using the pins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RitaR Posted February 7, 2009 Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 I use the longest basting stitch my dsm can give and bless his nimble fingers, Himself pulls the threads from the leaders.. by his choice, not my asking or telling him.. He can be sweet.. now and then ROFLMHO RitaR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted February 7, 2009 Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 Dory, I attach with a stapler...Yup staples. Somebody mentioned it on the board a while ago and I thought what the heck. I bought a florist stapler at Staples. I turned the base plate on the stapler so that the staples fold out and not in. I make sure to put the flat side of the staple next to the ribbon. I also got one of those staple removers that looks like a pencil. Here are the links to what I have, pictures are always better! I love using the staples and it has never ruined a quilt or backing. I do a partial float so I use staples on the top too. http://www.staples.com/office/supplies/p4_Specialty-Staplers_17581_Business_Supplies_0_10051_SC1:CG1031:CL10703 http://www.staples.com/office/supplies/p4_Staple-removers_10953_Business_Supplies_0_10051_ATCH:SC1:CG1031:DP107:CL10703:SKU%7C17581%7CcmS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarieBrewer Posted February 7, 2009 Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 I have an old singer (620) that does a chainstitch. I chain the backing to the leaders w/the fabric on the bottom and start from the middle point and work outward. All it takes is one pull on the thread to release the stitching. I, too, suffered from too many pin pricks and scratches to put up w/pinning. I don't think my hands could take all of the stapling and pulling staples. Too much stiffness going on there!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudyLee Posted February 7, 2009 Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 Thanks for the reminder Marie, I need to get my chainstitcher back together. I have an old treadle Wilcox and Gibbs. I sold it last year. I spent two days packing her up for shipping, hauled the wayyyy huge box 76 miles to the city and then the buyer "changed her mind"! I was so angry I left it packed, for 1 whole year now. LOL. Anyway, now I will keep it and use it. God works in mysterious ways huh? One comment on staples: I use them too sometimes. I found that the staples on the panto side of the machine caught on the bed of my machine and I had to unroll the quilt and pin it. Be careful. Give yourself a lot of lead room. They need to be rolled up before you start moving the machine around. With the staples folding out they can also prick your fingers. Ask me how I know that. Pins lay flatter than staples. Staples are a lot faster than pinning. Choices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted February 7, 2009 Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 Judy, For whatever reason I've only stuck myself once with the staples, thankfully! LOL pins are just dangerous for my fingers! I stick myself or other parts of my body all the time! LOL On the staples getting caught - yes I know what you are referring to. To resolve that problem I make sure the seam (formed with the ribbon and backing) is facing up that way the bottom is smooth. We are so lucky to have so many choices. I would love a chain stitch machine but just not in my future right now unless I find a really good deal. I'm sure hubby will be thrilled to see me bring in another machine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoryJM Posted February 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 I'm really intrigued by the stapling idea....very intrigued.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Beth Posted February 7, 2009 Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 I stapeled...but have stopped and I can't remember why Dang that pre-menopause!!:mad: I have been using my Willcox and Gibb machine to chainstitch the quilt to the zippers, but it has stopped...I think the motor is kaput...so I will be basting with my domestic. The whole reason for me getting zippers was to get away from the pins that kept tearing my hands up....you all know how I am Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lsilver Posted February 7, 2009 Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 I pin, but am thinking of basting with the grosgrain ribbon. Didn't want that much wear and tear directly in my zipper. I, too, float. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meg_marsh Posted February 7, 2009 Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 I pin & I float........ I make sure the pins on the front bar are are the underside (next to the bar) so I don't stick myself!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoryJM Posted February 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 I don't like to pin...it takes too long. I'm going to try basting my next quilt on with the DSM going from the middle out without pinning the whole thing to my ribbon first. I'm seriously considering the staple idea; I just think it has great potential and should be relatively fast. I just ordered a timer so I can see how much I make/owe my client per quilt. That should be interesting. My DH is working on hats (he embroiders) this morning and figures he should be charging $11/hat and with this design, he can do 4 in an hour. Not bad...but he's only charging them $8 Good thing this isn't our only income:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltmonkey Posted February 7, 2009 Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 Originally posted by DoryJM Okay, this is weird...either that or I've lost my mind:o I looked at this a bit ago and there was a message from Shana. Now its gone???? Anyway...Shana, I remember the gros grain ribbon and bought some the last time I went to town and attached it to the zippers. However, I never thought of actually using the longarm to sew the backing onto the ribbon...can you say, "duh"? Anyway, I'm going to give that a try next time. No you haven't lost your mind! I deleted the post because I wasn't sure it was a good idea to pin and then baste with the machine... Sure, you can do this method, or use the staples, too. Many ways to get the result you want. Happy quilting!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonick Posted February 16, 2009 Report Share Posted February 16, 2009 Where did you purchase your zippers? How many do you need for a quilt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoryJM Posted February 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2009 I bought mine from Longarm Supplies in Canada, but lots of dealers have them here too. One set is enough to do one quilt. I have one full set and two additional "quilt" sets (I think). Basically, I have have three quilt backs ready to go at any time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hollyrw Posted February 16, 2009 Report Share Posted February 16, 2009 I tried basting with the DSM but like Angela said, it took too long to remove all the basting stitches. I bought an old Singer Touch & Sew with the chain stitch attachment but I haven't even tried it yet. I can pin pretty darn fast and I rarely poke myself. *knocks on wood* I love the zippers for the convenience of switching from one quilt to another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy2018 Posted February 16, 2009 Report Share Posted February 16, 2009 If you own a serger, check that it might do a chain stitch? !! Mine does, just move the cutting blade out of the way, easy, and you're good to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marion Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 I have two sets of the 126 inch zippers to which I attached strips of muslin and also a strip of velcro. On the pickup leader I just stitched the backing zipper directly. I stitched the hook side of the velcro to the top leader and the bottom backing leader. The fuzzy side is attached to a strip of muslin which has the other part of the zippers on it. I use a serger with just the chain stitch to attach my backing to the muslin with the zipper for both top and bottom of the backing. Then I also use the zipper for the top the same way. I just need a few safety pins to hold the top after putting in the fluff or batting in between. I have been doing this ever since I bought the Millenium and got stuck with straight pins. I think the zippers cost $75.00 but were worth it. By using velcro I can adjust the bottom backing and the top fabric so they are even and straight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuiltsbyNini1 Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 I don't have zippers, yet, but have an idea (novel I know!). For those who staple and are afraid of getting stuck by the staples...how about tape? After you staple to the zippers, use a length of either masking or the blue painters tape to cover the sharpies that can catch you...I've started using tape over my pins. I won't go into gory details as to why, just sufice it to say that my finger is still having problems after over three weeks of infection...but it is getting better. (Hubby says I should soak my oins in alcohol!) Nini Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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