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Member since 6/28/06
Posts: 136
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Posted on: 10/28/06 7:57 PM ET
I hate pins and am too impatient for hand basting, but do recognize the usefulness of temporarily securing fabric together for when it goes into the machine.

Would it work to carefully put little 1 mm wide, 0 length spot bastings with the machine where one would pin things?

I'm going to try this on the second pants muslin I'm about to go work on and was wondering if this was a bad idea in general, or if there were situations where this would not work.

Thank's!
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"He's a boy! What does he need a Pfaff for?" - my DMIL, shortly after DW and I began dating.
  
Member since 8/2/02
Posts: 2006
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Posted on: 10/28/06 8:40 PM ET
In reply to mek42
Machine basting works for just the reasons you mention - and often high end machines like my Bernina 180 have have a basting stitch built in.

In general any kind of thread basting - either hand or machine is preferable to pinning.

Phyllis
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Sewing = Fashion
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Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity.
  
Member since 4/8/02
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Posted on: 10/29/06 0:07 AM ET
Margaret Islander has DVDs on the subject. She shows you how to hold the fabric so you don't pin.

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"What you WANT is irrelevant, what you've CHOSEN is at hand." --Mr. Spock
  
Member since 3/9/03
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Posted on: 10/29/06 5:39 AM ET
I use the very long basting stitch on my Bernina all the time. It is fast, allows me to try on for fit, and pulls out easily when I do the final stitching.

Mek42, your plan sounds like it might work also, but it could take a little longer to remove the basting stitches.

If you try this, please let us know how it worked.
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Carolyn
  
Member since 3/19/04
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Posted on: 10/29/06 12:59 PM ET
I've used safety pins before - much less hazardous than straight pins. You need quite a few (look for them by the bag near the quilting supplies), and they can leave holes in thin fabrics, but if this is for the pants you're making there shouldn't be a problem. Otherwise, I use the extra-long basting stitch on my Bernina (makes a stitch about every 1/2 inch) or hand baste. Basting with the longest regular stitch length doesn't work for me - it takes far too long to remove. Your method of making tacks every inch sounds good, too, if you can keep the thread loose between tacks.
-- Edited on 10/29/06 1:01 PM --
  
Member since 6/28/06
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Posted on: 10/29/06 3:05 PM ET
Well, I tried this while working on my second fitting muslin today, and it worked well. I haven't needed to take anything out yet, but ended up moving the needle over to the far right to sew the tacks onto the seam allowance - this might make it so I wouldn't have to remove the bastes in some places.

I put the tacks every 6" or so, and then sewed with a 3 mm stitch. I had tried sewing with a longer stitch, but the seams ended up puckering badly.

If I decide that I like this machine basting idea, would investing in special basting thread be helpful?
------
"He's a boy! What does he need a Pfaff for?" - my DMIL, shortly after DW and I began dating.
  
Member since 4/8/02
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Posted on: 10/29/06 7:51 PM ET
In reply to mek42
I've heard that silk thread slides better, but I have never tried it.
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"What you WANT is irrelevant, what you've CHOSEN is at hand." --Mr. Spock
  
Member since 3/19/04
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Posted on: 10/30/06 9:47 AM ET
In reply to mek42
Quote: mek42
I put the tacks every 6" or so, and then sewed with a 3 mm stitch. I had tried sewing with a longer stitch, but the seams ended up puckering badly.


If you hold the fabric taut while sewing (in front and behind the needle), it'll help with the puckers.
  
Member since 6/28/06
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Posted on: 10/30/06 8:26 PM ET
In reply to Irene Q
Irene:

The puckering was most pronounced sewing on the curve and was worse when I tried to hold the fabric taut along the sewing angle.

I have since watched a little video clip from David Coffin's pants cd about how to hold the fabric taut with the grain regardless of the sewing angle. The next time I have a chance to play with the machine I'll try this with a longer stitch.

However, until reading your post, I hadn't thought to try this with long basting stiches.

Thank's!
------
"He's a boy! What does he need a Pfaff for?" - my DMIL, shortly after DW and I began dating.
  
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