Basting a quilt with Mistyfuse
I Mistyfuse basted my recent Morning Hosta quilt and loved the method. It’s super simple as I’ll show you here.
100 yd bolt of Mistyfuse
Mistyfuse is a unique product-a two-sided fusing product that does not alter the hand of the fabric. Additionally, its melting point is low, allowing its use on even delicate fabrics. I used it to fuse the poly sheer border on “Emerge“.
It’s so easy to use! I bought a 100 yard roll and used a good bit of it putting my kits together to teach at Houston last year.
Mistyfuse can be used to baste your quilts together in preparation for quilting. To Mistyfuse baste your quilts, this is all you do:
Little squares of Mistyfuse
Cut your Mistyfuse into little squares of 1 1/2″ ish size.
Basting with Mistyfuse
Simply place them upon the surface of whatever you are basting. Place them no more than a fist width apart across the surface.
Goddess sheet to fuse
Use the Goddess sheet to fuse. The Goddess sheet is a Mistyfuse product. It looks like any other fusing sheet but it actually transfers heat better and faster than the others.
Once it’s fused, layer the next piece on top and apply heat-you’re done!
I have used it on wool batting with success also. I wondered if it would work on wool since wool is made from loose fibers-it worked as well as on other batting choices.
When I double batt, which I do frequently, I fuse the two battings together first, then fuse the batting to the backing, then that layer to the front.
The advantages of Mistyfuse basting over other methods are many:
Pin basting
Pins actually add a lot of weight to the quilt. Remember, you have to move every bit of that quilt under your needle many times and any extra weight can be burdensome.
Pins get hooked on your presser foot as you move the quilt-highly annoying.
Pins get in the way when you’re quilting-have you ever quilted so close to the pin that you can’t get it out? I have-many times.
Spray Basting
Some quilters are bothered by the spray in the air.
It can be tricky to spray baste a quilt by yourself.
Spray baste stains silk, which I use a lot.
Hand Basting
Hand basting just does not hold the quilt sandwich in place very well.
I’ve even tried Sharon Schamber’s method of hand basting and did not have success with it-my sandwich was still a little fidgety.
Pinmoors
I tried these and it did not work at all for me. I could not get a straight pin to dip in and out of the sandwich without bending.
Water Soluble Thread
This is the method I have been using: pin baste as normal. Then machine sew a grid using water soluble thread top and bobbin and remove all the pins.
This method holds very well and eliminates the need for any pins.
You do need to immerse the piece or unpick the stitches when the piece is finished.
There is still a bit of movement within the squares you basted, but less than the above methods.
Mistyfuse basting eliminates every single issue with all of the above methods:
Your quilt sandwich is absolutely secure and will not move around.
You do not need to immerse your quilt afterwards.
There is nothing in the way of your needle or hands.
What I can’t show you in photos is how securely the Mistyfuse holds the sandwich together. Even when I had an island of unquiltedness surrounded by heavily quilted areas, the sandwich did not pooch or create the dreaded “snowplow” effect that results in tucks. I’m a fan!
Hey Jinny,
I can’t wait to try this!! Thank you soooo much!
It’s too late for you to mind so I sure hope you don’t… I belong to a sit-down quilting group on Yahoo and I just gave them your blog addy. Your post is very timely. I also told them what an incredible quilter you are and how generous you are with your talent and skills.
Maggie in Arizona
Oh thank you Maggie! You’ll love this basting method – write me once you try it pls!
Hi Jenny,
I have always just struggled through pin or traditional basting, but this looks good to me. I do have some Mistyfuse but not lots, so I have enough to try it on one piece. Here’s my question, you only spot fuse about a fist length apart, you never have ‘snowplow’ or slippage in the areas between the Mistyfuse? How big a piece have you used this process on? I have a large one that I am soon to prepare for stitching, about 36″ x 54″.
PS (hope you enjoy the SAQA Convention in DC!)
I am interested in how well it will hold with a quilt up to 70.” I quilt on on domestic machine and the quilt gets wrestled around a lot as I tend to quilt heavily.
On the piece I wrote about I did place them a little closer than a fists width apart. I got less snowplow than any other method – zero movement. It was such a joy. I have done smaller work done I’ve been using it so probably no bigger than 20 x 28ish? I would do this on a larger quilt but you may want to build your own confidence with smaller pieces first.
I meant reply for Nancy but it applies to both of you. I’m traveling and writing on my phone because I can’t get a connection in my room! Madi I didn’t find that it moved at all -i know what you mean about wrestling your quilt around a lot. I dint think you Will see movement.
I freaking LOVE MistyFuse!!!!! It’s a miracle worker/work horse in the studio. So many uses!!!!!
I don’t know why more people haven’t heard of it!
Amen sister!
Is there a place that reasonably prices the 100 yd roll??? I can think of many opportunities to use this!!!!!
I buy directly from them on the mistyfuse site-i don’t think you will beat their prices elsewhere Doreen.
Up to now, I’ve only used MistyFuse for small, many-layered projects (to reduce bulk). I use spray baste on my “miniatures” (the spray doesn’t bother me and I’m careful with it)…but now I must give this approach a try! Thanks, Jenny!
I think you’ll love it Margaret!
Thanks for sharing and inspiring. I definitely want to give this a try. Of course, that Goddess Sheet seems to be a big help when working with a good size quilt.
SewCalGal
http://www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
I hope you do try it-I think it rocks. I would love to hear your thoughts on it once you try it-thank you!
Thank you so much! I am so anxious to try this. I tried spray basting on a table runner that was batted with a cotton poly blend. It held the layers well but I got a strange wave to the runner. I followed directions on can. When I got the waves, I washed and blocked the runner. Still had a washboard effect. I will try the misty fuse. Thanks for the tutorial.
Hi Kay; Hmm-wonder if the backing was just a wee loose when you sprayed? That is no fun when that happens and it’s happened to me too. I would love to hear back from you when you try it.
WOW I cannot wait to give this a go will let you know how I get on…many thanks for the heads up.
Oh good Jan-I want to hear your thoughts on it! Pls do let me know.
My question is why not just cut a sheet the size that you need vs. pulling it apart and then heating it together?
Thank you.
GiGi
Great question, one I didn’t think to explain. If I fuse the whole front fully, when I fold or roll the quilt, the front will ripple and wrinkle because there is no give. When I fuse only parts of the front, the quilt will naturally “give” and the quilt will not wrinkle or crease. Think about what would happen if you stapled two sheets of paper together all around an then rolled it. Hope this is clear! Thank you for an excellent question.