Yesterday I decided to make a start on finishing the Appliqué Sampler. When I had laid out the backing, the bamboo batting (more of that later) and the top on my table I had to decide how I was going to baste it.

You know I really detest curved safety pins. I’ve tried several varieties and they all damaged the fabric, so that was not an option. Then there was the possibility of using the Pinmoors. However, while Pinmoors are great for machine quilting, for hand quilting they are plain irritating. They don’t stay on the pins and as you move the quilt around the pins catch on one another and the Pinmoors drop on the floor. Just ask my husband – he has seen me sitting there quilting with a gentle rain of purple Pinmoors falling all around me!

That left one alternative – basting! Hmm, it takes so long! I really didn’t want to do that. That’s when I decided to tie-baste my quilt. So I took some stitches all over it and snipped the threads and tied them loosely. I’m very pleased with the result, it’s working nicely. Take a look.

Bamboo batting

Many people have asked me about bamboo batting and so I thought I’d share my experience with you. I’ve used it twice and when I’ve used up what I have left I don’t plan on using it again. It has some great properties like being anti-fungal and anti-bacterial and it drapes beautifully but I don’t like working with it.

It may be fine for machine quilting but for hand quilting it tends to beard and bits of batting come out of the stitch holes as you make them. (Not every stitch but enough to make it irritating especially if you have a coloured fabric.)

The other thing I would caution you against is wearing black when you are using it. It sticks to fabric like glue and leaves a hairy, fuzzy residue on your lovely black clothes. I forgot about this but was reminded of it as I looked down at my black shirt yesterday!