Microstitch quilt tak basting gun???

Anyone have one of these? I bought one but never thought of how far I
should be spacing the taks. So I just started firing away. I'm guess I
used about 1200 taks and then had to fill in a few spaces with pins. I
know even when I used just pins I could use about 400 in a baby panel
quilt. I think I was doing about every 3 inches. Anything less and I'm
scared there will be puckering in the back. Any thoughts?
Thanx
Joanna

The 'rule' I have always heard was to space the pins/tacks as far apart as
the width of your hand at the palm. (I have well over 1500 safety pins for
basting and I never have counted how many I used on any quilt.) It's worked
well for me, but then I use Warm & Natural (or White) and both cling very
nicely to the quilt top and backing. I'd think with a real thick batting
you'd need the basting closer as the batting could shift as you compress the
layers while quilting. HTH

Leslie & The Furbabies- almost all unpacked in MO.

"Joanna" wrote in message
news:xHREl.21829$Db2.21789@edtnps83...
Anyone have one of these? I bought one but never thought of how far I
should be spacing the taks. So I just started firing away. I'm guess I
used about 1200 taks and then had to fill in a few spaces with pins. I
know even when I used just pins I could use about 400 in a baby panel
quilt. I think I was doing about every 3 inches. Anything less and I'm
scared there will be puckering in the back. Any thoughts?
Thanx
Joanna

I don't usually bother with spaced pinning or tacking all over a quilt
sandwich - the block/quilt design decides where the pins/tacks will be
placed. If I am using my tacking gun, I bring the needle out again to
the top of the quilt before shooting the tack which makes it more
stable plus it is easier/tidier to remove the tacks when both ends are
visible on top. jennellh


On Apr 13, 9:31*pm, Joanna wrote:
Anyone have one of these? I bought one but never thought of how far I
should be spacing the taks. So I just started firing away. I'm guess I
used about 1200 taks and then had to fill in a few spaces with pins. I
know even when I used just pins I could use about 400 in a baby panel
quilt. I think I was doing about every 3 inches. Anything less and I'm
scared there will be puckering in the back. Any thoughts?
Thanx
Joanna

Tiny note, Jenn: you can't do that with the microtach, the tacks are
extremely small/short.
I use mine a lot (I also have the grille to fire into when I am doing
something large - not often!).
I usually put mine about four inches I suppose? but I place them
somewhere unobtrusive, like a seam, so my spacing is only a guide not a
rule. The smaller needle is kinder to the fabric than the original tack
guns, but closely woven fabrics like batiks do show a tiny hole after
tack removal, until they are moistened.
..
In message
,
jennellh writes
snip
If I am using my tacking gun, I bring the needle out again to
the top of the quilt before shooting the tack which makes it more
stable plus it is easier/tidier to remove the tacks when both ends are
visible on top. jennellh

--
Best Regards
pat on the hill