When the Longarm Stays Silent: How Curved Safety Pins Saved My Dragon Quilt
We’ve all been there. You have a vision for a quilt, but the usual tools just won’t cut it for this specific project.
Recently, I finished a vibrant dragon-themed quilt for my daughter (who inherited my love for all things mythical!). While I usually rely on my Q’nique 16x mid-arm to get the job done, this project had a unique challenge: my daughter specifically requested no sewing through the decorative panels. She wanted those dragons to remain untouched and pristine.
Because of this, I had to move the project to my domestic machine. To make it extra cozy, I chose a plush minky fabric for the backing. If you’ve ever worked with minky, you know the struggle—it shifts, it slides, and it stretches the moment you look at it!
The Secret Weapon: Curved Basting Pins
To keep the “quilt sandwich” from becoming a tangled mess, I turned to a classic but essential tool: Quilting Curved Safety Pins (Size 3).
I also picked up a variety pack for my smaller secondary projects, and let me tell you, they were an absolute lifesaver. Here is why every quilter needs a stash of these:
- The Power of the Curve: Unlike standard straight pins, the curve in these basting pins makes it incredibly easy to dip down through the backing and “hook” back up through the top layer without shifting the fabric layers.
- Minky Management: Minky is the king of shifting. These pins acted like anchors, locking the minky backing to the batting and the dragon panels so nothing budged while I maneuvered the quilt under my machine needle.
- Minimal “Evidence”: Even though I used 100+ pins, they left almost no visible holes in the fabric once removed.
- Speed and Security: Using the variety pack allowed me to use smaller pins for tight corners and the larger Size 3 pins for the thickest parts of the quilt.
The Result
By taking the time to pin-baste thoroughly, I was able to machine quilt around the panels smoothly. The backing stayed flat, the tension remained even, and most importantly, the dragon artwork stayed the star of the show.
If you’re planning a project with a “fidgety” fabric like minky, or if you’re working off the longarm frame, don’t underestimate the power of a good set of curved safety pins. They might just be the most important “notion” in your sewing room!
https://amzn.to/4jFDSbS Size 3 curved batting safety pins
https://amzn.to/3NnePhn The variety pack of pins
By using these links you are helping me in a very small way keep these going. I am testing all of these products and it is a huge thank you to you that I am able to test these things so that you don’t have to waist your time. Happy Sewing everyone!