Kwik Klip Pin Basting Tool Demonstration

If you're a quilter, you know that basting is an essential step in the process of making a quilt. It's what holds your quilt sandwich together while you quilt it. There are several ways to baste a quilt, but one popular method is the pin-basting technique.

With the pin-basing technique, numerous safety pins are inserted through the three layers of the quilt sandwich.  Are you tired of trying to push the pins through the layers and closing them?  Does it hurt your fingers when you do it?

A favorite tool I like to use to close safety pins is the Kwik Klip. Have you heard of it before?  It's a simple wooden rod with a metal end with grooves in it which stabilize the pin and give you leverage to help close the pin too. 

Instead of putting my finger under numerous safety pins and pushing the top down to close them, I use the Kwik Klip to close them by slipping the end of the safety pin into one of the grooves so I can bring the head of the pin down to fasten it.

This nifty tool is a life-saver when pin basting or I should say, a finger saver.

Learn how to use the Kwik Klip tool by watching our visual tutorial which you can see by clicking the link below to go to our YouTube video or keep reading this post for a photo tutorial.

advantages of using the Kwik Klip to close safety pins

• Reduces pin basting time
• Saves fingertips
• Prevents indentations in finger
• Results in fewer pinpricks
• Prevents broken fingernails
• Affordable quilter's tool

INSTRUCTIONS for using the Kwik Klip pin basting tool

STEP 1: gather the supplies

First, gather your supplies. You'll need a quilt sandwich, safety pins and a Kwik Klip tool.

STEP 2: Start Pin Basting

Take a safety pin and insert it through all three layers of the quilt sandwich, starting at the center of the quilt and working your way out.  Make sure the pin goes through all three layers and is not too tight or too loose. Continue pinning in a grid pattern, spacing the pins about 4-6 inches apart.  Make sure the pins are evenly spaced and that there are no puckers or wrinkles in the fabric.

When I pin baste a quilt sandwich together, I prefer to put a bunch of safety pins in the quilt sandwich first (that way if I need to reposition one to remove puckers or wrinkles, it is easy to do) and then close a bunch all at one time.

STEP 3: CLOSING PINS

To close the pins using the Kwik Klip, simply hold the tool in your dominant hand, slip the tip of the safety pin into a groove of the Kwik Klip and push the safety pin down to close it. Don't pull up on the Kwik Klip, push down on the safety pin.

Using a Kwik Klip is a fast and efficient way to close pins and make pin basting a quilt so much quicker. Once you've pinned the entire quilt, you're ready to start quilting. 

STEP 4: removing pins with kwik klip

The Kwik Klip tool also makes removing the pins easy as you machine quilt.

Simply slide the brass tip of the Kwik Klip underneath the safety pin.  Press the safety pin down against the tool to open it and remove it from your quilt sandwich.

Overall, the Kwik Klip basting tool is a great tool for quilters who want to save time and make the basting process easier.  Give it a try on your next quilt and see how it works for you.

If you pin baste and you are not familiar with this tool, I highly recommend investing in one. Every quilter should have one of these in the quilting toolbox arsenal. And they make great gifts too!

I hope you enjoyed learning about the Kwik Klip tool.   To see more handy tools our Needlepointers.com team likes, check out Our Favorite Sewing and QuiltingTools page.

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