Help with basting gun??

You still tape it, you just tape it over the grate and use those side strings to move it along. When I've used it, I have not used the grate. I just slide it in at an angle just as I would do a pin. I saw Shar Jorgenson use it that way.

I use both, when I don't use fusible batting (which I do for all wallhangings). I use a Microtek gun and 'fire' straight down. I tape the backing down over the grid, which leaves a little bit of room to move it round. If you start in the centre, as usual, and work steadily outwards, you shouldn't have a shifting problem (the backing is taped and the rest should 'stick together well enough for the first few). I do continually smooth my layers throughout the whole process. If you have one of the early or 'regular' guns, make sure you baste somewhere like a seam or an intersection, so that the won't make a 'mess' of your surface. It is *possible* to damage the threads (if you are a bit rough or too quick), rather than just make a hole (which will close up after the tacks are removed with a little damping). The Microtek needle and tacks are much, much smaller. Movement is possible, individually, with the larger tacks; but not when you have a few in, placed so that sideways movement in any direction is prevented. They are a marvellous tool (though some might disagree), but they can be used 'not so well' and make a few problems. . In message , Joanna writes