Binding Clips vs. Quilter's Basting Gun: Which to Use
By Prymamericas.com: Sewing, quilting, and knitting supplies | Published: 2026-10-29
Category: Comparisons
Compare two popular quilt basting methods: binding clips for holding edges and a basting gun for quick-tacking layers. Learn the trade-offs and find your fit.
Quick Answer
Choose binding clips for securing quilt binding edges during sewing, and a quilter's basting gun for quickly tacking multiple fabric layers together before quilting.
Why the Tool Matters
Both tools save time, but they solve different problems. Binding clips hold the folded binding strip in place along the quilt edge while you stitch, replacing pins or hand-basting. A basting gun shoots plastic tacks through all quilt layers to hold them together temporarily, replacing safety pins or spray adhesive.
The right choice depends on your current step in the quilting process: preparing to quilt the layers or finishing the edges.
Key Differences at a Glance
Binding clips are reusable, rustproof, and designed for the final binding step. They grip fabric without damage and are easy to open and close. The basting gun uses disposable tacks and is better for large quilts where pinning would be tedious.
Neither tool replaces the other — they serve different stages of a quilt project.
Trade-offs: Binding Clips vs. Basting Gun
- Best for the Binding Step: Use binding clips to hold the binding strip in place while you stitch it to the quilt edge. They are reusable, easy to snap on and off, and won't rust. Keep a set of clips in your sewing kit for every quilt finish.
- Best for Layer Basting: Use a quilter's basting gun to tack the quilt top, batting, and backing together before quilting. The plastic tacks are quick to insert and remove, and the gun can also mark patterns. Great for large quilts where pinning would take too long.
- When to Use Both: You can use both tools in the same project: the basting gun for layer prep and binding clips for the edge finish. They are complementary, not competing. Having both expands your quilting toolkit.
Product Facts
- Quilters Basting Gun with Tacks: The Dritz Quilter's Basting Gun with 500 Tacks is designed for quick-tack basting and accurate marking of quilts, crafts, home decor, and tagging handmade items. It lets you baste layers together without sewing or pinning, which speeds up the prep work for a large quilt.
Quilters Basting Gun with Tacks - Binding Clips, Silver, 30 pc: The Dritz Quilting Binding Clips are rustproof, flexible, and feature a convenient open-and-close mechanism to hold quilt binding securely in place. They replace pins or hand-basting along the binding edge, giving you a smooth sewing experience without snags.
Binding Clips, Silver, 30 pc
Which One Fits Your Project?
Best For
- Binding clips: quilters who need a secure, reusable way to hold binding edges while sewing
- Basting gun: quilters who want to quickly tack multiple layers together without pins or spray adhesive
Not For
- Binding clips: basting the entire quilt top to the batting and backing
- Basting gun: holding the binding strip in place during the final edge stitching
