|
How to Quilt>How to Baste a Quilt
Tips for Pinning a Quilt and Thread Basting a Quilt
Once you have layered your quilt, you are ready to baste it. Basting keeps all of the layers of your quilt evenly placed as you quilt - either using machine quilting or hand quilting.
Machine quilters like using large safety pins because they are easy to remove as the quilting is completed in each area, and there is no worry about basting threads getting stitched over and becoming difficult to remove. In addition, sometimes the presser foot catches on the basting threads, causing the quilt to bunch up as it is quilted – until you cut the thread.
A couple of additional tips about using safety pins:
Another option is thread basting:
Many quilters find that using long needles makes basting easier – try a #7 cotton darning needle or a milliner’s needle. Other quilters use a slightly curved needle (somewhat like a tapestry needle) and place a soup spoon under the quilt to direct the needle back up through the quilt. Use an ‘ugly’ color of thread for your basting – it’s a great way to use the thread you won’t use for some other project. Just be careful to stick with a color that will not rub off onto your quilt. Sometimes red thread will leave a mark that you really don’t want. To make sure that your thread is long enough, thread the needle with the thread still on the spool. Place the spool in the center of the quilt (or wherever you will begin your basting stitches). Take your stitches and pull the thread through the quilt after each stitch or two, while allowing the thread to unwind from the spool. When you get to the end of the quilt, tie a knot in the end where the needle was. Cut the thread from the spool, leaving a tail long enough to tie a knot, and then tie the knot. Begin again. Ultimately, this also saves thread, since you never end up with long extra pieces.
Happy Quilting!
Penny Halgren www.Rag-Quilt-Instructions.com ©2005, Penny Halgren
|
|
