Click on the image to see a larger picture

Step 1

The first step is to find a smooth, hard surface that is large enough for you to spread your quilt on, and spread out the backing fabric - wrong side up. Smooth the fabric.

It doesn't need to be perfectly flat, but be sure to get it as flat as possible.

This is fairly easy for smaller quilts. I have a cardboard cutting mat - left over from my clothes-making days - that I unfold and lay on my bed.

I have also been known to use a floor in my house, or clean off the concrete in the patio (really well!) and spread out a quilt there.

Some quilt shops offer their large tables to quilters for basting.

Often I secure the layer to the surface to make sure it stays put. That can be done using masking or painters tape or pins.

Step 2

Next, lay your quilt top on the backing - just to be sure that the backing is large enough. The size of your quilt will determine how much excess backing fabric and batting that should extend beyond the quilt top.

For smaller quilts, use about 2" extra, for larger quilts, I have at least 3" of the batting and backing extend beyond the quilt top.

This will be trimmed off after you quilt, and before you add the binding. Its purpose is to ensure that the batting, backing and top all end up the same size after they are quilted.

Click on the image to see a larger picture

Click on the image to see a larger picture

Step 3

Once you have determined that the backing is large enough, remove the quilt top.

With the quilt top put aside, lay your batting onto the backing. The backing is still facing with its wrong side up.

In this step, smooth the batting out. It is critical to get the batting as smooth as you can. If there are bulges and puckers in the batting, it will be very difficult to have a smooth quilt.

I use all kinds of nudging, patting and pushing to get the batting smooth. I have also resorted to pressing - although that is a last resort!

Step 4

Lay your quilt top on the batting, facing right side up.

Smooth the quilt top out until it is flat. This step is critical, too.

Make sure that all of the wrinkles are out of the top, batting and backing. You can feel them with your hands.

Don't stress too much, though. If you use a hoop in hand quilting, you will be able to get even more of the wrinkles out.

If you are machine quilting, you can also stretch some of the wrinkles out as you feed the quilt through the machine.

Click on the image to see a larger picture

Click on the image to see a larger picture

Step 5

Now you get to cut off the excess backing fabric and batting if you need to.

If this is a bed-size quilt, you will want to leave about 3" around the edges of your quilt top. For smaller quilts - wall hangings - you can be safe to leave around 2 inches on each side.

If you cut the backing fabric and batting the same size as your top, you are likely to end up short. (Your top will be larger than the back and batting.)

Now you are ready to baste your quilt. If you have secured the backing to the table, it is good to remove the tape before you baste the quilt.

Trimmed and layered quilt, ready for basting.