The Quilting Process: Basting your Quilt

There has been a huge break in transmission on this series but if you’ve been following my latest posts, I have practically been talking, more like lamenting about this next process in all of them. Anyhow, congratulations on successfully piecing you Quilt top! Now we move on to the next stage and that’s preparing your sandwich (no you won’t be needing bread hahaha) it’s time to baste that baby 😃. Basting is the process of “sandwiching” your three layers of top, batting and backing together in preparation for actual quilting. Depending on the size of your project, this could be fun if ever or this could be a major task headache but you can’t skip this process trust me I would if I could …unfortunately I do not have a long arm quilter anywhere near that I would have passed this onto (You only need to send the pieced top and backing fabric right or how does that work?). 

Since the last post on this series – piecing your quilt, I have successfully completed 2 double bed Quilts with the Quilt-as-you-go method and I did struggle with the basting and even abandoned my Queen Size project for a new one. However, here is what I did with one of the completed ones:

Here’s the back of the joined Quilt-as-you go Quilt top: I trimmed the batting slightly smaller than the top and joined the blocks with a 1/4″ allowance

A little hand stitching to hold the batting together without any excess bulk and when I came round to quilting with the backing, I quilted 1/4″ away from the seam line on both sides to further secure the batting

Now it is ready for basting and this time I only need to baste this to the backing.

My new project Nautical is gradually approaching the basting stage and this time I am going for gold…I intend to take on basting and quilting the entire project as a whole! Wish me luck will you 🙂

For the basting process, you need:

• Pieced quilt top,
• Batting/wadding of choice (make sure you choose the most appropriate and quality batting for your quilt) and speaking of batting, apparently I’ve been using a “Fatt Batt” with high loft intended for a tied Quilt…maybe that’s why I’ve been struggling with basting, it’s not easy to spray baste as the layers don’t stick well together like the flatter cotton batting. Take a minute to read this post on batting that I found very useful http://www.generations-quilt-patterns.com/quiltbatting.html
• Pieced backing (if that’s your preference) or whole cloth backing
• The rest of the tools will depend on your basting technique of choice but it will include Pins (Safety, Quilting or Glass head Pins), Pinmoor, Kwik Clip, Masking Tape, Scissors, Sewing needle, Thread and fabric adhesive spray – I use 505 Spray and Fix Temporary Fabric Adhesive available on Amazon .

Considering where I am right now and my current view of basting, I figured it will be best to share the various options and techniques for basting a quilt out there some of which I only just found out about or haven’t tried because of certain limitations at this time mainly adequate space! I hope you find one that works perfectly for you 🙂

General information on Basting:

• http://www.craftsy.com/blog/2013/10/various-basting-techniques-practices/
• http://www.craftsy.com/blog/2015/04/how-to-baste-a-quilt/
• http://www.seamstobesew.com/what-do-you-prefer-basting-ideas/
• http://www.sew4home.com/tips-resources/sewing-tips-tricks/quilt-basics-quilting-quilt-part-5-5

 

Technique Specific Information on Basting:

Pin Basting:

• http://www.sewhandmade.info/#!basting-your-quilt/c1v33
• http://www.generations-quilt-patterns.com/layering-and-basting-a-quilt.html

Board Basting:

• http://www.right-sides-together.com/rst-guide-board-basting/
• http://colormequilty.blogspot.com.ng/2013/04/board-basting.html

 

Spray Basting

• https://gothamquilts.com/baste-this-spray-basting-tutorial/
• http://www.craftsy.com/blog/2013/03/spray-basting-your-quilts/?_ct=rbew&_ctp=46294

Wall Basting

• http://www.quiltersnewsletter.com/blogs/insideqn/2014/07/18/off-the-wall-basting/
• http://weallsew.com/super-simple-strips-quilt-along-part-3/

Pool Noodle Basting:

• http://vickisfabriccreations.blogspot.com.ng/2016/03/another-new-quilt-pattern-and.html

Hand Basting:

• http://hobbystash.com/quilting/diary/kaleidoscope-star/kaleidoscope-star-hand-basting/
• https://hobbystash.com/quilting/tutorials-quilting/tips-tricks/hand-basting-a-quilt/

I have only tried spray basting (a life saver) and pin basting which I must say is not the easiest thing in the world…all that crawling on the floor can’t be very good for me definitely not the needle pricks! This is why I have to try out some of the other techniques as soon as I get the chance…I certainly see wall basting in my nearest future. What is your go to basting technique and what other relevant tips or technique would you like to share- anything that makes basting less of a Quilting kill joy is very much welcomed so let’s hear it in the comment section! Now that this much dreaded post is out of the way, I look forward to the rest of the Quilting Process series.

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy the rest of your week and have a great weekend ahead.

Sola 🙂