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Finishing

Basting

Temporarily securing the three layers of a quilt sandwich before quilting.

Basting holds the quilt top, batting, and backing together so the layers don't shift during quilting. Methods include: safety pin basting (pins placed every 4–6 inches across the quilt), thread basting (long stitches sewn in a grid by hand), and spray basting (temporary adhesive spray between layers). For large quilts, thread or pin basting is most secure. The backing and batting must be pulled taut and smooth before basting — any wrinkles basted into the quilt will be permanently quilted in.

Related Terms

Quilt SandwichThe three-layer stack of quilt top, batting, and backing ready for quilting.Basting SprayA temporary adhesive spray used to hold quilt layers together before quilting, as an alternative to pin or thread basting.

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