Basting holds your quilt sandwich together
while you quilt

Layering and Basting Your Quilt.

Layer your quilt by placing the back, right side down, on a large table top. Place a pin in the center at the top and bottom, and tape the back down to the table.

Center the batting on the backing. Fold the top half of the batting towards the bottom, and spray the folded half with 505 spray. Replace the batting on the backing, and smooth it out. Always spray the 505 onto the batting rather than the fabric.

Fold up the bottom half of the batting, spray with 505, and lay back down, smoothing any wrinkles.

Matching centers, place the quilt top on the batting. Fold half of the quilt top down and spray the batting with 505. Smooth the top over it. Repeat for other half of quilt.

If you do not wish to use adhesive spray, you can layer the three tiers of your quilt and pin with safety pins, placing them about a handspan apart.

Many quilters still like to stitch their layers together. You must layer your quilt sandwich, then use large stitches to anchor your quilt sandwich horizontally and vertically. If it is a large quilt, then it is a good idea to stitch diagonally as well.

In my machine quilting business I do a lot of basting for quilters who wish to hand quilt. Because it is machine stitched, I need only stitch it in one direction, usually horizontally, and it is held firmly in place.

Backing is Green, Batting is White and the Top is Multi-Coloured

Fold the edges of the backing and batting over the edge of the front, and pin with safety pins to keep the batting from getting raggedy while you quilt.

Finished with "Basting"? Go to "Lesson 6 - Quilting"

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