Monday, December 5, 2016

To Baste or Not to Baste...



I had so many comments about the fact that I do not baste my quilts before quilting that I thought I had better explain why.

I would like to reiterate that I have mastered the art of lazy quilting and in fact have taken it to new levels. I used to baste. I would carefully layout each layer of the quilt on my living room floor and struggle on my hands and knees to baste (as suggested) every 3” to 4”. But then one day I asked myself “why am I basting this thing when I take out all the basting stitches in the hoop as I go along? Why not eliminate this step all together?

So… here is how I do prepare my quilts for hand quilting now. I still layout all three layers, but instead of basting I simply turn the edge of the backing around to the front and baste it down (o.k., so you caught me in a fib, I do baste a little!).

(This little stain was on the vintage feedsack when I got it so I left it just as is.)


I then start my quilting in the center and simply pull smooth out the 3 layers within the hoop, and away we go. 



The secret is to take a little quilting with you when you move on to the next spot. If you jump around from place to place with your hoop you will most likely have a pucker, but if you make sure that your 3 layers are smooth and tight each time you move, your finished product will be as smooth as a baby’s behind!

Give it a try! It really helps the aging knees!

Disclaimer: This “no baste” method does not work for machine quilting anything over 36” or so. I don’t usually machine quilt anything over 36” so you see I really don’t baste very often.

These little guys from my latest "potholder" quilt project (more to come in my next post) were not basted before quilting.


I guess that is why I like the potholder method so much. I do not baste these little blocks before machine quilting or binding. Because I use wool batting, they stick together quite nicely after pressing the 3 layers together so there is no need to baste.

Hope this relieves all the pondering and the stress of basting for the rest of your lives!







25 comments:

  1. Thanks for explaining your method. I will try it on my next quilt. (The knees are totally gone.) Several years ago a fellow quilter told me to always include already quilted areas in my hoop when I move to a new unquilted area. It sure helps. Thanks again.

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  2. The knees are why I use the board basting system (with straight flower head pins and Pinmoors) on my drafting table. No floor work for this girl. (and I don't baste the small pieces, either)

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    1. I think if I had had room for a drafting table, I might not have figured this method out. No floor work is right!

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  3. Fascinating. Why hasn't anyone told me this before?!? : )

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    1. I know! I just had to experiment until I found what worked for me. Hope it works for you.

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  4. My back and knees are thanking you for sharing your no-baste method. Just checking - when you quilt the 3 layers are quite taut in the hoop?
    I know I've said it before but I love your pretty vintage fabric. circles!!

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    1. I get everything nice and tight and then I punch it up for a little "give". It makes it easier to get small stitches that way. I use a size 10 between needle for most of my work. I like 12's better, but I have trouble threading them.

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  5. Thanks for the explanation. I don't know if I could do that. I'm kind of a chicken. But I can see where the potholder method would be perfect for the no basting. Maybe I'll be brave someday when my knees give out.:0)

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    1. The first time I tried it I was nervous too, but it just seems to work for me.

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  6. Brilliant!! Now I just need to figure out how to do that with my larger pieces that I'm machine quilting... I do hate basting!! GRRRR.
    Love what you do!

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    1. If it would work for machine quilting maybe I would do more of it, but I haven't figured out how I could get away with it.

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  7. Your 365 quilt shown in both this post and your last is just breath-taking! Thanks for the tips on skipping the basting and how to get away with it.

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    1. Thanks Vic, I have loved this project all the way through.

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  8. Thanks for the explanation. I don't know if I could do that. I'm kind of a chicken. But I can see where the potholder method would be perfect for the no basting. Maybe I'll be brave someday when my knees give out.:0)

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  9. Thanks for the explanation! I accidentally did this one time when I messed up my basting but didn't realize it until I'd already started quilting. I had to pull out the basting threads before I moved the hoop each time. My takeaway was to be more careful with lining up my backing when basting. I should have been thinking about how much easier it would have been to not have basted at all!

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    1. Experimentation is how I learned this lazy method!

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  10. With your explanation, everything is easier ! You are a clever quilter Wendy ! Thank you for sharing !

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    1. Not so much clever as lazy! Necessity is the mother of invention after all.

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  11. Very interesting! It looks perfectly suitable! And your quilting is lovely as ever.

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  12. How interestinng, I am going to give this some serious consideration!

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  13. Ooh, loving this idea. Thank you I shall give it a try (I do loathe basting!).

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  14. Thank you for showing us your brilliant no-baste quilting method. It works beautifully for you! My next quilt is already basted but I'd really like to give it a try after the holidays.

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  15. You are so so clever! I've never thought of trying this - but I will now.
    can't wait to see more of your new PH project.

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