Stitchin’ Heaven Howdy

Dear Deb,

I’ve just finished piecing my second quilt and am ready to start basting. I have it all sandwiched together ready but I’m nervous about starting. On my last quilt I made an awful mess when I got to the basting stage, and I don’t want to ruin all my hard work. Fortunately, it was my “practice” and I need to do a better job on this one.

Basting Blues
Dear Basting,
Well, you won’t be the first and you won’t be the last to have this happen. You’re so proud of your creation and then, almost before you know it, its all wrinkled and bumpy looking! All I can do is share my own method with you and hope that helps. I’m sure that others will write in as well, so you’ll end up with a number of methods for this stage of the game.

I pin my layers together with quilters’ safety pins. These are different to regular pins, they have a curve in them, which makes it easier to get the point through the sandwich and back up to the top again. Most quilters recommend laying your quilt out on the floor so that it keeps smooth but I have a secret tip here:

Get your dining chairs and spread them out around the room, with the backs forming a square, then get your cutting boards or some hardboard and lay these across the back of the chairs – in effect you are making a big table. Lay your quilt sandwich on this ‘table’ and pin. You’ll find it much easier pinning at waist height than sprawling around on the floor! Ooh, I almost forgot – it’s really important that you start pinning at the center of the quilt and work your way outwards, that way any potential wrinkles are pushed to the edges!

There are a number of really good books that can help you as well. One that I would recommend is by Alex Anderson titled Machine Quilting with Alex Anderson. In this book, you will learn about the mechanics of the quilting process from basting to quilting and then even to binding. There are some really great projects in this book as well. It would be a great reference for you if you are new at this. You can order it from my website.

Another equally good book is one from Eleanor Burns and Quilt in a Day Machine Quilting Primer. No one makes things easier than Eleanor Burns. Detailed explanations of commonly used tools and methods are followed by samples to practice techniques. I truly love this book although it has been out for many years. It is one of those that you really must have in your library! You can order it here.

Just remember that all of this is a learning experience and the more practice you have the better you get at it!

Until we meet again, may your days be pieceful!
Deb
Stitchin’ Heaven is located in Quitman, Tx and has a population of 2030
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**Do you have a question about quilting? If you do, there are other quilters who have the same question! Simply email it to deb@stitchinheaven.com and she will answer it for you!