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WEEK 3 – YOUR FIRST QUILT – BASTING YOUR QUILT
Hi Everyone, last week was a big week, but now you should have a finished quilt top and really see your quilt coming together. This week you will baste your quilt, which is when we sandwich our quilt together with the quilt top, batting and backing and then secure it for quilting.
Here’s what I want you to do: Watch my YouTube videos and read the notes, then let’s prepare our backing and baste our quilts, so we are all prepared for next week when we will quilt them.
VIDEOS TO WATCH | |
QUICK TIPS | |
TO READ | Week 3 Basting your quilt |
TOOLS NEEDED | Quilting basting pins, scissors, painters/masking tape, sewing machine, iron, ironing board/mat, ruler, rotary cutter, self healing mat |
SUPPLIES NEEDED | Completed quilt top, batting, 3 ½ yards backing quilting cotton OR sheet, thread |
NOTES |
Sometimes the hardest part of basting your quilt is finding a large flat surface to work on. The floor is often the best place, however this can be hard on your knees, back, and difficult for some. Other alternatives could be finding somewhere that has a large table like a friends house, library or church. Another option is to work on a table and carefully work in two sections. Do all the steps for the top half, then move it all up, and continue the same steps for the bottom half. This is a bit tricker, and I would only suggest it for those that have no other option.
If you don’t want to do the quilting you can send your quilt top to a long arm quilter to be finished for you, you would need to check with them what their requirements are before going any further with your quilt.
When securing the layers with quilting basting pins it is recommended to place them 4-6” or a hands width apart, but always consider where you will be quilting as you place them, and do what makes the most sense at the time.
100% cotton OR 80% cotton & 20% polyester is recommended for your batting. These have been tried and tested by many quilters and are the best options, for ease of use, affordability and wash and wear.
Leftover batting is never wasted and can be sewn together to make bigger pieces. Keep the label from the packaging so you know what it is, as I don’t recommend mixing different types of batting such as 100% cotton and 100% polyester.
PREPARE YOUR BACKING
TASK | PREPARING YOUR BACKING – EITHER FABRIC OR A SHEET |
TOOLS NEEDED | Ruler, rotary cutter, self healing mat, pins, sewing machine, iron, ironing board |
SUPPLIES NEEDED | 3 ½ yards of 100% cotton quilting fabric (standard width 44”) OR sheet |
1. PREPARE YOUR 100% COTTON QUILTING FABRIC FOR BACKING
Open out your fabric (keep it folded at the manufacturer fold), fold in half
Cut your fabric in half where you folded it, using your ruler, rotary cutter and self healing mat
With your right sides facing together, line up and pin your selvedge’s together
Change your sewing machine foot to the regular foot
Sew the selvedge’s together with a generous seam allowance, I used 1”
Set the stitches (optional), then finger press the seams open and press with your iron
Give the whole backing a good iron, you may choose to use steam / starch / spray water bottle this is entirely up to you
2. PREPARE YOUR SHEET FOR BACKING
Fold your sheet in half, and then in half again, place so you have a fold to the left and a fold to the top
Cut your fabric at 33” or more if you want to, so when it is opened up it is at least 66” wide
Sheets can be big, so cut in sections, please be extra careful and check where your mat ends before each cut
Turn your sheet around, so the top fold is now on the left side. So you now have a fold on the left and a fold on the bottom
Cut your fabric at 33” or more if you want to, so when it is opened up it is at least 66” wide
Give the whole sheet a good iron, you may choose to use steam / starch / spray water bottle this is entirely up to you
NOTE: If your sheet isn’t very big, you could skip this bit and trim it after you have basted your quilt
PRESS YOUR QUILT TOP
TASK | PRESS YOUR QUILT TOP |
TOOLS NEEDED | Iron, ironing board |
SUPPLIES NEEDED | Finished quilt top |
1. PRESS YOUR QUILT TOP
Give your quilt top a good press
Check that all your seams are sitting correctly on the back and press where needed
Cut any loose threads that may show when you have quilted the layers together
BASTE YOUR THREE LAYERS
TASK | BASTE YOUR THREE LAYERS |
TOOLS NEEDED | Quilting basting pins |
SUPPLIES NEEDED | Quilt top, batting, backing, painters/masking tape |
1. GET YOUR TOOLS AND SUPPLIES READY
Gather your quilt top, batting, backing, painters/masking tape and quilting basting pins
Find the best large flat hard surface available to you and make sure it is clean
2. LAYOUT AND SECURE YOUR BACKING
Layout your backing on your surface with the wrong side of the fabric facing toward you
Ensure it is flat and smooth
Secure your backing to your surface with painters/masking tape, starting with two sides, then the corners, and then everywhere else
You want it to be flat and smooth, pulled ever so slightly taut, but without it being stretched
3. LAYOUT YOUR BATTING
Layout your batting on top of your backing
Use your hands to smooth your batting out as much as possible
You want it to be flat and smooth, pulled ever so slightly taut, but without it being stretched
4. LAYOUT YOUR QUILT TOP
Layout your quilt top on top of your batting
Use your hands to smooth your quilt top out as much as possible
Make sure it is flat and smooth, but again pulled ever so slightly taut, but without it being stretched
SECURE YOUR BASTED LAYERS
TASK | SECURE YOUR BASTED LAYERS |
TOOLS NEEDED | Quilting basting pins |
SUPPLIES NEEDED | Three layers of your quilt basted together |
1. PIN YOUR THREE LAYERS TOGETHER
Pin your three layers together
When pinning you want to ensure you catch all three layers, and you can check this when you do the edges
Be careful that you do not scratch your hard surface with your pins
For this quilt I recommend pinning in the middle of every square and along all the edges
When we are quilting, we will add more pins to the area we are working on at the time
2. CUT OFF EXCESS BACKING AND BATTING
Remove the tape
Allowing at least 2-3 inches clearance from your quilt top, cut off excess backing and batting
TASK | Quilting your quilt |
TOOLS NEEDED | Quilting basting pins, scissors, screw driver, walking foot, sewing machine |
SUPPLIES NEEDED | Your basted quilt, thread |
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