There are many steps to making a lovely quilt, and one of them is making a quilt sandwich. This page will tell you what a quilt sandwich is and what the steps are to making one.
What is a quilt sandwich?
A quilt sandwich is the layered structure of a quilt, made up of the quilt top, the batting which is the middle layer, and the backing.
The quilt top is the decorative layer sewn together with pieces of fabric that will be visible once the quilt is finished. The batting is the middle layer that gives the quilt its loft, and the backing is the large piece of fabric that makes up the back of the quilt.
Basting a quilt sandwich properly is essential for a smooth quilting process and a professional finish.
What does basting a quilt mean?
Basting a quilt means temporarily securing the three layers of a quilt -the quilt top, batting and backing- so they don’t shift or wrinkle while they are quilted together.
It is a very important step that ensures that your finished quilt is smooth, evenly stitched, and professional looking.
Why baste a quilt?
Prevents fabric bunching or puckering during quilting.
Keeps layers aligned and centered.
Makes quilting by hand or machine much easier.
As you scroll down the page, you will find many different kinds of basting methods. The common quilt basting methods are as follows:
- Safety Pin Basting quilt: This is where curved quilter’s safety pins are spaces every 4-6 inches across the quilt.
- Spray Baste quilt: This method uses temporary adhesive spray between the layers. This is fast and smooth, especially for small to medium quilts.
- Thread (hand baste quilt): This uses long, loose stitches to hand-sew through all of the layers. This is time consuming but traditional; great for hand sewing.
- Fusible Batting: The batting has adhesive on one or both sides and the quilt sandwich is secured temporarily. This is convenient but less adjustable once fused.
Tips for Successful Basting
- Always start in the center and work outward to avoid lumps and bubbles,
- Smooth each layer before basting.
- Use a clean, flat surface like a large table or floor.
- Backing and batting should be a few inches larger than the quilt top.
Basically, basting is like temporarily pinning everything in place before doing the real stitching. Skipping it can lead to crooked lines, wrinkles, or a quilt that doesn’t lay flat,
Once the quilt is basted, it is ready to be quilted, either by hand, with a domestic sewing machine, or a longarm quilting machine.
Once the quilt is basted, the next step is to learn the basics of hand quilting or machine quilting.
You're almost done!
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After creating the quilt sandwich it time to baste it. This tutorial explains three ways - how to pin baste, how to baste a quilt with boards, and how to spray baste.
Suzy Quilts
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Learn 5 different quilt basting techniques - with thread, safety pins, fusible spray, fusible powder, and fusible batting.
Quilting Daily
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Most quilters use the floor to baste a quilt. What if you live in a small space with limited floor space? This blogger shows you a technique for basting quilts when you don't have a lot of room.
Strawberry Creek Quilts
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This quilting tutorial will teach you exactly how to spray baste a quilt.
Homemade Emily Jane
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Here is a basting hack! Learn how to baste a quilt sandwich on an ironing board with this free tutorial.
Midlife Quilter
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If you are limited on space, this post has three resources on how to baste a quilt when you don't have a lot of room.
String & Story
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An alternative way to baste a quilt is to use basting power - Free Fuse. Learn how to use it to fuse quilt layers together.
DIY Joy
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Learn how to layer the backing, batting and quilt top together. This layering is called a quilt sandwich.
It also shows how to pin baste the quilt. Pin basting the quilt prepares the quilt to be quilted. Quilting attaches the three layers together.
Needlepointers.com
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Here is a tutorial on how to make a quilt sandwich using Elmer's glue instead of traditional spray adhesive.
Sara's Quilting Corner
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Quilters can now baste quilts without using pins, spray adhesives and thread. This video explains how to use Quilters Select Free Fuse Basting Powder.
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If you don't want to use pins, thread or basting spray to join the quilt sandwich. This tutorial shows how to use fusible batting.
Sew Can She
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This quilter explains and demonstrates how to glue baste the quilt sandwich together to prepare it for quilting.
Quilters Candy
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Learn how to hand baste a quilt top in preparation for either machine or hand quilting.
Patchwork Posse
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You can make your own basting spray. It's inexpensive! No inhaling aerosol spray! It's easy! Learn how to make it and how to use it at this blog post.
String and Story
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The Kwik Klip safety pin tool makes pin-basting quilt layers faster, easier, and safer. Learn how to use the Kwik Klip quilting tool.
Needlepointers.com Associate
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Here is a technique to baste a quilt quickly and simply. The tutorial explains how to use Mistyfuse, which is a two-sided fusible web.
Quilting Digest
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Before quilting, the quilt top, batting and backing piece need to be basted together. Here is a tutorial on how to pin baste your quilt.
Sew Can She
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This tutorial explains how to use pool noodles to quickly and easily baste your quilt on a table.
On Williams Street
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The four ways to baste a quilt discussed are: thread, iron, pin and spray. Learn the pros and cons of each.
Lori Kennedy Quilts
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In this blog post, learn how to make a quilt sandwich and discover 4 ways to baste a quilt.
Designed to Quilt
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Here is a recipe for making your own homemade quilt basting spray. It's economical.
Chatterbox Quilts
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Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl give you all her basting tips and tricks when making a quilt sandwich.
Quilting Jetgirl
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Learn how to use inexpensive pool noodles from a dollar store to make it easier to baste a quilt.
Beth Ann Williams
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This blogger has used many different brands of spray baste products. Here are three product options and her thoughts on each.
Homemade Emily Jane
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This tutorial walks you through the entire process of spray basting a quilt with step-by-step instructions plus a video tutorial.
Quilty Love
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The Crafty Quilter shows you how to spray baste a quilt to prepare it for machine or hand quilting.
The Crafty Quilter
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Learn how to spray baste your quilt with temporary spray adhesive easily with this tutorial.
Inspired Quilting by Lea Louise
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A quilt sandwich is made up of a quilt top, the batting and the quilt backing. This tutorial will show you how to sandwich the quilt with safety pins.
Needlepointers.com
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This blog post explains how to baste a large quilt in sections on a table. No need to be on the floor.
Kathy K Wylie
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In this post, learn how to thread baste the quilt sandwich together.
Purl Soho
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Instead of opening and closing dozens of pins or inhaling aerosol adhesive, you use large stitches to hold your quilt sandwich together with the information in this blog post.
Chicken Scratch NY
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This tutorial guides you through what you need and how to thread baste a quilt sandwich.
Patchwork and Poodles
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This tutorial demonstrates how to spray baste a quilt on a design wall. This technique can also be used on a large dining room table.
Diary of a Quilter
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