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For many people the warmth of a hand made quilt brings back the memories of ones youth or loved ones. Some brave souls even embark on the quest of making their own heirloom master pieces. Sewing the quilt top is both fun and often not too difficult. Whether done by hand or machine the difficulty for most seems to be the holding of and keeping stretched the quit sandwich pieces during the actual quilting. There are three main ways to do this.

First, the most traditional way, which is basting. By definition basting is securing two or more layers of fabric and or batting together with long stitches in preparation for final sewing. In quilt making, basting readies the quilt sandwich for hand or machine quilting. When the quilt layers are laid out taunt and in the correct order, (backing, wrong side up, batting, and quilt top, right side up), then long one inch stitches are sewed on either by hand or machine first in one direction then in the other to make a grid. These large stitches are then removed when piece is finished.

Basting can also be done with safety pins. The same sandwiching as above is done, but where a grid's corners are formed with a sewn basting the pins are placed, going through all layers, or every two inches in all directions. This method does work nicely and there tends to be little slipping, but the pins can get in the way especially if machine quilting. My own machine doe not go over the pins easily and they need to be removed as I go. The same for hand sewing as a hoop cannot go over the top of pins as they would with stitches, although there is no removal at the end of project since it is being done during, a bit of a time saver as pins are also easier to remove and re usable.

A personal favorite of mine is fusible batting or the use of fusible sprays. With these the layers are again laid out, but this time on a heat resistant surface. If using a spray each layer may need to be covered with it first. Some fusible batting's will need to be sprayed with a water mist while layering. The layers are then ironed flat fusing them together. Basting in this fashion leaves you with no pins or threads getting in the way of your stitching. There is less slipping and bunching, this is a great way to go if quilting on the machine. The fusible method works well for kids learning how to quilt. It is both easy for them to do (with supervision), holds well, and there are no pins to be stuck with.

Learn more about this author, Kelly Olsen.
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