lcquilting Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Just wondering if you ladies take out all of your basting stitches? Not the ones along the top that holds the batting and top to the backing, but the ones along the sides and along the bottom. Just curious! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowena Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 The short answer.....never. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smorris Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 I agree with Rowena. the stitches are inside the binding line and customers say it helps to have them there when they do their binding. Sue in Australia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Nope, leave them in. Usually, they either get cut off or covered with the binding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primitive1 Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Same here, I once did when I was new at this and the customer wanted to know where they were as it helped her hold things in place for the binding - so never do now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltlover03 Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 The thought never occurred to me... as a matter of fact depending on what i do to a Quilt sometimes I just pin the sides and bottom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katydids Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Originally posted by smorris I agree with Rowena. the stitches are inside the binding line and customers say it helps to have them there when they do their binding. Sue in Australia Ditto! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rlhdesigns Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 I never take out the basting stitches along the sides. The stitches are covered when the binding is applied. Rebecca Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Nope nope nope. Why make extra work for yourself. Once in awhile I wobble and get outside the binding line and I trim those away, but 99 percent is hidden and no one can see it once the binding is on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Never, never, never. My customers actually like it there because it helps them when they put their binding on. I also tell them that the sides are for my use. I try to keep my tension testing on one side but I tell them they are free to pick it out if they want to use that fabric! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Ditto here, I leave them in. I find it is easier to apply the binding with all four sides basted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnCavanaugh Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Okay, I'm swimming upstream here, but I have a couple of observations to share about "basting" along the quilt edges. These comments come strictly from experience as a show judge, and are not "gospel"! [*] First, if your quilting truly "exits" the quilt's surface (edge-to-edge designs, background fills that extend to the outer edge, etc.), these comments do NOT count. That's because your stitching acts as stabilization between stitching lines. [*] Now, if your particular quilting design "floats" on the quilt's surface (like a leaf vine or feather wandering down the border) and it does NOT approach the quilt's edge, you may run into trouble when it's time for binding. This can happen with designs like "piano key" quilting, too. [*] Be sure that when you say "baste" in this scenario that you really are basting, with stitches at least 1/2 inch long. Use your manual sewing mode and move quickly, or use the needle up/down button. If you just zip down the side with closer stitching, you've just told the outer border's edge, "Stay put, but don't change or react to whatever I quilt inside your edge." Remember that the quilt is taut on your frame. The quilt will want to relax when the quilting is done. If you put a "floating" design inside a border, the fabric will "draw up" around that quilting. However, if the edge is firmly anchored, it has no way to react to that stitching, because it's planted to the backing and batting in the condition it started in BEFORE you added quilting. When firm basting remains in these situations, you'll often find that the quilt's border edges "wave" when the binding is added, even though the quilt appeared flat off the frame. That's because that outer edge didn't "shrink" in relation to the quilting next to it...it was nailed down when the quilt was stretched on the frame. And customers attach the binding by "smoothing out" that outer edge so it's nice and flat when they sew it on, and are disappointed when it then ruffles when they're done. Ideally, the border's edge should be "eased in" to compensate for the floating design in the border's center, so the outer edge will lay flat. The ideal "basting" for customers who want the edge secured for binding would occur after you finished the quilting. That's why it's often easier to "pin baste" the quilt's edge in this situation, then you can remove the pins quickly and "tack baste" the edge when the quilting's done, allowing the edge to react to the border quilting and easing it in in relation to the amount of "shrinkage" inside the border. Remember, this is only important with "floating" designs. If your quilting physically leaves the edges of the quilt, then those stitching lines help to "ease in" the outer seam area between your stitching. Just consider your design and even your batting choice, as thicker batting will make the "wobbly border" issue even more pronounced. Okay, done fighting the current... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hollyrw Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Wow, thank you Dawn! I've had some trouble with "wavey" binding and now I understand why. I will definitely rethink the way I secure the edges for quilting. I was all set to reply like everyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Thank you Dawn for the information! I currently only do pantos/E2E quilting and basting the sides has not been an issue for me with wavy binding. But now that I am progressing to free hand quilting, this is great advice for us newbies. Again Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Of course good point Dawn. I always do needle/ up/down and do longer stitches. I also seldom just do a free standing motif but it is good to be reminded why! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowena Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 Okay, after reading Dawns great post, I must clarify my "never" response. This is on edge to edge and not custom quilts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 I am really out there--I never baste the sides of the quilt. Or the top. Or the bottom. ....I feel so alone..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 Oh--unless I am doing a panto. So far I have done three of those!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bekah Posted November 7, 2009 Report Share Posted November 7, 2009 Well I usually don't stitch the edges until I have finished the quilting and am getting ready to advance the quilt, but I think my stitches are way too small. Dawn what would we do without you. Thank you once again for sound advice!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted November 8, 2009 Report Share Posted November 8, 2009 I too need to clarify my "NEVER" statement....I rarely do a edge to edge as in a panto, but when I do the custom work I only do designs and fillers that fill up a whole border. I never float a design without securing the sides out to the edge, so that maybe why I've never gotten into trouble...but can see where that would be a problem, and will remember to give more information to someone who might not know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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