Triangle Quilt: Thread-basting the Quilt Sandwich

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

When you have the quilt back and the quilt top done, there's an obvious next step: QUILT SANDWICH.

I've written considerably more detail here, when I made the hexagon quilt and the process is fairly similar this time around. Although, I will note that thread-basting may not be the method of choice when machine quilting, as the sewing feet have a tendency to get caught up in the basted stitches. If you're mindful of that, it should be okay.

1. You'll need: quilt top, quilt back, batting, safety pins, needle, thread, scissors, masking/packing tape, and most importantly: a large enough space to work. Be sure you don't mind if a sewing needle hits your work surface hundreds of times!
   
2. Iron & starch the quilt back.
3. Mark the middle of all four sides with safety pins.
4. Lay backing right side down in the middle of a large enough surface (very important).
5. Tape in place with masking or packing tape, making sure to gently pull the fabric so it is completely flat. Do not stretch too much!
   
   
6. Iron quilt batting if necessary.
7. Mark the middle of all four sides with safety pins.
8. Center batting on top of back fabric, using safety pins as a guide.
9. Ensure the batting is completely flat. I do this by picking up an edge and lifting up and down in quick, "parachuting" movements.
   
   
10. Iron & starch quilt top.
11. Mark the middle of all four sides with safety pins.
12. Center quilt top on batting right side up, using safety pins as a guide.
13. Ensure the quilt top is completely flat, as before.
    
    
14. Baste three layers of quilt sandwich.
    
    • Start in the center, and do one quadrant at a time.
    • Each line of basting should be about 12" apart.
    • Stitches should be about 1.5" long.
    • Always secure the end of the thread off the quilt top on the batting. This'll make the stitches easier to remove.
    • Baste both horizontally and vertically.
    • Baste near the edges of the quilt, too. You'll be thankful when you attach the binding.
    
    Please ignore how imperfect my triangles are.
    
15. When done, flip quilt over and fix any large wrinkles you may have basted in.
    

It turns out that you can also baste with safety pins or using a spray adhesive. I just keep thread basting for some unknown reason. Maybe I like the blisters. Maybe I feel it's a little more secure when stitched together? Who knows.

1. How To: Cut Isosceles Triangles Without Templates 10/13/2013
2. How To: Assemble an Isosceles Triangle Quilt Top 10/16/2013
3. Step 1: Isosceles Triangle Quilt Top Completed 10/18/13
4. TARDIS Applique 10/27/13
5. Coordinating Pillowcases for the Isosceles Triangle Quilt 11/6/13
6. Step 2: Isosceles Triangle Quilt Backing Assembly 3/18/15
7. Step 3: Isosceles Triangle Quilt Sandwich-ing 4/1/15
8. Attaching the TARDIS Applique 4/8/15
9. Step 4: Machine Quilting the Isosceles Triangle Quilt 4/15/15
10. How To: Continuous Double Bias Binding Strips 4/22/15
11. Step 5: Binding the Isosceles Triangle Quilt 4/29/15
12. A Review of the Isosceles Triangle Quilt 5/6/15