How to Stretch and Baste a Quilt with Safety Pins

The process of placing the three separate layers of a quilt-the top, the batting and the backing--together in preparation for the quilting stitch is called stretching the quilt. Basting (or holding) the layers together with safety pins is one preferred method of many quilters. If a quilt is stretched and basted properly, the finished quilt will lie flat and not have puckers, bumps, waves or folds on the front or back because the individual layers were pinned together correctly.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• All of the above
• Group of friends or family

One person methods

1. Clear and vacuum (if desired) an area on a carpeted floor larger than the size of the quilt top.

2. Place the backing fabric right side down on the carpet.

3. Push safety pins through the backing fabric and into the carpet at 6-inch intervals along one side of the backing fabric.

4. Move to the opposite side of the fabric and stretch the fabric taunt. Repeat Step 3 to secure that side of the backing fabric.

5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 on the remaining sides.

6. Gently lay the batting over the backing fabric that is tacked to the carpet and smooth to remove all puckers and bumps.

7. Lay the quilt top, right side up, on top of the batting. Make sure that there is at least 2 inches on batting and backing fabric hanging out on all four sides.

8. Repeat Steps 3, 4 and 5. When complete, the top should lie flat with no obvious puckers or waves along the edge.

9. 
   Pin basting is a little tricky so that the safety pins go through the three quilt layers but not the carpet.

   Starting in the center, capture all three layers on the point of a safety pin and close the safety pin on the quilt top. This requires a rocking motion with your hand. Try not to pin any carpet loops with the fabric layers.

10. Repeat every 6 inches (in all directions) across the quilt top. This will baste all the layers together and hold the layers in place until the permanent quilting stitch is completed.

11. Remove the safety pins that had originally been pushed into the carpet along the edges of the backing fabric and quilt top.

12. Optional: Fold the extra backing and batting over the quilt top and secure with safety pins along the edge. This keeps the layers from raveling during quilting.

13. Remove the basted quilt from the carpet.

Two person method

14. Clear and vacuum (if desired) an area on a carpeted floor larger than the size of the quilt top.

15. Place the backing fabric right side down on the carpet.

16. One person should begin the process by pushing safety pins through the backing fabric and into the carpet at 6-inch intervals along one side of the backing fabric.

17. The second person sits opposite the first person, pulls the fabric taunt and secures the fabric by pushing safety pins into the carpet.

18. Move to the other two sides of the backing fabric and repeat Steps 3 and 4.

19. Gently lay the batting over the backing fabric that is tacked to the carpet and smooth to remove all puckers and bumps.

20. Lay the quilt top, right side up on top of the batting. Make sure that there is at least 2 inches on batting and backing fabric hanging out on all four sides.

21. Repeat Steps 3 and 4. When complete, the top should lie flat with no obvious puckers or waves along the edge.

22. Starting in the center, capture all three layers on the point of a safety pin and close the safety pin on the quilt top. This requires a rocking motion with your hand. Try not to pin any carpet loops with the fabric layers.

23. Repeat every 6 inches (in all directions) across the quilt top. This will baste all the layers together and hold the layers in place until the permanent quilting stitch is completed.

24. Remove the safety pins that had originally been pushed into the carpet along the edges of the backing fabric and quilt top.

25. Optional: Fold the extra backing and batting over the quilt top and secure with safety pins along the edge. This keeps the layers from raveling during quilting.

26. Remove the basted quilt from the carpet.

Group Method

27. Clear, and vacuum (if desired) an area on a carpeted floor larger than the size of the quilt top.

28. Place the backing fabric right side down on the carpet.

29. Helpers should space themselves evenly around all four sides of the quilt.

30. The people on one side of the backing fabric should begin the process by pushing safety pins through the backing fabric and into the carpet at 6-inch intervals along one side of the backing fabric.

31. People on the opposite side should pull the fabric taunt and secures the fabric by pushing safety pins into the carpet.

32. The people on the other two sides of the backing fabric should repeat Steps 4 and 5 on their sides of the fabric.

33. Gently lay the batting over the backing fabric that is tacked to the carpet and smooth to remove all puckers and bumps.

34. Lay the quilt top, right side up on top of the batting. Make sure that there is at least 2 inches on batting and backing fabric hanging out on all four sides.

35. Repeat Steps 4 and 5. When complete, the top should lie flat with no obvious puckers or waves along the edge.

36. Starting in the center, capture all three layers on the point of a safety pin and close the safety pin on the quilt top. This requires a rocking motion with your hand. Try not to pin any carpet loops with the fabric layers.

37. Repeat every 6 inches (in all directions) across the quilt top. This will baste all the layers together and hold the layers in place until the permanent quilting stitch is completed.

38. Remove the safety pins that had originally been pushed into the carpet along the edges of the backing fabric and quilt top.

39. Optional: Fold the extra backing and batting over the quilt top and secure with safety pins along the edge. This keeps the layers from raveling during quilting.

40. Remove the basted quilt from the carpet.

Tips & Warnings

• This technique can be used successfully on any size quilt, from a small wall hanging to a king size bed quilt.
• Use nickel-plated steel safety pins, not brass, to avoid stain marks on your quilt.
• Curved safety pins, made especially for basting quilts are available at sewing centers and specialty quilt shops.
• The more people you have to help stretch and baste a quilt, the less time it will take. Plus you'll have a lot more fun. With two people stretching and basting it takes less than half the time. With four or more people working it takes a fraction of the time as doing it alone.
• The more pins you place around the quilt top, the less shifting of fabric there will be when removed from the carpet.
• Sometimes the carpet loops are caught in the safety pins too. Be careful when lifting the quilt off the carpet. If the carpet is attached, do not pull. Gently unclasp the safety pin, remove the carpet loop and repin the quilt layers.
• If trimming excess fabric on the carpet, be aware to not cut through the carpet.
• When finished, check the area around the carpet for stray safety pins. It really hurts if you or a family member steps on the pin.

Resources

• Check out Quilting 101 to further your understanding of the quilt-making process.
• The World Wide Quilting website offers links and valuable information about everything quilt related.

[kwiltedlady]

on 4/15/2008 You've got to be careful. Just stretch it enough to pull everything evenly across the quilt, but not so tight that the edges are wavy. It takes just a little bit of practice, but once you try it you will see how easy it is to stretch your quilts evenly.

[Susanh]

on 4/14/2008 I love this idea! One question - have you had trouble with stretching the quilt top too much? Thanks, Susan