How to Sew Basting Stitches

Basting stitches are extra-long stitches that you can use to temporarily hold fabric in place. They hold the fabric much better than pins, and they can be easily removed with a seam ripper, if needed. You may want to baste a difficult seam in a garment, such as a tricky sleeve attachment, to make sure it fits together before you do the final sewing. You can also use basting stitches to gather fabric. You can sew basting stitches with most sewing machines or by hand using a long, straight stitch. Make sure to pin the fabric together, if needed, before basting it.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fabric
• Thread
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine or sewing needle
• Scissors

Sew Basting Stitches by Machine

1. Set the stitch length to the maximum number. Many sewing machines have a dial for this, with numbers from zero to four.

2. Set the sewing machine speed to slow--if it has a variable speed control--if you’re sewing small pieces of fabric, such as a garment. Since basting stitches are long, the machine will seem to go faster than it will for short stitches. For long, straight basting seams, such as curtains, you can leave the speed on high.

3. Place the fabric under the presser foot of the sewing machine. Lower the sewing machine needle by turning the hand wheel toward you, then lower the presser foot.

4. Sew the seam using the long stitches to make the basting. Do not reverse stitch at the beginning and end of the seam like you would for normal-length stitches.

5. Cut the threads, and remove the fabric from the sewing machine. If you plan to use the basting stitches to make gathers, make sure to leave the threads on the end of the basting a few inches long, so that they’ll be easy to hold onto.

Sew Basting Stitches by Hand

6. Cut a piece of thread about 18 inches long. Insert the end of the thread through the eye of the needle, and pull the thread until the ends are lined up. Tie a large knot in the ends of the thread.

7. Poke the needle up through the underside of the fabric. Pull the needle until the knot is secure against the underside of the fabric.

8. Insert the needle down the through the fabric about 1/8 to 1/4 inch away, depending on how long you want the basting stitches. Shorter stitches will hold the fabric better, but longer stitches will be easier to remove. Pull the needle until the stitch is snug, but not tight against the fabric.

9. Poke the needle up through the underside of the fabric, very close to the end of the first stitch.

10. Repeat Steps 2 through 4 until you have completed the basting. If you want the basting to be secure, tie a knot in the end of the thread. Otherwise, just cut the end of the thread without tying it. If you plan to use the basting stitches to make gathers, make sure to leave the threads on the end of the basting a few inches long, so that they’ll be easy to hold onto.

Tips & Warnings

• You may want to sew the basting with smaller seam allowance than the final stitching, so that it won’t show or need to be removed. For example, if you’re sewing a garment with 5/8-inch seam allowance, you may want to use 1/4-inch seam allowance for the basting.
• If you plan to leave the basting stitches in, use thread that matches the fabric. If you plan to remove the basting stitches, you may want to use contrasting thread that you can see more easily.
• If you want to gather the edge of the fabric, use two rows of basting stitches, about 1/4 inch apart. This will help keep the basting threads from breaking when you pull them and make the gathers more even.
• Use caution when working with sewing machines and sewing needles.