Sometimes you run into a situation where you want to test out how to set a fabric before actually committing to a seam. 

Whether you a hemming something, matching up points in a quilt block, or securing quilt layers together before quilting, basting is going to be something that comes in handy relatively often.

Basting is the process of temporarily securing fabrics together to “test it out” so you can get a good idea of what your final product will be. 

While there are a few different ways to baste, today we are focusing on the basting stitch. How to do it, when to use it, and some tips and tricks for getting the most out of it. 

Is basting really necessary?

The first question most people ask, “Do I really need to baste?”

It is just another step in the process and depending on the method you use, can be a little clumsy. Most quilters will not chose basting as their favorite part of the quilting process so its not surprising that most people would skip it if they had another option. 

Regardless of whether you love it or hate it, basting is an essential part of the quilting process. When sandwiching layers of your quilt and beginning machine quilting, basting helps keeps all of your layers smoothed out and secured so you don’t end up pleating your layers or shifting around as you quilt.

Without basting, you may find that your quilt layers slid diagonally resulting in corners without anything to keep the batting in, or you’ll find your layers have folded under each other and got caught under the sewing machine.

To keep everything secure while you machine quilt, basting is a must. However, there are a few different ways to accomplish the task that you can choose from.

3 different ways to baste a quilt

There are a few different ways to baste a quilt:

• Spray basting
• Pin basting
• Using a Basting stitch

Although there are multiple ways to baste a quilt, today we are going to focus on using the basting stitch in particular. 

If you are interested in checking out the other methods to baste a quilt, be sure to check out how to spray baste a quilt here!

2 ways to make basting stitches

Depending on the application you are using them for, basting stitches can be made two different ways with some slight variations depending on the application:

• Basting stitch by hand
• Basting stitch by machine

In the next few sections we’ll go over how to make each type, the variations that are out there, and when you would want to use each one. 

3 ways to make a basting stitch by hand

There are a few different ways to make a basting stitch by hand. They are all great at different things so knowing which one is best for your task is key.

Even basting stitch

Using an even basting stitch refers to making a stitch that has an even amount of thread on both sides of the material. The stitches are an “even length” on both sides of the fabric. 

The even basting stitch will likely feel the most familiar to anyone who has never heard this term before. 

Typically when you think of hand sewing a line, this is the stitch that you will picture. 

How to make an even basting stitch

To make an even basting stitch, start by threading your needle without knotting the end. 

Find the first place you’d like to start basting and push the needle through the fabric so it goes all the way through, and then back up about an inch or two away,.

Pull the thread through leaving an inch or two at the unsecured end. Repeat the process another inch or two away workin in a straight(ish) line. 

Once you have completed the actual quilting on your quilt, you can removed the stitches by simply pulling one of the ends that was left free of the basting thread. 

What is the difference between a running stitch and a basting stitch

There is not a huge difference between the running stitch and the even basting stitch. The even basting stitch is exactly the same as the running stitch, only with longer strides between dips into the fabric. 

The basting stitch is much longer because it is meant to be temporary and eventually removed altogether. The longer the stitches are the easier they are to remove. 

The running stitch is an embroidery style hand quilting technique that is much smaller in stitch length making it a great beginner hand quilting stitch to learn. 

The stitches are much denser compared to the even basting stitch which allows you to use them as permanent stitches in your quilt. 

When to use an even basting stitch

An even basting stitch is to be used any time you want to secure bulkier fabrics together. 

This is a great method for basting the layers of a quilt together prior to machine quilting, or if you are hemming a pair of pants and want to be able to test out the length difference before committing with the seam. 

This is very much a utilitarian stitch. The idea is that you just need a quick and dirty tack to see what it’s going to look like before sewing it for real. Then you can remove it later.

Uneven Baste

An uneven baste is a simple variation of the the even baste. 

When using an uneven basted, the goal is to help you decide where to put a seam that doesn’t necessarily need to exist. 

These are more fashion type seams or decorative seams that can be added to give a project personality. 

The uneven baste differs from the even baste only slightly. Instead of the baste being an even length on both sides of the fabric, the uneven baste change things up to the top side of the fabric is a long stitch and the underside is a very short stitch in comparison. 

How to Make an Uneven Baste

To make an uneven basting stitch, start by threading your needle without knotting the end. 

Find the first place you’d like to start basting and push the needle through the fabric so it goes all the way through to the back, and then back up about 1/8th of an inch away. 

Pull the thread through leaving an inch or two at the unsecured end. Repeat the process another inch or two away workin in a straight(ish) line. 

Once you are satisfied with the line placement, make your true seam and remove the stitches by simply pulling one of the ends that was left free of the basting thread. 

When to use an Uneven Basting Stitch

An uneven baste is usually more suited for garment seamstresses who want to add some decorative seams to their clothing. 

Sometimes (especially in women’s clothing) you need to tailor in different parts to give the shirt, or jacket for example, a more flattering shape. 

Style lines allow you to hide the areas where you shaped the garment so it looks like it was always part of the design. 

An uneven basting stitch focuses the stitches showing more on the top side than the back side. 

This technique allows you to temporarily shape the garment and allow you to play with the placement of the line of the seam, with thread instead of a marker, before committing. 

Tailors Basting Stitch

The tailors baste is often used by a tailor when custom fitting a suit jacket to a client. 

When a jacket is made entirely custom, the client will put on all three layers to the jacket so the tailor can then custom fit every seam on it. 

In order to keep the layers manageable while the client has it on during their fitting (its much like wearing three coats at the same time) the tailor will use a Tailor’s Baste to keep the layer from shifting while being fitted. 

The tailors baste is significantly wider than either the even baste or the uneven baste. 

It uses a diagonal stitch to secure the fabric in two locations instead of one, which goes a long way to keeping the fabric from pulling or shifting from the one anchor point of an even baste. 

How to Make a Tailor’s Baste

Starting off the same way as the other two hand stitches, thread your needle leaving the end unsecured. 

Start your needle going down through all of the layers, bring the needle back up about a half inch above where you originally entered.

Your next stitch will go diagonally so its about an inch to the left or right of the location where you originally started. 

repeat the stitch until you run out of thread or run out of fabric! 

When to Use a Tailor’s Baste

A tailors baste was originally used for tailoring however it is particularly useful any time you are using finer fabrics that like to slip. 

Whether you are using linens, satins, silks, or anything else that has a bit more slip to it compared to cotton, you can secure the two pieces together using a tailor’s baste so it doesn’t shift under the presser foot of the machine. 

And this stitch does not necessarily need to only be used for garment making. You can also use this stitch when combining quilt pieces that just don’t want to stay lined up as well!

How to make a basting stitch by machine

There are some situations, especially in quilting, where you want to make sure things are going to be lined up exactly how you like them. 

Whether you are lining up seams, matching up points, or any other detail you are interested in getting perfect in your quilt top, using a machine basting stitch is a great way to make sure you get the result you want while minimizing seam ripping as much as possible. 

How to make a basting stitch for seams

If getting seams and points matched up perfectly is something that makes you super happy inside, the machine basting trick will be your new best friend. 

Step number one is to line up your quilt pieces as best as possible so your points are lined up.

Once you have your quilt pieces lined up, set your sewing machine to the basting stitch and sew the seam like you normally would. 

Once you’ve completed the seam, pull it out of the machine and check your work. Did you hit all the points the way you like? 

If not, the stitches are large enough to make seam ripping the basting stitches out, resetting, and trying again until you get the alignment you like! 

If you like the way it turned out, simply put the piece back through the machine at your regular piecing stitch length and commit to that seam, traveling directly over your original basting stitch to make the alignment permanent.

Then just leave them in! Machine basting on a quilt is just more security to your seams, no need to remove them if you don’t want to. 

Want a few more tips and tricks on how to line them up as accurately? Check out our full tutorial on How to get Perfect Quilt Points using a machine basting stitch here!

Machine basting stitch length

So how large is a basting stitch when made by machine? 

Significantly smaller than if you were doing them by hand, but usually no smaller than a 4, they can be as large as a 6. Which can be good and bad.

It makes it fantastic for things like setting seams perfectly like we just talked about, however it would not be ideal for basting a quilt. 

Since the stitches are much smaller, despite being a quicker process, they do have to actually be seam ripped.

This is not a process you want to do over the full surface area of your quilt. 

If you like the stitch basting method for your quilt, stick to the even baste stitching, it will be much quicker to remove later. 

Interested in learning more about the basting stitch length and other stitch lengths in quilting? You can see our Ultimate Guide to Stitch Lengths here!

Does my sewing machine have a basting stitch? What is the setting?

Whether it directly advertises it or not, all machines have a basting stitch. 

Some machine have a particular setting for a “basting stitch” as one of the specialty stitches available on the machine, my basic Singer is not one of them. 

Does that mean you are not able to use a machine baste? 

Not at all! 

Simply use your regular straight stitch, crank the stitch length as high as it will go (atleast above a 4) and you’re off and running!

Viola!

A basting stitch! No fancy machines necessary. 

Alternatives to basting stitch

There are quite a few alternatives to a basting stitch that you can use. Here’s a few that I can think of off the top of my head:

• Straight pins
• Basting spray
• Fabric glue
• Wonderclips
• Safety pins

While not all of these solutions are one size fits all for every situation you might need a basting stitch for, using a combination of these methods should be able to cover almost anything you might need a basting stitch for. 

So whether you want a more secure hold, or just don’t like the hand stitching, there are plenty of options out there. 

How do you finish and remove a basting stitch

The goal of most basting stitches is just a temporary hold. 

Most times that you use a basting stitch, you will be removing them later, so in order to make that removal process as quick and painless as possible, we don’t want to do ANYTHING to the ends. 

Free as a bird, we want those ends unsecured and ripe for the picking. Literally.

When you are finished with your task that required basting and you are ready to remove them, all you have to do is grab one of those unsecured ends and pull. 

Most times the thread will pull right out and that’s it! 

Other times you may find it catching on the fabric and have to get the seam ripper out to rip it in a few sections, but since the stitch lengths are so large, it’ll be quick work to get those stitches out of there and move on to the next part of the project.

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