Basting the Surprise Quilt--Part 1

It's time to take a deep breath and do it....I mean baste the quilt.  I really do dislike this step but I know from experience that if I don't do a good job in the basting....well, let's just say my vocabulary will get ugly during the quilting.  So--to prevent my having to put a dollar in the swear jar--I am going to do a very good job on basting this quilt.

First there is the pressing.  Starch and press your top and your backing at least 3 times.  I know, that seems like such a waste of time.  Let me assure you that it will all be worth it when you are floating along in your quilting and everything goes smoothly.

Here is the link to the video showing Sharon Schamber's method of table basting.  This is the method I use with a few slight changes.  First of all she thread bastes--I pin baste.  She explains in the video why she prefers thread basting.  I prefer pin basting with safety pins so I can adjust accordingly as I am quilting.  I also don't like to stop and take out the basting so I don't stitch over it.
Sharon Schamber's Basting Method

Here is me and the basting:

You can see that Sharon's method does work on a larger quilt.  My top and my backing are both wound onto trim boards while the batting is free.  I am safety pinning the first row after squaring everything up and making sure everything was straight.

Check out those mitered corners! ( Hint: lots of starch and glue basting.)

Pulling the quilt toward me as I baste.  Notice I am not bent over the table and my back is happy.

Pinning

Making sure my seams are straight as I go.

Unrolling the back some more

Now smoothing out the batting

Pulling and smoothing out the top

Back to pinning.

It sure is easier this way to roll up and down the side of your table than hurting your back by bending over to accomplish this.  The backing of your quilt stays nice and straight and smooth, too!

Keep doodling while I finish basting this quilt.  See you soon--any questions?