How to Baste a Large Quilt in a Small Space
As many of the quilts we make can have an larger “footprint” during basting than even our beds, it’s not surprising that having enough room to effectively baste a quilt is a fairly common problem. Let’s take a look at several common methods for managing a large quilt in a small area.
(This post contains affiliate links)
Admittedly, I’m very fortunate to have a large sewing room where I can make a decent amount of space on the floor, plus a longarm where I finish most of my biggest quilts. But many quilters don’t have this luxury, and I get a lot of questions about how to baste larger quilts in small spaces. While my personal experience with this is limited, many Rockstars have pointed me toward their favorite methods, so I’m going to do a “round up” of resources in this post!
(If you are looking for general information about what basting is and how to do it, click here)
(If you are looking for information about homemade spray baste, click here)
Table Top Basting
When basting on a table, you work the quilt in sections, doing a “column” at a time with the extra width of the backing, batting, and top rolled up on noodles or wrapped around boards. The rolling/ wrapping helps prevent wrinkles and reduces the “drag” down toward the floor. This method works for pin thread, and spray basting.
Note Bene: Several Rockstars have successfully used these methods with Homemade Spray Baste, but the baste needs to dry section by section before “advancing” the quilt.
Wall Basting
If you have a nice wall space— even an outdoor wall— you can spray baste your quilt upright instead of having to get down on the floor.
Note Bene: Homemade Spray Baste would not work for this method because the moisture of the baste will make it too heavy to stay on the wall
Longarm Basting
Remember “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” This is the “phone a friend” option of the bunch. A longarmer (a friend or a local quilt shop) can load a quilt on the frame and baste it up pretty quickly. This method does require removing thread (much like you might remove pins from the table top method above), but if you have access to a friend with a longarm or a shop that offers this service, it might be a whole lot easier than doing any wrangling yourself.
Closing Thoughts
The hard truth, Rockstars, is that basting is basically the worst. Hopefully, though, these suggestions make it a little less arduous, especially if space or getting down on the floor is your primary challenge. If you’ve used any of these methods, please give us YOUR tips in the comments below!
Want more free motion quilting tips?
Join my free 12 Days of FMQ FAQ email series for answers to all the entry-level questions free motion quilters commonly have.
