Pin Basting
@XOXSEW
@Sara’sQuilting Journey
@BethAnnWilliams Quilts
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Pin basting is one of the most popular methods for securing a quilt sandwich, especially for machine quilters. By using curved safety pins, you can firmly lock the layers together, preventing them from shifting or puckering while navigating the bulk under your sewing machine.
Materials Needed:
- Curved safety pins (size 1 or 2 are ideal)
- Quilt backing, batting, and pieced top
- Masking tape or painter’s tape
- Kwik Klip tool or a spoon (optional, for saving your fingers)
Tips for Success:
- Buy more pins than you think you need. A throw-sized quilt can easily use 150 to 200 safety pins!
- Always leave your pins open in their storage container so they are ready to grab and insert quickly.
- Keep your hands clean—dirty or oily hands can leave smudges on the quilt top while you are smoothing it.
1. Tape the Backing Down
- Lay your backing fabric right-side down on a hard surface. Tape the top center edge, pull the fabric gently taut (but do not stretch it), and tape the bottom center. Repeat for the sides and corners until the backing is smooth and secure.
2. Layer the Batting and Top
- Center your batting over the backing and smooth it out gently with your hands. Next, lay your pressed quilt top right-side up in the center of the batting. Smooth the top starting from the center and working your way outward to the edges.
3. Start Pinning in the Center
- Always begin pinning at the exact center of the quilt. Insert a curved safety pin through all three layers (top, batting, backing) and back up. Do not close the pin just yet—it’s faster to insert several pins in an area before stopping to close them all.
4. Space the Pins Correctly
- Continue pinning outward from the center. A good rule of thumb is to place a pin every 3 to 4 inches, or roughly the width of a fist. If you can place your hand flat on the quilt and not touch a pin, you need more pins!
5. Close the Pins Safely
- Once you have a section pinned, go back and close them. If your fingers start to hurt from pushing the pins closed, use a specialized tool like a Kwik Klip, or the back of a metal spoon, to press the pin head down and snap it shut effortlessly.
Top FAQs for Pin Basting:
Why should I use curved safety pins instead of straight ones? +
Curved safety pins have a slight bend on the bottom bar. This angle allows the pin to easily scoop through all three layers of the quilt sandwich and come back up without you having to lift or distort the fabric, preventing wrinkles from forming.
How do I keep my fingers from hurting while closing so many pins? +
Closing hundreds of pins can definitely cause sore thumbs! Use a tool called a “Kwik Klip” which has a grooved edge designed to snap pins shut. If you don’t have one, the bowl of a metal teaspoon works wonderfully to press the pin down and guide it closed.
Can I use straight sewing pins to baste? +
No, it is highly discouraged. Straight pins will easily slip out of the thick quilt sandwich as you move it around, and you run a very high risk of stabbing yourself repeatedly while trying to maneuver the bulky quilt through your sewing machine.
