Finishing Your Quilt: Basting, Quilting & Binding

When I began quilting, I was surprised to find that most quilt patterns guide you in making a quilt top but don't explain how to complete the quilt. Details like basting, binding, and, of course, quilting the quilt are often left out. I understand that including this information in a quilt pattern would make it long. And I also understand that most quilters develop their own "right" ways to perform each task, so repeating these steps in every pattern (when quilters usually prefer their own methods) would be pretty redundant. In Sublime Stitchery quilt patterns, I show you how to bind your quilt, but not how to baste or quilt your quilt. I hope the following information provides lots of information to help you make basting and quilting choices that suit you.

If you don't have a local quilt group or teacher to help you finish your quilt, you're in luck because plenty of free tutorials are available online. I prefer to learn by watching and following along.

In this Blog Post, I've compiled all of my favourite videos (plus one book) covering all the steps needed to finish a quilt: basting, quilting, and binding. I've chosen these video tutorials because they offer several ways to complete each task, and they provide excellent advice, tips, and tricks. I hope you find techniques that suit you!

Basting

These days, there are many ways to baste a quilt - pins, spray, tacking, or even powdered glue. Whatever you do, you must create a quilt sandwich as your first step. This is a great video explaining the quilt sandwich and various ways to baste: Six ways to baste a Quilt

These techniques are great if you plan to do your own quilting. If you plan to send your quilt to a Professional Long-arm Quilter, you typically don't baste it beforehand, as they will load all the layers into the machine separately. I recommend you chat with the Long-armer you are going to use to determine their specific requirements to prepare your quilt.

Quilting

There are several options for hand quilting, and the route you take will depend a lot on the size of the quilt and the equipment you have or are prepared to purchase.

Hand-tying a quilt is a sweet, fool-proof way to keep the layers together. It's perfect for baby quilts or smaller quilts. Check out this video on all things Hand-Tying. Take your knots to the next level with this video about different knots to use when Hand-Tying.

Hand quilting is a must-try at some point in your quilting career! I love this video, which provides so much information about Hand Quilting, including three different types of stitches to try.

Most domestic sewing machines can handle quilting straight lines, and it's a great place to start with one of your first quilts. This video shows you five different ways to use straight lines to achieve some great-looking quilting.

If you have a sewing machine with a walking foot or quilting foot, you could take things up a notch and try Free Motion Quilting. This tongue-in-cheek, fun video is a great place to start if you're brave enough to try Free Motion Quilting.

If you've mastered the basics of machine quilting, this book: Walk: Master Machine Quilting with Your Walking Foot, by Jacquie Gering, will open your eyes to what is possible on a domestic sewing machine and build your confidence.

I'm not ashamed to say that I prefer to use a Professional Long-armer to do my quilting. If you go this route, refer to your Longarmer's specific requirements regarding how much batting and backing overage they require along with their specific requirements for preparing your quilt. This may vary from person to person and machine to machine.

Binding

In Sublime Stitchery patterns, I do show you how to bind a quilt. I also have a Blog Post detailing my Favourite way to Bind a Quilt.

Bonus : Hanging your Quilts and Quilt Labels

Hanging your quilts is optional, but I think all quilts should have a label (or two). Quilt sleeves are usually required when entering or displaying your quilts in a show or when you want to display them in your home. This video is an oldie but a goodie, which shows two ways to hang your quilt using corners or a hanging sleeve: Hanging Your Quilts.

Finally, quilt labels. I usually do this myself using an Inkjet printer and design software like Canva. It's the one step I don't miss, whether it's a quilt for home or a quilt to be gifted. Of course, there are other ways to make quilt labels, and this video has heaps of tips if you are interested in making labels from scratch, including how to affix them: Quilt labels 101.

I hope these resources help you on your quilting journey, inspire you and most of all, encourage you to finish that quilt!

Happy Stitching,

Julie