How to Hand Baste Fabric

Basting fabric is a basic sewing technique. It is a quick and usually temporary way to tack fabric in place. It is used for hemming and quilting.

Steps

  1. Image titled UsePins Step 4
    1
    Select the fabric you want to attach together and use straight pins to hold it in place.
  2. Image titled Thread Step 2
    2
    Thread a needle and knot it. Lightly mark in pencil where you want to sew.
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  3. Image titled SoftLead Step 5
    3
    Pull the needle up through both layers of fabric until the knot stops the thread. Push the needle down through the layers to sew a single stitch, about the width of a fingerprint. This is called a "running" stitch.
  4. Image titled Weave Step 7
    4
    Using this simple running stitch, continue sewing along the line. Pull the needle through the fabric firmly but not too tightly or it will pucker. Repeat the stitches until you have come to the end of your fabric or pattern.
  5. Image titled Baste Fabric Step 3
    5
    Cut the thread at the needle and tie a simple knot to secure the stitching.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    If I make a thread too short, what do I do with the knot?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Leave it. Leave a tail at the end, thread your needle with a new thread, and begin basting at the point where you left off.
  • Question
    What do I do after stitching all the way across the fabric?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Cut the extra thread and leave about an inch.
  • Question
    Why should I use yarn instead of thread?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yarn is preferable because it's thicker, but you can use thread if you want.
  • Question
    How do I diagonal tack?
    Ella Hubbard
    Ella Hubbard
    Community Answer
    Diagonal tacks are used on folds or areas where one piece of fabric lies on top of another. The stitches are worked vertically and appear on the right side as diagonal stitches, but are vertical on the wrong side of the fabric.

Warnings

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Things You'll Need

  • Sewing needle
  • Fabric
  • Scissors
  • Straight Pins
  • Thread
  • Alternative: Fabric glue or spray adhesive

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About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 21 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 123,400 times.
34 votes - 71%
Co-authors: 21
Updated: May 6, 2021
Views: 123,400
Categories: Basic Sewing Stitches
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