Now that we have added our borders and the front of our quilt is complete it is time to start putting all the layers together.
First I would strongly recommend that you iron both the backing material and the front of your quilt so that both can be laid nice and flat.
Next lay out your backing material, right side face down, on a flat hard surface. If you have a wooden or tiled floor this would be ideal. I had to make do on the carpet. Smooth out any creases to make sure that it is flat and then secure the edges to the floor with masking tape.
Now, roll out your batting on top of the backing material, again smoothing out any creases and then place the front of your quilt, right side up, on top of this.
At this stage I find it really helps to run a warm iron over the top which seems to help all three layers stick together.
Now it is time to baste your quilt. This simply means to secure all three layers together. You can buy various basting sprays to do this, or special basting pins which are curved to make this easier, but I used plain old safety pins and it worked just fine.
Start in the centre of the quilt and work outwards. I began by pinning along the vertical centre line, between squares 4 and 5, one pin in each square. I then pinned along the centre horizontal line, between rows 4 and 5, again one pin per square.
Continue to pin along your vertical and horizontal lines, working outwards towards the edges. You will need a whole bunch of pins, 144 to be exact! Eventually each individual quilt square should have four pins around it as shown.
And now you have successfully basted your quilt!
Using scissors trim around the edges leaving a couple of cm or so beyond the edge of your quilt front. Don’t worry that it is a bit rough and ready, we will trim more neatly once the quilting is finished.
Now you are ready for Step 8: Quilting your layers together.
It looks gorgeous so far! I don’t need a cot quilt but maybe I could do an epic single bed one!
Of course, all principles would be the same just make longer rows and more of them! If you need any help just holler 🙂
It’s looking so pretty, you clever thing! Mrs Smith would have been very impressed.
That woman really hated me I think! I was completely rubbish then though to be fair 🙂
Wow, it looks amazing! I started a quilt many moons ago, it sits unfinished in a box in the attic somewhere, I might just dig it out again! 🙂
Do! I find it quite therapeutic.
Wow – just found this and it looks like fab instructions – I’m just getting into sewing so think I’m a wee bit off this yet – but am bookmarking you for when I feel ready to take on this project in the future!
To be honest I only started sewing myself a few months ago and with no lessons, unless you count pinterest! I promise, if you can sew in a roughly straight line you will find this easy! Good luck 🙂
I warn you pinterest is addictive! Once you start you can’t stop!
Oh well I’ve just joined pinterest tonight too so it could be happening quicker than I thought!
That looks great, i wouldn’t have a clue where to start!
Well go back to step one and let me help you LOL!