What is it? – Basting just may be one of the least enjoyable elements of the sewing process. So why do we do it? Well, we have to. Basting ensures greater stitching accuracy. It makes the difference between something we’re proud to show and something we quietly and secretly put in a bottom drawer somewhere and forget. Basting with either stitches or pins is like a practice stitch or a trial run before we permanently sew our final seam. Turns out it’s just the best way to temporarily join layers of fabric together while we adjust and apply our permanent stitches. Basting has applications to fashion, quilting and home decor. Basting is especially useful with slippery or velvety fabrics that shift around easily. It is also comes in handy when sewing items such as zippers, lace, or piping onto our fabric. For garment fitting it’s the best way to ensure the fit we’re looking for before our stitches become permanent and much more difficult to remove. And it’s a given for quilting. It’s the very best way to ensure the quilt top and back remain lined up and on grain throughout the quilting process. We can think of it as an anchor point to give us an idea of what our project will look like at various stages in our construction process. So, we’ve decided that basting is a good thing but how do we do it?
Most commonly it is accomplished with either basting stitches or pins. A quick review of existing opinion shows that there are pros and cons of each method. Basting stitches are a breeze to remove, so if you decide that you don’t like where a seam falls, you can easily remove them and try again. Basting stitches also streamline the sewing process, making it faster and smoother. Basting with pins can be quick and easy to accomplish and are easily adaptable to many applications. They are especially suitable for quilting when stabilizing multiple layers of fabric in addition to the enclosed quilt batting. There are a couple things to keep in mind though when using straight pins for basting. For use on heavy fabrics or quilting, the finer straight pins tend to bend easily. That requires the use of heavier pins which may damage our fabric. Safety pins are also used for basting but they very often have large diameters and are not known for having especially sharp points. That means a lot of work and potential damage to our fabric. So, what can we do? What is the perfect basting pin? The good folks at Clover bring you the Wonder Pin. It’s a pin designed especially for basting.
What does it do? – Clover’s Wonder Pin is a revolutionary pin concept leveraging the benefits of both straight pins and safety pins. The handle or “closure” on the top of the pin allows us to comfortably manipulate the pin into the desired position. The obtuse angle of the pin enables easy engagement of our fabric as it lays on a flat surface. The point is sharp and the shaft is smooth allowing easy insertion through heavy or multiple layers of fabric. Once the point emerges from the fabric simply push the enclosure down to lock in place. To unpin we just push down and over with the closure and pull the Wonder Pin free. The best part is it’s a one-handed operation. The Wonder Pin is easy to apply and easy to remove making our sewing process smooth and fast and accurate.
How do I share it? – Basting is a very important step in the sewing process. It seems tedious, but doing it carefully will result in a professional-looking finished project. It’s the kind of project you’re proud to show to your friends. The Wonder Pin is the perfect sewing notion for those who are faced with basting as a regular part of their sewing activity. To know it is to love it. In-store demonstrations will make a hit with everyone who tries it. You’ve just taken all of the tedium out of basting for them. Way to go.
