Basting Stitch: How to Baste Stitch by Hand & Machine
A basting stitch is a temporary sewing stitch used to hold fabric layers together before sewing the final permanent seam. Basting helps prevent shifting, puckering, and uneven seams, making it one of the most useful beginner sewing techniques. Basting stitches can be sewn with a machine or by hand or can be temporarily held with pins and clips. Whether you are setting sleeves, attaching zippers, sewing slippery fabrics, or preparing seams for serging, basting creates more accurate, professional-looking results. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to baste stitch step by step, including machine basting, hand basting, and the best alternatives for different sewing projects.
How to Do Basting Stitch (Quick Guide)
A basting stitch is a temporary long stitch used to hold fabric layers together before final sewing.
Here is a summary of how to sew a basting stitch.
- Align fabric pieces
- Sew long temporary stitches
- Check fit or positioning
- Sew the permanent seam
- Remove the basting stitches if needed
What Is Basting Stitch?
A basting stitch in sewing is just a temporary stitch to hold several pieces in place. It is done before the permanent stitches are sewn and may be removed or left hidden in seams. Basting is used to hold layers of fabric in place and prevent slipping. Another name for basting is tacking or tacking stitches.
If you are learning beginner sewing techniques, read the full how to sew a seam for beginners to improve seam accuracy and fabric control.
There are several ways you can use basting sewing stitches for seams. The most common one you will use in the majority of clothing sewing patterns is machine basting.
Basting stitch can be done by hand or machine and is best done in a contrasting color so it can easily be identified and removed at the end if necessary. Where possible, always baste just inside the seam allowance, so it does not need to be removed.
When to Use Basting in Sewing?
Basting stitch might be used for a gathered skirt before attaching to a waistband, a piece of bias tape on the edge of a quilt, or a sleeve joining to an armhole. Zippers can benefit from a basting stitch as you will need to sew close to the teeth and don’t want it to move before you sew. Basting stitch is also useful for difficult fabrics such as silk that will slip around under the sewing machine foot.
Before serging, it is important to do a basting stitch as it is harder, although not impossible, to unpick the seam if you make a mistake. When I am sewing leotards, I always machine or hand baste the seams before using my serger. Serging also cuts some of the seam allowances, so you need to be sure everything is working first.
How to Do Hand Basting Stitch (Step by Step)
When you need accurate control of a project, you can’t beat hand-basting stitch. This is especially useful when setting in sleeves to armholes or joining curved pieces. Even experienced sewers will hand-baste to get the best results. How to baste stitch by hand:
1. Thread Needle
Use an all-purpose needle and thread it with a strong polyester thread. For most fabrics, it is best to thread double. Ultra-fine fabrics may just need a single thread to avoid forming large holes.
2. Stitch with Running Baste Stitch
The best basting stitch is a simple up-and-down running stitch about 1/4 – 1/2 inch (6mm-12mm) apart. The smaller the running basting stitches, the more control you will have. For rough hand basting stitch, you can do several up and down stitches at once. Precise basting stitch should be sewn with one stitch at a time on a marked line.
3. Finish the Hand Baste Stitches
Secure the ends with a small knot or backstitch.
How to Do Machine Basting Stitch
Lots of my sewing patterns use machine basting to hold pieces in place before sewing the final seam. Machine basting is best done on straight pieces of fabric. You may want to place pins to lightly secure the edge first.
Basting Stitch Sewing Machine Settings:
- STITCH TYPE – Basting is done with a straight stitch.
- THREAD COLOR – Most of the time, the basting will be hidden in the construction of the garment, but if you need to remove it later, using a contrasting basting thread will enable you to unpick it easily.
- FOOT – Basting stitch uses an all-purpose sewing machine foot with the needle in the center.
- STITCH LENGTH FOR BASTING – Just set your machine to the longest stitch length, which should be at least 4.0. Some machines may go up to 6.0-9.0. Longer stitches length can often just be pulled out by steadily holding the loose tail of the bobbin thread.
- LOOSEN TENSION – Check your sewing machine tension. You may need to loosen it slightly, especially if you will need to remove the stitches at the end.
How to Machine Baste Step by Step:
- Pin the right sides of the fabric together with raw edges matching.
- Sew inside the seam allowance line with long straight stitches.
- Do not backstitch if you wish to easily remove the basting stitches later.
How to Remove Basting Stitch
Basting stitch is best unpicked using a seam ripper. Because it is such a loose and long stitch, you should be able to gently pull out the thread after you have made a couple of cuts in the stitching line. Remove small bits of thread left behind with a lint roller.
Alternative Ways to Baste Stitch
While it is the best, basting stitch is not the only way to hold the fabric in place.
Pin Basting – Using pins is one of the fastest and easiest basting methods. Pin fabric by placing pins vertically or horizontally to your seam. Sewing over pins is definitely not recommended, so remove them to prevent breaking a needle or possibly your machine!
Double-sided and Iron on tapes – Iron on double-sided tapes such as Wonder Tape is great for basting before sewing knit fabric hems. Not only do they hold the hem in place before you start sewing, but they also eliminate puckered hems. If sewing leather or vinyl, double-sided tape can hold hems without worrying about holes from pins.
Basting Sewing with Wonder Clips – These cute little clips are used by quilters and bag makers to hold bulky seams in place. I have found they tend to slip slightly on thinner fabrics, so save them for bulky projects.
Improvised Baste Sewing – If you need to hold vinyl or other fabric in place that marks easily, consider heading to your cupboards for help. Try hair clips, paper clips, or even pegs.
Basting Spray and Glue – Basting spray is a light glue that is often used by quilters to temporarily hold the layers together. The glue usually washes out after the item is finished. Basting spray is also common when sewing leotards with layers of applique.
The idea is that this glue is not permanent, making it easy to reposition fabric until you get it in the correct position. Most of these sprays should only be used in well-ventilated rooms, so read the instructions carefully.
Basting Stitch FAQs
When you see an instruction in a sewing pattern asking you to baste a seam, it means to stitch the seam with a temporary stitch that can be removed later. This can be done with a long running stitch or a long length machine stitch.
The answer to this depends on your project. Basting stitch either by hand or machine will always give the best results when you need to hold seams temporarily before sewing. For easy seams, you could substitute using pins. If you are a beginner, basting seams is invaluable for great results.
Basting stitch is a temporary stitch, while a regular stitch is used to hold seams and hems permanently. A typical basting stitch length is 4.0-7.0, while a regular stitch for seams will be 2.5 in length.
These are different terms for the same thing. Both tacking and basting refer to using a long hand or machine stitch to temporarily hold seams.
Common Basting Stitch Mistakes and Tips
| Common Mistake | Tip for Better Results |
|---|---|
| Basting stitches are too short. | Use long loose stitches for easy removal. |
| Contrasting thread was not used. | Use a visible thread when removal is needed. |
| Backstitching makes removal difficult. | Skip backstitching for temporary seams. |
| Fabric shifts while basting. | Pin lightly before stitching. |
| Serging before testing fit causes problems. | Always baste before serging difficult seams. |
| Thick fabrics bunch while machine basting. | Sew slowly and support the fabric’s weight. |
| Curved seams become uneven. | Use hand basting for better control. |
| Loose thread remnants remain after removal. | Use a lint roller to clean the fabric. |
Pin for Later
Basting Stitch – In Conclusion
Basting stitch is one of the simplest ways to improve sewing accuracy and reduce mistakes. Whether done by hand, machine, pins, or temporary adhesives, basting helps stabilize fabric before final stitching. Once you begin using basting regularly, difficult seams, slippery fabrics, and curved sewing projects become much easier to manage with cleaner more professional results.
More Beginner Sewing Articles:
Tools
- Needle, Thread, Pins, Scissors
Materials
- Fabric
Instructions
Hand Basting Stitches
- Use an all-purpose needle and thread it with a strong polyester thread. For most fabrics, it is best to thread double. Ultra-fine fabrics may just need a single thread so as not to make large holes in the fabric.
- Pin the seam with right sides together and raw edgs matching.
- Take long running stitches about 1/4 to 1/2 inch (6-12mm) apart inside the seam allowance.
- Secure the ends with a small knot or backstitch.
Machine Basting Stitches
- Pin the right sides of the fabric together with raw edges matching.
- Set the sewing machine to a long staight stitch. (4.0)
- Sew inside the seam allowance line. Do not backstitch either send.
Author - Luisa Clare
Luisa Clare is the founder of Treasurie, a sewing and crochet education platform offering step-by-step tutorials and printable patterns. With over 15 years of experience in dressmaking, pattern design, crochet, and craft education, she specialises in teaching beginners through clear, easy-to-follow lessons. Her tutorials and patterns are used by home sewists and crocheters worldwide to build practical skills and confidence. Learn more about Luisa and Treasurie.
