Basting by machine is a quick and easy way to temporarily hold an area. An example of when machine basting would be useful is inserting a zipper into a project. Machine basting should be sewn next to the area you are going to final sew unless it is just temporarily holding fabric together such as when you are sewing in a zipper.

Unless you are sewing simply temporarily holding together fabric an example being sewing in a zipper machine basting should be sewn directly next to the area where final stitching is desired.

How to:

• Adjust the stitch length on your machine to a long stitch setting.
• Prepare fabric by sewing as if you were going to sew the fabric with final stitches
• When machine basting do not use a backstitch, as a backstitch would only make removal more difficult

Note: Use contrasting thread, as higher visibility of the contrasting color will allow for easier removal.