Layered back-basting is explained and illustrated in The Inklingo Handbook.

Has anyone seen what is now called “back-basting” or “template-free” appliqué described in older sewing books, patterns, or newspapers, or with another name?  Since Canada is such a melting pot of cultures, it could have come from anywhere.  Just curious. 

Garbage Eve or Charm-Free

Like most families, ours has a few pet terms.  Two of my favs are “Garbage Eve” and “charm-free.” Charm-free is a pseudo-diplomatic way to describe an unpleasant, self-centered person–which every group seems to have. 

Please let me know if you have heard about “back-basting” called something other than “template-free.”  Calling anything “xxxxxx-free” has a negative connotation for me, so I don’t think I want to refer to such a nice technique that way.    

Pseudo, serendipity, and esoteric are all nice too, but the opportunities to use them are sadly limited, especially with sewing techniques. Maybe another time.

Linda & Monkey

PS  Garbage Eve is the night before garbage pickup, when Someone has to go out to the garage and get it ready.

Back-basting overcomes the disadvantages of traditional needle-turn appliqué, and it is simpler than some imagine, so Monkey and I have prepared this little summary.

Traditional Needle-turn 

Let’s review traditional needle-turn first.

Trace the outline of the patch—a heart, for example—onto the front side of a fabric patch (or print with Inklingo). Cut out the heart, leaving a narrow turn-under allowance. Pin it in position on the background and and turn the edges under with the needle, a little bit at a time, so you can make invisible stitches to attach the heart to the background.

Advantage: The  preparation is faster than template methods.
Disadvantages:  It is more difficult to accurately position because each heart is bigger than its space since the edge is not yet turned under. It can be hard to see the outline of the heart, especially on dark patches. It can be tricky to use the needle to turn the fabric edge under accurately and make invisible stitches at the same time.

Back-basting

Back-basting is a variation of the needle-turn method, and overcomes the disadvantages. It is my favorite method.

1. Instead of tracing the outline of the heart on the front of the appliqué fabric, trace the entire design (or print with Inklingo) on the back of the background fabric.

2. Postion a rough-cut patch right side up on the front.  To ensure that the fabric completely covers the outline of the heart, cut it big and hold the background up to the light, or place pins from the back as a guide.

3. Working from the back, baste the patch to the background (hence the name “back-basting”), following the outline of the heart, using a big needle and thick thread.

4. Working from the front, trim the rough-cut fabric patch, leaving a narrow turn-under allowance.

5. Working from the front, clip and remove the basting stitches one small section at a time— just enough to allow you to needle-turn and stitch the next half inch or so. Use invisible stitches.

How Back-basting Works

Basting with a big needle and thick thread along the line on the back holds everything in perfect position and marks the edge of the patch!

Holes in the background and the patch

When the thick basting thread is clipped and removed from the front, one small section at a time, the line of temporary holes is a visual guide and temporarily “perforates” the edge, so it is easier to needle-turn accurately and stitch in place.

Appliqué with Inklingo

Inklingo has advantages with all appliqué methods, whether you are printing on freezer paper for templates or printing shapes on the patch fabric or on the background.

There is a complete chapter on appliqué in The Inklingo Handbook, including illustrated instructions for back-basting layered designs, stitching direction, needles, thread, invisible stitches (tack stitch and ladder stitch), inner points, outer points, etc.

If you like needle-turn appliqué, you will LOVE back-basting, especially since it eliminates all positioning issues.

If you have found traditional needle-turn appliqué difficult, it is time for you to try back-basting. Back-basting makes it easier to position the patches and to turn under the edges accurately. You will be amazed by the difference it makes, and I think you will understand why this old technique has become popular again.

You can subscribe to receive an e-mail whenever there is a new entry at All About Inklingo from the sidebar. Thank you for visiting.

Linda & Monkey

Dresden Plate Design Book (FREE, 74 pages)

There have already been “complaints” about the new Dresden Plate collections—too much choice, not accurately named, irresistible, causes heart to race, etc.  LOL  These Inklingo collections include so many blades, backgrounds, and variations that to call them “Dresden Plate” seems misleading. I’m sorry. The shapes were so exciting, we could not stop!

So—infinite design possibilities AND a choice of traditional appliqué, back-basting appliqué, hand piecing, machine piecing, and hybrid piecing. Quilters who don’t even like Dresden Plate, will like some of these:

As one Inklingo friend wrote, “This is not your grandmother’s Dresden Plate!

These Dresden Plate collections got so big and beautiful that it took a whole book to describe the possibilites.  The Inklingo Dresden Plate Design Book is free and it is a fantastic tool for quilters and pattern designers. 

A Worksheet from the Design Book

Today is my sister’s birthday and we are taking her out for dinner. I have to stop now to get dressed up, but in the next few days, I will share more images of the new Dresden Plate collections here. In the meantime, I hope you will visit the Dresden Plate page on my site. You can also see a photo of the first “Dresden Plate” block (that we know about) . It was made within the first few hours by Tilde.

INTRODUCTORY PRICES  Be sure to check out the special sale prices. You could save up to $15 if you order by January 24th. (Details on the web site.)

FREE  Order and download the Inklingo Dresden Plate Design Book now, and leave a comment to let me know what YOUR complaints are, okay?

Thank you for visiting.

Linda & Monkey