Preparing the quilt sandwich in brief.

Give the quilt top and the backing a final press if they haven’t been marked with a quilting pen. Polyester wadding should not be pressed as it becomes flattened. Lay the backing fabric right side down on a flat surface and secure with masking tape. Lay the wadding on top, smoothing out any creases as you go. Place the quilt top, face upwards, on top of the wadding, matching centres of each layer on all sides.

For hand quilting, tack or baste the layers together using a tacking stitch which is longer than a normal running stitch, about ¾". Start in the centre with a long length of thread and stitch to one edge; finish off with a back stitch. Return to the centre, re-thread needle and stitch to the other side. Tack a grid, about 4" apart across the quilt. It is advisable to use sharp, curved safety pins to hold the layers together if the quilt is to be machine quilted as tacking threads get caught up and are difficult to remove after machine quilting. Pin every 4" and remove as the quilting progresses. A special basting gun with quilt tacks can be used in a similar way. There are also basting sprays available that can be used to hold the layers together. Follow the directions on the can carefully as they all differ. Always use in a well ventilated room.