Here
is something no embroiderer should be without: basting stitches. Especially when
they are FREE.
Overall,
basting files place a running stitch around the outside of the design area,
temporarily securing the hooped fabric and stabilizer together. Some machines
even have a basting feature built in so check your owner's manual.
Basting
stitches can be included with your designs, if you have design manipulating
software, or they can be stitched out as a separate file before you start
embroidering your design.
Here
are some of the benefits of using basting files with machine embroidery:
-
Basting
helps further prevent your fabric and stabilizer from moving independently of
each other. That causes puckering.
- Because
they are longer than normal stitches, basting stitches are easy to remove when
finished. Just snip and pull.
- Basting
stitches work whether you have hooped fabric and stabilizer together, have hooped
stabilizer and applied fabric on top with a temporary adhesive, are using a water
soluble topping, or are floating a stabilizer under the hoop.
- Basting
is particularly useful when quilting in the hoop.
On
to the good stuff. Here are two links to free basting stitches:
Sew Inspired by Bonnie
provides free basting stitches for EXP, DST, HUS, JEF, PES, VIP, and XXX
formats. Depending on the machine, hoop sizes range from 4x4 to 8x12.
Sealed With a Kiss
Embroidery
has the same formats in addition to ART and SEW.
Happy basting!
Debbie SewBlest