What is basting and when is it used?

What is basting and when is it used?

• A. A long decorative stitch used on hems.
• B. A long temporary stitch used to hold pieces together before final stitching.
• C. A zigzag stitch along the edge.
• D. A finishing stitch at the seam.

Answer: (B)

Basting is a long, temporary stitch that holds fabric pieces together before the final seam is sewn. You use it to align edges, match seams, or test the fit without committing to a permanent stitch. Because the stitches are long, they’re easy to remove once you’re happy with the placement and fit. It can be done by hand with a running stitch or by machine with a long stitch length, often using a contrasting thread so you can see and pull it out later. Once the final stitching is done, you remove the basting stitches, leaving a clean, permanent seam. This approach is especially helpful when working with tricky fabrics or complex seams where precise alignment matters.

Basting is a long, temporary stitch that holds fabric pieces together before the final seam is sewn. You use it to align edges, match seams, or test the fit without committing to a permanent stitch. Because the stitches are long, they’re easy to remove once you’re happy with the placement and fit. It can be done by hand with a running stitch or by machine with a long stitch length, often using a contrasting thread so you can see and pull it out later. Once the final stitching is done, you remove the basting stitches, leaving a clean, permanent seam. This approach is especially helpful when working with tricky fabrics or complex seams where precise alignment matters.