Any Harm in Finishing Edges Before Hand Quilting
 

So, I've sandwiched the qulit together and have used the microstitcher so it stays intact. I'd prefer to baste the edges now, before I actually quilt it (need to send it out to have someone draw the actual quilt pattern). Seems to me that if I'm hand quilting it, it shouldn't matter the order of the edge finishing....but maybe I'm missing something?

TIA!

If the quilt is well basted, there shouldn't be a problem. The worst that can happen is you might get a pleat of backing from smoothing out from the center, in which case you could undo the basting and release it. I'd be reluctant to put the binding on now, though.

Janet

I second that!

Some people do wrap the backing around the batting and BASTE that down to keep the batting from shredding

I always have to do some adjusting of the quilt as it is quilted. It doesn't seem to matter whether I machine quilt or hand quilt. So, I'd say, don't do the edges until it is quilted.

I would leave the edges to the end..even when hand quilting little adjustments are made

I agree that little adjustments are made, but so long as there's still some extra batting and backing all around, basting the edge shouldn't be a huge problem. Trimming the edges would be a questionable move - I've had some quilts where I ran out of backing on one side and had to baste extra fabric to it to finish the quilt - not fun!

Janet

on the other hand, i hand quilt all the time, after i get my quilt sandwiched and basted, i put the binding on. i have never had a problem, i baste every 2 1/2 inches across the quilt though.