I have a project that I'm working on as a Christmas/ Retirement gift for my dad. It's my first quilt (well, it's really a wallhanging but that's besides the point) and so I'm not really sure about some things. I know how to baste, I know how to machine quilt, and I know how to do binding. But, what I need to know is, can I baste it with spray baste and then put the binding on so that it really looks almost done when I give it to my Dad for Christmas? I'm planning on taking it back afterwards and then machine quilting it, but I'd love to have it look more finished. It's 40x40, if that matters.

You have any idea what kind of quilting design you will do? Like stitch in the ditch or free motion?

I'll be doing free motion in the center and the outer border, and maybe some stitch in the ditch in the inner border.

yes you can. you could also baste the binding, too. that way, if the top stretches a little once you start the machine work, the binding will come off easily; you can smooth and trim as normally, then put it back on.

I had real good luck with the birthing method on a 45"X60" John Deere toddler quilt this week but I quilted it by marking diagonal lines with masking tape.

Could I baste the binding, then baste it around to the back too? Or would that just be asking for trouble?

You sure don't have enough time to quilt it before giving it to him.

The birthing method? I haven't heard of that

That is where you layer the quilt with the top and bottom right sides together, place the batting on top, sew around the edges leaving an 8" opening on one of the long sides...reach thru the opening and turn the quilt inside out. Slip stitch the opening edges together then quilt...no need for binding as your edges are finished.

I've got another project I'm sewing tonight before bed, then tomorrow I have packing, kids to take care of, church, cleaning, and someone coming over for dinner who will stay until pretty much bedtime. And then, Monday morning, we leave to drive 8 hours to my inlaws, where I'll have the space in a semi clean garage to spray baste and to sew on binding if I have the time. But we'll be in a house filled with, oh, 10 adults, 2 teenagers, 3 toddlers/babies, and an almost potty trained puppy until Christmas.

Also, it's my first quilt and so I've only done a small amount of practice machine quilting. I'm not so worried about the free motion stuff, but there is a lot fused applique that I need to blanket stitch down (yeah, forgot to mention that earlier). So yeah, I think it'll take me some time and I'd rather not stress over it. Besides, as of a few weeks ago, my dad wasn't retiring until March, so it's his own fault that he decided to retire next week and now it's not going to be done.