I just layered my lap quilt and thread basted it. I want to practice FMQ'ing on it. I haven't done much FMQ other than outlining. What little quilting I have done has all been by hand and I am pushing myself to do machine quilting. My question is, will I have much trouble getting the basting thread out when I am finished? Should I pull the thread out as I move around it? I am new at this, so please be patient in answering what might seem like a dumb question to you.

Hmmmm good question. I've never done this, just machine quilted when I pin basted. I'll be checking this thread to see what others say.

I think no question is a dumb question. :-)

I don't know the answer either and will be watching the replies.

I thread baste, too. I try to remove the basting thread as I go. if you stitch thru it, not only will it be hard to remove, you can mess up your quilting trying.

I agree, especially if I don't know it either. :mrgreen:

If you don't want to remove the basting thread you can use water soluble
thread. Just make sure you put a special mark on that thread and keep it
from your other sewing threads if you see what I mean. :D

I only do SID and I baste in rows so it's easy for me to remove the thread
as I go. Should be the same for FMQ.

I remove it as I go

this is where I miss the like button of facebook.
I like the idea of removing the thread basting.

Have you not had the opportunity of removing a thread that has been sewn over, split? Not fun and cannot imagine the task of removal. once you get an area of Free Motion quilting.. the basting can be not an issue.. the general area is stabilized.

PS try a sandwich of your fabric and batting and FMQ an area to get a good feel.. you may like your thread basting or, you may opt to remove it before you cross over the area.

Good luck all the way around..

Spray basting will eliminate this problem. I don't like going over it because the foot gets hooked on the basting thread if the stitches are big enough. If you don't like spray baste, you can use water soluble thread to baste. I do that sometimes, but I machine baste, not by hand. It works great because it holds it together, but you don't have to remove it when done, just wash it.

I pin baste, but in your case, I would use the water soluble thread.