baste
BAYST
/beɪst/
To sew with long, loose temporary stitches in order to hold fabric layers together before final stitching.
Implies a temporary measure intended to be removed after permanent machine or hand sewing is completed.
The story behind the word. Originating from Germanic roots, 'bastir' entered Old French in the Middle Ages to mean 'to build' or 'put together roughly'. In textile craft, it narrowed specifically to constructing temporary guidelines with thread.
Word relationships
- tack: Tack is the British English equivalent for temporarily stitching fabric together before final assembly.
- topstitch: Topstitch refers to visible, permanent functional and decorative stitching on the right side of fabric.
Commonly confused with
- baste (culinary): In cooking, basting means pouring liquid over meat, whereas in sewing it means temporary stitching.
Word family
- basting (noun): The loose temporary stitches applied to hold fabric.
Collocations
- baste together
- tacking stitch
- baste thread
- hand baste
Example sentences
- "The tailor chose to baste the sleeve into the armhole before committing to a permanent machine seam." Garment construction
- "Always baste along the seam line when fitting a bespoke suit jacket on a mannequin." Fashion atelier workshop
Memory hook
BASTE sounds like FAST — it's a quick, loose stitch to hold things before final sewing. A quick stitch before the final hitch.
When not to use
Do not confuse with the culinary term 'baste' (moistening meat with pan juices during cooking).
Fun facts
- Contrast-colored cotton thread is deliberately chosen for basting so it can be easily spotted and pulled out later.
Also appears in
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