baste
BAYST
/beɪst/
To sew with long, loose stitches in order to hold fabric temporarily in place.
Basting is a temporary preparation step, meant to be easily removed once the final, permanent sewing is completed. It is also called 'tacking'.
The story behind the word. The sewing term 'baste' comes from the Old French 'bastir', which originally meant 'to build, construct, or sew together'. This Germanic-derived word reflects the idea of building a temporary framework or scaffold for a garment before the final, permanent structure is locked into place.
Word relationships
- tack: Tack is the British English equivalent of baste, used to describe temporary holding stitches.
- pin: Pinning uses metal pins to hold fabric, while basting uses actual thread for a more secure, flexible temporary hold.
- secure: To secure is to sew permanently, whereas basting is designed to be temporary.
Commonly confused with
- sew: To baste is to make temporary, loose stitches meant for removal, while to sew generally implies creating permanent, durable joins.
Word family
- basting (noun): The temporary stitches themselves, or the act of making them.
Collocations
- baste a seam
- basting stitch
- temporary basting
- baste together
Example sentences
- "Baste the sleeve to the armhole first to check the fit before machining." Instructions from a professional tailoring manual.
Memory hook
Think of 'basting' as 'building' a temporary bridge of thread between two pieces of fabric. Baste: temporary stitches for fit.
When not to use
Do not use 'baste' for permanent seams, or in cooking contexts unless you are referring to pouring juices over meat (which is a homonym with a completely different etymology).
Fun facts
- In high-end bespoke tailoring, a suit is often 'basted' together for a 'baste fitting,' allowing the tailor to drape the fabric on the client's body and make adjustments before cutting the final cloth.
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