Basting with a Vintage Sewing Machine (or any machine I guess)

I went years and years and years without knowing how to baste the easy way with a sewing machine.  I was taught, oh so many years ago, to just put the stitch length on the longest stitch - this would be a 6 on all my old Singers.  But then when it came time to pull the stitches out they often didn't pull out easily but had to be undone with a seam ripper -- so tedious and time consuming!  All because I was missing a simple step...a step that is even mentioned in the old manuals but I wasn't taught it and didn't see it for the longest time...loosen the upper tension.

The tension on my Singer 15-91 is normally set on about 6 1/2.  (Those numbers are relative - yours may be set on a higher or lower number). 

For basting loosen the upper thread tension.  For this I turn the knob down to about 3 on my machine.  (Remember to lower the presser foot to change the tension -- another thing I wasn't taught and took a few years to find out!)

Set the stitch length to the longest stitch and sew!

This is the top after I'm done.

On the bottom the top thread has come through all loopy -- which makes it easier to...

...pull competely out.  Without all that seam ripping!  Ok, I might have to rip a few stitches but not as many as I used to.  (And interesting how this one fabric came out in different colors in the photos).

I always baste my side seams to try on a garment to make adjustments.  Why couldn't someone have told me about this years ago!?