Ah ha, so thats how its done easier. Thanks Izy. By the way WHAT is that you are making something NEW :wink: So you have finished that gorgeous first one that you are making ....right.... and the one for your Nephew.....right.... LOL LOL LOL Love it, I am just the same now..

Thank you Izy, very helpful with the illustration. Thats the gun I was thinking about getting. Do you use a basting grate as well, or is that not necessary?

Katrine - I wouldn't bother with the grate, I just follow the usual procedure for layering up, the just add a few long pins to hold it then transfer to the kitchen table moving all the regular chairs away, and sit myself on my office chair on wheels and swing myself around the table. Basically just place my hand underneath with my forefinger and middle finger spread apart, then push the needle through until the fabrics are butt right up tight as far as they will go to the top of the needle then fire it, be careful though as the needle is VERY sharp and can scratch your skin, just brushing against your fingers. You need to put at least one tack every 2" of quilt and you can stitch right over the top of the tacks with no distortion or damage to your needle. It took about one hour to baste half a king size quilt!! :D

Cathie this is my first quilt (still in progress!!) here is a link to the topic if you would like to see more!! :D

http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/4544.page

I have a Quiltak and love it. I also got the grate for Christmas and I think it makes it a lot easier to use the gun

I cannot get down on the floor to baste so bought a $59 cutting table at JOANNS. It is only 36 inchs wide but I center the quilt on it and pin then move it to each side and pin. I bought those plastic clips that hold the quilt to the table but you can use those big black clips. Got those at the dollar store. The plastic ones you use on the backing then put the batting and top on and clip with the black clips. I do stretch my backing not the batting, just smooth it out nice. I do stretch my top a little.
It works every time and no backaches. No folds either.
I use the bent quilting pins and got the plastic covers for the pins with a 50 percent off coupon at Joanns. You can clip them with a crochet hook .But I bought the hooker with the wooden handle. Now basting is a breeze.

Izy, that great, thanks. I have read all the advertising blurb about the Dennison, but much better to ask someone who has used it successfully.

Rose Marie - yes, I got knee problems so cant get down on the floor with the quilt. I have two 3 metre long x 60cm wide tables I can put up and have pinned together on these before, using the bent pins, but thought I could make it a bit easier still.
Wish I could bring a big truck over to the US to fill with all the quilting goodies just not available here - oh would I shop til I dropped!

Wow!! You are doing a fantastic job on your first quilt!! You either have lots of sewing experience or you are gifted. I won't show my first quilt to anyone. :oops:

Cissy...only ever did straight line sewing prior to starting this quilt, most of the blocks were done by hand until I realised it would be alot quicker by machine, so basically just got stuck in, I have just been quilting it this afternoon :?

I'm partial to getting down on the floor with 5000 safety pins and not being able to walk upright for 3 days after I get all the pins in.