Hello all,

I have a problem--I've had knee surgery on one knee and I have to have it on the other soon. It's impossible for me to kneel so that leaves me laying on the floor to pin my layers together. I find this uncomfortable to do and I mess up my layers as I roll around like a bug on my back! LOL

Is there an easier way to pin my quilts that would be off the floor? I have a 6’ table I could use but will pinning on the table cause puckering or get bunches? I just have to find an easier way to do this . . . It’s not a pretty sight! LOL

Sashing-Sarah709

I pin on my cutting table all the time. i just keep smoothing some people use those table clips but Im not a fan. just move it as needed

you couls alsao rise the legs if it is not high enough,bed risers

Hi Sarah,

Take a look at the You Tube Video Tutorial, it may be a possible solution.

You Tube Video
Sharon Schamber
Hand Basting a Quilt, 2 parts

Part One:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhwNylePFAA

Have a Great Quilty Day!
Pam M

Here you go:


Sharon Schambers videos on hand basting...but you could use the method if you wanted to use pins. The important thing is it gets you off the floor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhwNylePFAA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_EjBGz5vGQ



Ah, minute too late!

I used to pin on a table until I got my long arm. I didn't seem to have any problems. I just made sure I had everything nice and smooth and I checked often. Good luck!

This was a topic about a year or so ago and someone suggested pinning on a wall....sounds crazy, but listen. I have a back issue so I can't pin on the floor anymore. I tried this and it works and is soooo much easier and quicker.
I placed a large tablecloth (vinyl) on the garage wall, using velcro. Next, using blue tape, or masking tape, tape the backing (face down) onto the tablecloth. Spray baste with an adhesive, and add the batting. I pin about 3 or 4 pins at the very top to help hold. Next take your top (well starched) pin on the top so you can lift up then spray with the adhesive (seems to work better on the top vs the batting). Smooth out slowly, making sure all the wrinkles are removed, then pin to your hearts content. Finally, remove the tape and start sewing.
I've done up to a single bed size using this method and will be trying a queen this summer (if I ever get done with the top :)).
Hope this helps.

Ask at your local sew store or LQS. They may let you use their back room/teaching room to pin. Take your stuff there, push two or more of their large 8 foot tables together and pin on that. My local sew store even has 'plastic booties' (sawn off pieces of pvc pipe) that fit onto the legs of the tables to raise the surface up to comfortable height of 34" to 36".

I roll out the layers... baste pin, move the quilt, smooth... baste pin the rest. Then carefully look it all over for puckers, creases, sags etc. adjust if/as necessary. Then put all the pins in it, use the binder clips on the edges. Then roll it up and take it home. Sometimes, I bring the shop owner/workers lunch and my sew machine. Then I pin before lunch.... we all eat lunch together and chat...then I continue to use their room for quilting the large quilt. It's MUCH easier than trying to do it at home. I'll spend the day there. But I'll stop and talk with whomever wanders by. It helps that I will talk to them about the machines being sold there, about the service and how good they are <wink>. It's true, plus I act as an unpaid marketing person for them. And they let me sew... it's great!

I was thinking of this too. It might just work for you. I want to put some tiles on one of my walls so I can do this. Then cover the area around the quilt with newspaper to protect the wall. I learned about this from a YouTube tutorial on FMQ. Hope it helps!

Wow! Thank you guys so much for all the suggestions and ideas. :) I watched the videos--I would never have thought of doing it that way in a million years. I think I'll use my table this time since I'm just finishing this quilt but I'm very interested in trying the table cloth on the wall idea. You know, it almost sounds too good to be true! LOL I love this message board and I can't tell you how mice it is that you don't mind letting newbie’s to quilting ask questions. Thank you again for all the good ideas--you guys rock! :)

SharonC! I love this velcro idea. I wanted to use this method and the only suitable wall is in my hallway. The thought of taping newspaper to the wall discourages me, and I end up on the floor. But the velcro idea is Fabulous!!! I'll be able to leave the velcro on the wall and simply fold up the tablecloth when I'm done. I love it when people think outside the box... Thanks!!

For about 3 years I have been sandwiching my quilts on my design wall. Nothing fancy. Just 2 sheets of rigid insulation I bought at Home Depot. I don't put felt or flannel or the insulation. Pin your backing on the insulation, smoothing well, pin at top and along the sides and along the bottom. Spray with spray baste, put your batting on and using straight pins attach to the backing. Spray baste the batting and then attach the quilt top. I usually put a few safety pins around the edges just to keep it stable while I am wrestling it around for the quilting.

Sharon Schamber methods works great for guild basting days. Everyone loves to sit and baste and talk.

You're so welcome! This has saved me so much pain and since it's quicker I tend to quilt as I finish tops, instead of accumulating tops like I did in the past :)

i used my folding table a lot. first it was my folding brown picnic table but then i got the white one at JoAnn's. i pin the center, then move the quilt, reclip the edges, pin and so on.

I can't get on the floor either. I intend to buy 2 or 3 sheets of that insalation(spelling???oh well), tape them together and hang my layers on that and spray baste them together. I hope to be ready to do that this weekend. Wish me luck!

And thanks for asking the question. Some of us newbies (me)don't even know what to ask. Pinned a quilt on the floor a few days ago, and didn't like it. Lots of great ideas for next time - thanks!

I have two of the folding plastic tables that are about 3X6 '
They stay behind the sofa.
When I need to baste, I pull them out and place them side by side in the middle of the living room. They fit right overtop of the coffee table.
When I'm done, they fold up and go back behind the sofa.

If you belong to a church, sometimes they will let you take your quilt there and use there tables.

Yep, I think asking at your LQS is a good idea.

LOL No problem! :-D This place is different than most because everyone is kind when you ask a question that's old hat to them but new to gals like us. I belonged to one other quilter's site for a short time and if you ask a question--they thought it was funny that you didn't know that already. It's discouraging to be laughed at! I know I plan on being as helpful as I can as I grow as a quilter to any new person that asks me questions. Of course as it stands at the moment--that's going to be a ways down the road...over a big hill ... down the other side of that big hill and around a longgggggg curve from now! :lol:
SashingSarah709

Now that's a good idea! That way I wouldn't have to take my office apart each time I needed my long table. Good point. :-D
SashingSarah709