Originally Posted by
cat-on-a-mac
I've also been convinced to give this a try. My top is now laid out to dry. So far so good!
I used part of Sharon Schamber's basting technique, though. I wrapped the back and the top each around a plank (about 3/4" by 3.5"), to help me keep them straight and not have fabric flopping all over. But, in her method, you wrap the backing onto the plank right side out, and the top wrong side out. I did both mine wrong side out. Then I laid the batting on the table. I got my backing board in position and glued under the edge. THen I put the glue on the batting ahead of my board, about 8 inches at a time, and unrolled the backing on the glue and smoothed it. Repeated that in sections until I got to the end. Then I turned the whole thing over and repeated the process with the top. THe boards worked great! My top is 52" and the backing about 60", so I was able to do this process on my dining table, which is so much nicer than being on the floor!
If the process of machine quilting isn't negatively affected by the glue, I think I've got myself a much better way to baste. Thanks to all for the discussion here.
I also used her videos to get started with gluing.
I will ALWAYS baste with glue now, and use it for adding the binding too. (which she shows)
I can't remember if it was her or not, but somewhere I learned to add a third of the batting at a time, which made FMQ the center MUCH easier.