Originally Posted by
DeneK
My problem with sit-down machines would be that you still have to make the quilt sandwich. I simply cannot satisfactorily put a quilt sandwich together. I have ripples, pleats on the back and everything shifts at least a little. I am not asking for advice. I have tried every suggestion over the past 5+ years and I am just not happy with the results of anything over a small lap quilt. I have decided I am a topper more than a finisher. My LA'er is retiring this summer. Guess I am going to go to QAYG.
I do not have a sit down machine, but have done some quilt tops on an industrial machine. I have 2 sheets of 4 x 8 plywood that I covered with batting and heavy muslin I use for drapes making. I set them on tables and sawhorse that my husband has put tall legs on. When I want to work on a quilt top, I take my backing fabric, pull it tight and clamp with large clip I get at the office supply. Then put my batting on top, clamp it, then my pieced top. Again, more clamps. Now I am ready to use safety pins to hold everything together. As I pin, then I unclamp and roll to the center. If it's a king size, you have to clamp parts of it, then roll and stretch and re-clamp.