I don't have any carpet in my old house. All hardwood floors except kitchen and bath which are tiled. I've tried taping the backing, padding and top to the floor. It held very well but then I could'nt get under it to pin and baste. Someone told me to use long quilt pins and pin it on my bed mattress. When basting you just remove one pin at a time, stitch a few, replace pin and move on. It worked very well for me. Plus when removing the tape off the floor also removed my finish.

I can't crawl around on the floor any more so I use painter's tape and tape the quilt bottom to my dining table. I then layer the batting and top and smoothe it out. Before I do any of this though I've learned, the hard way, to put a cutting board on the table first. I slide the cutting board to where I'm pinning so I'm not digging up the surface of the table with the pins. If someone has suggestions to improve this method, please share. I'm always looking for an easier way!!! ;)

you can rig up a system on the wall, much like a curtain rod. Put two coat hooks high on wall..get a piece of wood or other and lay it across
Hang your quilt back middle and top . pin or baste.

You attach the quilt the same as on a frame

I don't know if it is available for you to do this,but I will go to a local quilt shop and "schedule" a day that I can use their classroom(they aren't using it) and pin my quilt together there.It is really nice to do so and it is much more comfortable. :D

I have a few suggestions.

1. Go to the office store and get 2" binder clips. I use the binder clips on my cutting table and only clip the back. The batting and top lay on there. If you start in the center and work your way out, there should be no problem.

2. Use temporary adhesive to baste. There are a few brands on the market, and this works well for small quilts you plan on machine quilting. I doubt this would work well for hand quilting, as the adhesive is temporary.

3. Hang quilt sandwich on clothes line to hand baste. This is a method used by many in the past, and still seems like a great idea.

4. Have your quilt long arm basted. Check with a long arm quilter in your area. For a rather small sum, they will often baste your quilt for you.

Good luck and please get off the floor! :lol:

Boo does the spray adhesive work for large quilts too, or do you like it just for small quilts?

I've used the spray for large quilts that I quilted by hand, and it worked great for me. The needle was a little harder to get through the layers, but not near bad enough to not use it. Soon, I couldn't even tell the difference. Just don't overuse the spray on a quilt. More is not always better.

love to baste my quilts on the carpet. its not as rough on the knees or elbows.that plus i use my sis. capeted floors and that gives us alot of time to play catch up on things we havent talked about in awhile.

We used to belong to a history reenactment club, and they wanted to make a quilt. All men, no experience. I tought them the basics, we got the quilt ready to tie, and laid it on an orange shag rug on the floor. Despite the warnings, they tied it to the carpet. They wanted to leave it there rather than untie it. but we got her done. I'll never forget 70+ year old Oliver, said, I'll just sleep right here. And he did. Not his house, not even his quilt, but he got his nap in.

Oliver was spunky little guy, Was'nt he?

Boo: the new curved safety pins work great too. I sometimes use the spray and then throw in a few safety pins also if its a big quilt. The spray stuff keeps it from slipping long enough to get 'er pinned. My table isn't that big--an oval unfortunately, and the floor too kills my knees. Brings back childhood memories of being punnished on my knees, probably for sassing, but don't really emember. But I remember how my knees hurt! :lol:
Like you said, if you use a table, start in the middle of the quilt and go from htere, when you are ready to do the sides, use the chairs to keep the rest of it off the floor.
Good luck

I pin on my dining room table and I put my rotary cutting mat underneath to protect my table. If your table is not big enough you can buy two folding rectangle tables and put them side by side - that might set you back about $150-$200.

You can also purchase knee pads to make kneeling A LOT more comfortable - or get that foam thing that I've seen in gardening catalogs that you can kneel on - or just get a piece of foam from JoAnn's.

I use really large safety pins - but I've seen a method advertised in some quilting catalogs that looks like it might be cool - it uses one of those "guns" and those plastic strips to baste your quilt - it reminds me of the "gun" i used when I worked in a retail clothing store as a kid - to put those plastic strips through the clothing to attach the price tag - I think www.keepsakequilting.com sells them and I was thinking about getting one - it seems a lot easier than pinning -but you would have to CUT each one off - which might be a pain.

I put a piece of plywood on top of my dining room table (which already has a table cloth on it) and use many, many binder clips to secure the quilt to the plywood. That way I don't damage the table and if I don't get my quilt completely pinned before mealtime, I can just move it without fear that the quilt will shift.

If I'm making a really large quilt, I divide it into quarters and pin a quarter at a time starting at the center of the quilt and work my way out.

I can't do the kneeling anymore either, I have carpets, but have to use the table. It works except I have to clear it away to cook and all. Want that travel trailer to build out like Norah's, oh, I want it badly. I'm watching the sales, maybe someday...

Sharon

Hi I use the dinning table now and bast spray, I diid not think about binder grips thoough, what a great idea. I live alone and my dinning table si now permentaly a cutting table. I just throw a big table cloth over it when I am having company and away we go! QN/Daphne

I too use a table outside on my porch that is attached to my trailer. I'm lucky I live in Tucson AZ. so the weather permits to do this all year round. I use a folding table one of those long ones. Question where did you find your cat applique. Can you point to a place I might find them for free. (SS) is not much these days. Lois C

Ruth your dog picture is precious. I just had to let you know that.

I like the spray also to lay my quilts and batting out. So much easier to pin them.

Kathy B

:D I go to my local library. Their tables are very large or even a local school might allow you to use their library or cafeteria tables as long as you didn't mind talking to kids who came in. Could be a good way to spread the word.

I was lucky enough to pick up a table with 2 drop down sides for $20 from someone who gave me loads of fabric and batting (queen size, still in packages, 13 total). It is about the height of a kitchen counter, so works better than my table since it is higher. Larger quilts will hang over the sides and ends, but I also use the big binder clips and they work well. I also start from the center and work my way out. The table is on casters, so very easy to move out of the way if needed.

I'm still waiting for spring..........I have a queen size. I can do it in the cellar on cardboard, or wait and do it on the lawn. If I had a big table it wouldn't fit in here. I can't use the spray in the house because I have breathing problem. I'm thinking of using plywood and saw horses out side
think Spring everyone

All this reading got me started on laying out the quilt, which is for my daughter. She picked out a stained glass quilt out of a book that I have, took a lot of sewing to put the top together, 25 pieces to each block (42 blocks, queen size), but turned out very nice. Was a Christmas gift, here it is, Easter Sunday, LOL. Knew she wasn't getting it for Christmas though, but got the picture of it. Did mottle some of the fabric myself, and then used some of the mottled fat quarters that I had. I also had a hard time locating enough black solid, it was right after Halloween when she chose the quilt, but finally did. Her birthday is next month, so should have it done before then.

Will post a picture of it when I finish it.

Hi all,
I don't have any carpet in my home anymore and my home is rather small. I bought a 6 ft long folding table at Target on sale. One of my friends got landscape wieght PVC pipe with fittings and attached those to the legs of the table for the added height. Alternately, you could use bed risers - cost about $10 for a set of 4 at Bed Bath & Beyond - though you may need more than one set to get a nice height for you. Now it is just plain 'ol fun to layer and all. I start in the center the work out. The weight of the quilt overhand is sufficient to prevent any problems with bubbles or such. When I am done with the layering and basting, I just take off the leg extensions [or not], fold up the table, and put it in the garage. Total cost: maybe $40-$45! :lol:

At the art supply store, it is possible to purchase "Foam core board". At the better art supply stores, this comes in 3 X 5 sheets. Great for design walls and it comes in 1/4 or 1?2 inch thick. It also works on a table in place of plywood for pinning. You can try one of the small pieces to see if you like it. the larger pieces cost less than $10.00 and weigh a fraction of plywood.

I have 2 Pugs who would never allow me to pin ANYTHING to the carpeting!!!! lol But I use the 'tack' gun & my cutting table & always start in the middle & work out. Prepare your fabric well first & keep smoothing it while you're basting. I've done several quilts this way & also with the basting gun, you have to put them every 3-4". some people say they don't hold as well as pins but i only can use one hand so can't do pins & these work fine! Just have fun! I want to know how everyone dries their quilts????

That is a great question. How do you dry your quilts after washing? I have a queen almost finished.

Hi, I am a hand quilter and I have a GRACE quilting frame that does not require any hand basting., or pinning. My husband got it for me as a Christmas gift one year, and I love it. Go to Gracequiltingframe.com and check them out. They are awsome.

Pat :D

To Barb V. When the weather is warm, thats when I can wash my quilts and I hang them on 2 clothes lines outside to let them dry in the breeze. I have put them in the dryer for a short period of time, then transfer them to the clothesline. Hopes the helps you some.

Pat B.

I can't crawl on the floor anymore either. I put my quilts on my cutting board over a mat, anchor the edges with binder clips, slide a small marble underneath it all, and roll the marble under the quilt as I go from area to area to pin/baste. The marble lifts the fabric off the surface just enough to pin/baste through the layers easily.

bj,
That marble sounds like a wonderful pinning technique! I'm going to give it a try when I pin my next quilt. Thanks for sharing! :D

Always looking for easier, faster, simpler methods so I can make more quilts in a hurry! Oh, are we supposed to slow down and savor the process? I have way too many ideas to slow down! :P

I don't understand WHY you're not supposed to put them in the dryer?? My fabrics are all cotton with cotton batting & the fabrics have been pre-shrunk. I once made a set of placemats & the pattern said to PUT them in the dryer & they're fine! We live in a townhouse & are not supposed to have clotheslines outside. ( I have dried my sheets outside, though) Certainly no room to dry them flat!! I need a bigger sewing room as it is! lol.

I can see no reason not to use the dryer. I dry my quilts in the dryer all the time. (I have no clothes line! :cry: )

I even threw a quilt with a wool bat in the dryer. Almost an 'oops!' but I only damp dried it and it came out fine. I hadn't read the directions on the bag! I was lucky so from no on I will read what the manufacturers say and then do what I think is best! :P

I'm fortunate... have a glass top dining room table. Makes quick work of laying out material. Then, I use the curved safety pins to "baste" my layers in place.

If it's practical, you could purchase 2 pieces of glass for top of your table... not very expensive .. maybe $40 or so. Makes a great working table.

I have added glass to ALL my tables (end tables, coffee tables, night stands). Does away with fear of someone leaving white rings on precious antiques. CHEAP to do and takes away the worry.

HAPPY QUILTING !!

Washing Quilts ...

I wash in cold water, double rinse... then hang over a railing in my home to dry. I've also used the wooden deck railing outside. I do not like drying quilts in a dryer.... seems to break down the fabrics and thread.
You could also use the shower rod in bathroom. I've also pulled 3 dining room chairs together, and laid the quilt across the backs. WHATEVER WORKS !!

whether or not i'd toss a quilt into the dryer depends on a few things:

age. i'm finishing a quilt somebody started more than 40 years ago. no dryer.

materials used; fabrics; embelliments, etc.

intended use. if it's to be a show piece - whether on a bed or a wall - i'd avoid the dryer. if it's going to be used - especially for a baby or by a kid - it had better stand up to the abuse of a warm water wash and a trip to the dryer. i throw all the crib and kiddy quilts i make into the washer and dryer at least once as a test before i give them away.

I'm thinking of putting 2 doors side by side on our 3 picnic tables on our deck and pinning my quilts using these door surfaces. I can also do this on our deck and enjoy the sunshine.....Now that the weather is getting warm we can do that.

Another suggestion...every town has a library and there are lots of tables in the conference rooms that are set up all the time. My friend uses our library conference room frequently to ready her quilts for quilting. Works slick and the library is always happy to accommodate.

Most state offices have huge conference rooms and tables and they are also very happy to let a person use them if they arrange for this ahead of time. I used to work in our state office building and we were glad to let folks use the room if it wasn't in use.

Stay off your knees, it's too hard to get back up!!! :lol: Keep sewing.

Feathers

I only have partial use of my left hand & have used the basting gun on many quilts. I like it except I miss sometimes & stick the needle in my fingers!! You DO have to use a lot of them & yes, have to cut them out. It's not so bad because I remove them as I machine quilt a few at a time & when I'm done, there's only a few left. You do have to be careful not to cut your fabric, though. Some say that they don't hold tight enough but I have not had a problem as long as I put them 3-4" apart. :)

I use a ping pong table (table tennis). I keep it up all the time in my sewing area and it works great to spread out fabric and layer my quilts.

You can find them at yard sales if you keep both eyes open. Good buy!! :

That is a very creative idea!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

Well I went to the expense of buying two 8ft folding tables but the best thing is the curved safety pins and the tool to open and close them, really saves the fingers and is much faster.