I give up! I am no longer going to pretend that being a 'kitchen table quilter' is all butterflies and roses!! I love the fabrics.. the designs.. the planning the piecing the quilting.. what I don't like.. the basting!!

Tonight I am pin basting a twin size quilt for my 5 year old... and despite the fact that I have a room dedicated to my quilting.. (well almost, I kinda took over the dining room) and that I have two 6 foot by approx 3 foot tables that I unfold and put together to make a fairly large square table surface ... I still can't properly pin baste without lumps and bumps.

I have pinned projects to the carpet before.. but, it's 90 degrees here and I am not loving how hot it is kneeling on the floor ... not to mention that the second I put a blanket on the floor two lovable labs decide that it is their chance to look as cute as possible and roll around on it with me...

I am thinking of putting together one of those "make your own quilt frame" frames that I see online.. buying a frame already made is cost prohibitive for me.. heck I can sometimes barely afford the fabric : ] ..

Anyone have luck with those quilt frame projects?
Any other tips and tricks you long time quilters have for me?

My husband has been trying to dream up ways to build me something or tricks to help me.. but not being a quilter himself his well-meaning assistance is kind but not hitting the mark....

I look forward to all your experienced tips : ]
Kim

Why aren't you spray basting???

I should add that an easy way to spray baste is to get a sheet of plywood and inexpensive sawhorses at the hardware store, and I would get maybe 6 of the best hand clamps they have. Set this up in you driveway when you need to baste. I'm really slow, but I could baste a twin sized quilt in 30 minutes max this way. Set up, tear down, and storage are all easy. Monetary investment is fairly minimal.

After learning how to spray baste, I have never pin-basted another quilt. Also, after using several different brands of basting spray, I would recommend biting the bullet and paying a little more for 505.

I like to use the spray basting. 505 is the best stuff around. If it's a small item I baste it together on my dining room table. If it's larger we go over the church, of which my husband is a pastor at and push together tables. So much better than pinning or getting down on the floor!!!

Sometimes you can use a room at a library, church or senior center. I am lucky and can use the conference table at my office after hours.

good luck to you

Is there a problem with overspray or fumes when you use this inside?

You could also try this method. I find it makes the quilt very stable so there's no shifting at all. Plus there's no fumes or chemicals. Be sure and watch part 2.

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

I like to experience all the methods once..this is what I have tried...

I have used pins...it's ok..but hurts to open and close them after a while...

then I tried the gun with the little plastic fasteneres..ok but a pain to cut them off...

then I tried glue basting..I like it a lot...

I tried hand basting..by taping the backing down, then the batting and the top..hard to keep it all spread out...

I tried Sharon Shamber's method using the boards..you can watch it on You Tube and I really really like this method...for all of the reasons explained in the videos...and I got good results....

I think spray basting with 505 is the easiest.. I am not fond of the chemicals...but definitely will use this method and Sharon's

sharon shambers method watch her video

Let's hear it for Spray Basting, but only with 505. I spread an old king size sheet on my queen bed and do all sizes by doing it in sections. These old knees can't crawl!!

I love Sharon's method. I can't use sprays, sensitive to something it it.

THANKS TO ALL!!! : ]

I knew there was a good reason to join this message board!!!

Just like Underdog and his alter ego Shoe Shine Boy.. I too have an alter ego... by day I work as a software engineer and by night, I quilt... If any of you know or have an engineer in your family you know it is sometimes hard for us to stray from the textbook instructions...

I am a self taught quilter and I really don't have any friends who quilt, except for all of you : ).. so if it doesn't exist in the old Singer Quilting Bible.. I pretty much have no clue that it is out there.. I am thrilled to research and try the methods you ladies have suggested!!

Thank you all for your advise!!
K

I love her method! I no longer pin baste, which I dislike doing.
I no longer spray baste, since I didn't like the chemicals.
This method works!

Spray Baste is the way to go! I don't have a problem with the smell or overspray. I do spray in a grid pattern, not every square inch. When I get to the edges, I position the spray going towards the center of the quilt. I have not hand basted since discovering spray baste. Love it!

I used 1 X 4 lumber and C clamps for many years. I glued pieces of cardboard in layers and made a light weight surface for basting once getting on the floor hurt too much. Can you tell I'm a DIY kind of gal?

Anyway, what worked the best was putting tables together and taping the backing down. A thin piece of poster board slid under where I was working protected the tables from pins. Can't use the sprays.

I use the large, black binder clips when I sandwich. I use my craft table and have done up to king size quilts this way. I smooth out the backing (wrong side up) and clamp it to the table. Lay out the batting and smooth. Then clamp that into place using the same clamps as for the bottom. Then the top with the same process. I might get an occasional pucker but for the most part everything is smooth when I am done. Once I have the center portion of the quilt pinned I undo the clamps and move everything to the next section and repeat the process until complete. Can be a bit tedious on a king with the size of the table but it works in the small space I have.

I use Sharon's method. Old knees, 2 'helpful' dogs, dust bunnies and dog hair convinced me that there had to be an easier way! Yes it does take longer than spray basting - but like others on the board, I have breathing problems that are triggered by some aerosols. I like the fact that I can sit in my office chair and just keep scootching sideways and baste away at the dining room table! And I know when I'm done that that baby isn't going to shift at all!

That video was really cool. I am going to try that out. I think I'll be heading in to town to get the thread and going to check out the lumber store for finished painted boards pretty soon... very interesting.

As long as the windows are open, fumes are fairly minimal. I've had a little overspray but it cleans up with any soap and water or whatever cleaner you use. (I take that as a hint that my floor needs cleaned anyways......).

I have used Sharon's method for quite a while now, love it! I can use up old threads and garage sale threads for the basting, and I snatched lightweight basswood boards from DH's wood stash. Try threading 6 or more needles at once to speed the process up.

Patsy Thompson also has some free videos on spray basting

http://www.patsythompsondesigns.com/free-video/

I like the sound of this! I'm young yet and getting down on the floor doesn't bother me, but I have discovered that I have juuuust enough room to spread out a full-size quilt on the floor for pinning--and not an inch more. I'll be pinning a queen-size quilt in just a few days, and I was wondering if I'd have to rearrange the furniture to get it accomplished. My dining room table is about 5' square and glass-topped, so it'll work great. Thanks!

I will say, though, lately I've been eyeballing the drop from my loft-style craft room and wondering if I could rig up a hanger/stretcher of some sort and do my basting from a ladder. I really think it could work!

Very intresting tute ! I enjoyed it - but seems that it would also be a perfect way - utilizing the to boards - to do a 505 baste as well!

I have never had good luck with pinning. Always have puckers on the back. I have taped, used binder clips, and anything else I could think of. No luck, then tried spray basting. Spent a long time taping newspaper to the wall and putting it on the floor. Then began to spray a quilt on my design wall. Did a quarter at a time. Wonderful--no overspray on walls or floor. I think I'm in love!!!
Sue

Here's a good tute for basting a quilt on a table. That's how I do it but I
do thread basting similar to Sharon Shamber (shorter and closer stitches).

http://quiltbaggs.blogspot.com/2009/...ing-quilt.html

thanks for the link

I do the binder clip thing and its AWESOME. My last quilt had no puckers and it was comfortable to pin.

Thanks for sharing Sharons Tute!!