Me too, I hate making the sandwich.

I used to spray baste, this summer i got a frame. I love it so darn much!

I use pieces of big PVC pipe (maybe an inch and a half in diameter? my husband got them) that are cut into five foot lengths for storage. When I use them, I have PVC sleeves that the pipes slide into that turn them into longer pipes.

I use a fold up banquet table and the ends hang off the ends of the table. Doesn't cause any problems.

I have 9 facebook friends who have signed up to help me in exchange for either a quilting lesson or some help on quilting and finishing their own projects. I'll report back on how that works out for me, but at this point I think I've found my new basting method ; )
RST

Lucky me :D I have a DD who does it for me. I can't crawl around on the floor to do it anymore. She's great & I really appreciate her help.

The next time I have a big one to sandwich, I'm going to inquire at the nearest church about using their fellowship room and sliding enough tables together. In my experience, churches are always welcoming to a neighbor.

PS: I usually do minis and doll quilts, so I don't do many big quilts.

I hate the sandwiching part...I can never get it right. I have a lady who quilts for me, and that takes care of the wrinkles, my sore knees and sore shoulders and sore back.

I hated that part too....The pins, the basting, all of it. That's why I finally got my Grace frame. It's not a Gammel but then, I'm not that good yet either. Now all I need is more time.

Ladies. I recently found out our libraries will let you use their rooms. The large tables are a life saver for sandwiching also cutting out large pieces for sewing projects. Life is so much simpler now.

Call it dumb luck good fortune - have a Homasote wall in the basement. The previous owners used it for a bulletin board, but it's perfect for spray basting.

I also go to the local library. Makes it easier on the back and knees but it is still my least favorite part of quilting.

I really do not like this step either but have to do it.

I bought a basting gun and put all the leaves out in the dining table and shoot away. It is like the things that hold tags on clothes but much smaller and now it is not so bad.

Linda

Add me to the "hate it" list.

See, this is why I read these discussions! What a great idea! Thank you both!

I'm in an RV and don't even have floor space.

when I am in the RV and gone for the winter, I go down to the Wilder Rose craft building and lay out on the huge cutting table they have there and I love it. Wish I had room at home for something like that.

Linda

That's my problem too! My cats pretty much sleep all day...until I bring the fabric out then they are all over it! Thank goodness for lint brushes and yes, everything gets washed well before gifting them!

I plan on making a basting wall, but I saw a "Sewing with Nancy" episode a few weeks back, where she fuses the layers with web!! I kind of dig that idea, but not sure how well it would work for a big quilt. I would have never thought of that!

I like to set up the old 2X4 frame and get the bottom layer as taut as possible and go from there. In good weather I will do this in the yard but anywhere will work.

I cant do it on the floor and i have so much stuff, clutter that i cant do it on the table either. I love my husband but he hasnt added the extension on ( he's gonna do it ) that would give me the room so........... I use a piece of our dining wall and pin the back on the wall , then the batting and then the front over the other layers , I then pin it with a hundred pins to keep it all together, then sew. Yes i have thousands of pin whole in the wall but i figure i wont need to replace it till my extension is done and if not then maybe it will eventually fall off the wall and it will have to be replaced lol. Whatever happens, the wall always looks nice with a quilt up on it ready to sew. I just decided to make do with what i have instead of waiting, complaining and getting nothing done lol...Problem solvered.... My husband thinks i'm the only one in the world with so much fabric, so i just show him everyone on this board whose husbands have built a sewing room for them, that shuts him up for a while lol . :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Please let us know about the tennis table..............My hubby is trying to talk me out of it...........doesn't think it will stable enough! I like the ones that you can roll up and move out of the way, but I would have room to keep it open and it would be nice to have such a large table to just keep stuff on instead of piling up on my cutting table..............I always have 2 or 3 piles of fabric for various projects laying around!

I hate the sandwiching too. To get on the floor requires a crane to get me back on my feet so that is OUT. Last summer I arranged the 3 patio tables we have on our deck and put a couple doors that we have stored in the garage over the tables and laid my quilts out on that to sandwich them. This worked pretty good but it's a hassle getting the doors out of the garage! I've enjoyed reading the hits everyone has posted and the tute that was done by Mary. Will use some of these suggestions when I get around to sandwiching the rest of my 30 + tops waiting to become quilts!!!!

I don't mind the basting (I use the Sharon Shaumber method)but I HATE laying out the backing, getting the batting on, and getting the top smoothed on. Wish there was an easier way.

That's what I do. I have bad knees and there's no way I can crawl around on he floor so I set up a large table in my guest room. It seems to work just fine doing it this way.

Yes yes yes

i hate it too.....i am in a small house full of stufff...lol no place for sandwiching..lol so i go to my daughter`s Art class when there is no one there and use two or three tables....tape the back on the tables and go from there....i am a bit crazy...i really like my layers to be well pinned and i even baste with thread...have even glued , pinned and basted all on one .....i know i know....but...i can`t help myself....lol

Its not my favorite part of making a quilt either. Our library lets you use one of their rooms, we shove tables together, and thread baste. its great when there are 2 or 3 of us. We all bring a quilt and help one another. It goes pretty fast, and at the end of the day we all have a quilt ready to quilt.

Not my most favourite job but I do it on my dining room table or on the big tables at my seniors club.

I feel the same way. I would rather make the top and let someone else finish it.

In the past I basted on the floor, now on the bed. Much easier for me as I age.

I tried the Sharon Schamber method, but used pins instead of basting. Worked well, nice and tight. Biggest I did was 60x70

That's exactly what I do - and I also use the spray baste which is really great. However, due to allergy issues I only use it when I can ventilate the area.

Just a thought- for years I have been machine basting with my longarm for a lady who does nothing but hand quilting and lives in a tiny apartment. Why not talk to a local longarmer about her basting rates. Fast, easy, not your problem or time, no pins to rust if you are as slow a quilter as I am. And before some of you comment that that nickle basting pins don't rust, let me just say you are a faster hand quilter than I am then.

What is basting spray and where do you get it? Is that what it is called??

I hate that part too. I can't do it on the floor - bad back and bad knees. That is one of the main reasons I hire a LA. If you do want to quilt it yourself, some LA will baste it for you for a $$$$

Sharon Schamber's hand basting w/ rails video on You tube.
You'll never kneel on the floor again, what ever table size you're currently using will probably work.. I'll never go back to the old way!!!

MsEithne, that is a fabulous idea about using the PVC pipe for Sharon Schamber's method instead of the long boards. That would be a huge help to those of us who work in small spaces with minimal storage.

I also am happy to hear that some of you use Sharon's method, but pin-baste instead of hand-baste. I have been wanting to try that, and now I know it works!

This is my least favorite part of quilting. I enjoy binding, which I know many people despise, but layering the quilt - blah

I just go up to my church, put a few long tables together and go!

I've done this same thing!! I made a beautiful top to give as a Christmas gift to my VBFF and I've been excusing myself by saying I'm afraid to put it together because "she's so picky" she might not like it. When in reality it's that I DON"T LIKE THIS PART of the PROCESS!!! I was getting ready to ask this same question here myself.
Glad to know I'm not just being lazy, others don't find any fun in sandwiching either!! :| :oops: