it's my least favorite part of quilting.

I don't know if this will help you, but I spray baste on a big blue tarp (about $10 at WalMart, Home Depot, etc.) on the driveway. That way, I breathe little of the spray. Otherwise, I'd get migraines. I also leave the basted quilt outdoors for a couple of days (on the porch usually) and unfolded, draped over furniture, so it can air out a bit....This takes care of my problems. Maybe it will help yours????

I hate it too. I bought 2 six foot folding tables and lay the backing on it with newspapers along the edge of the table. Then spray baste 1/4 batting, lay batting on the sprayed part, then continue by dividing in 1/4 the rest of the backing and batting. Then I do the same thing with the top.

Where did you get the frame and how much did it cost?

Jan Price

I have several large pieces of cardboard that I lay over my bed. It will baste up to a large double quilt. I use basting spray, so its pretty easy to keep it straight.

Me too, thoroughly dislike the sandwiching and quilting part of the process.

Maybe1day

my least favorite part too ! I haven't tried the basting spray, but after reading the comments I will for my next project-

Thanks for the link, I was doing my basting in sections but her method looks easier.

i finally started taking mine to work & putting it out across a couple tables in the confernce room, after clocking out of course! got a couple old sheets to put around them to catch any overspray... since i discovered 505 spray, i will NEVER pin or baste again!!

That's what I said too, until I started having problems because of my COPD :thumbdown:

Me! It is the part I really dread.

I did this for years, until I finally said "the H--- with this" and I cleared off a wall and made my own "quilt wall" - 2 seamstress' cutting boards lightly nailed to the wall, covered with light muslin. Works great and I can see the inch markings (like the cutting mats).

Excellent website. Thanks EasyPeezy.

I DON'T HAVE A BED LARGER THAN A TWIN SIZED, SO CAN'T USE A BED TO LAY OUT A QUILT. I TRIED BORROWING A ROOM WITH LARGE TABLES AT THE LIBRARY ONCE, BUT WHAT A HASSLE!!!!! PRACTICALLY HAD TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT WEEKS IN ADVANCE & JUSTIFY MY REASON FOR NEEDING IT!!!!

I HAVE A BAD BACK ON WHICH I HAD SURGERY LAST MARCH, & ALSO HAVE TWO ARTIFICIAL KNEES, SO I CANNOT GET DOWN ON MY HANDS & KNEES & CRAWL AROUND. SO SANDWICHING MY QUILTS IS NOT ANYTHING I LOOK FORWARD TO, BY ANY MEANS.........

I don't like doing that part either. It kills my knees so I do it on
my queen bed. Not the best but that is the best place.

It is not one of my favorite parts of quilting but I am very lucky to have an old PingPong Table wishing you all the best :0)

[quote=majormom]Even though the spray is supposed to be safe I had concerns, so I always wear a mask when I use it, don't know if it makes a difference but it seems safer.

To help save on the back pain I bought a set of "bed lifters" that raised my table up enough to help with both pinning and cutting.

I have to lay out the sandwich on the floor, as that's the only space large enough. Basting spray is out of my league, price-wise, so it's on my knees with the pins. Ouch from both knees and fingers. Sometimes, I just get the crochet thread and tie the quilt. I can tie a qulit almost as fast as I can pin baste it.

It is the toughist job, I agree.

I hate it too. Find myself doing alot more small projects than I ever thought I would do. I also use basting spray and I made a board out of plywood and bought the display sheet from F &P which I really like.

You should go to YouTube and find a video on Sharon Schamber's method of basting. It is totally different and it works great. You won't believe how easy it is once you use this method. If you can't find it send me a PM and I will get it to you. I think I have a video. Good luck. Beulah

Me too, it really works for me and makes a process that used to make me tear my hair out almost enjoyable...

For my last quilt, I hired a long arm quilter to baste it for me on her long arm. It was worth every penny! There are no wrinkles, and it is now ready for hand quilting.

I used to use our pool table, but I sold it ;-(... now when I need to sandwich my quilts, I go to the local elementary school cafeteria after hours and they let me put two tables together to accomplish the job! Doughnuts are good for bribing the maintenance men!!

I'm fortunate to have a large piece of plywood on top of a pool table for sandwiching quilts. It is a good height and I've had no trouble doing all sizes of quilts.

I don't especially like making the sandwich so lately I have been making baby quilts and using the QAYG strip method shown on Youtube by Missouri Quilt Company. It is quite easy and I don't have to make the sandwich. :)

That's exactly what I have done for the last few quilts I have layered. I tend to make lap quilts rather than queen or king sized, so this works the best for me. I have put a large piece of very wide batting on a board (DH helped me with this), and have mounted it onto one of the walls of my sewing room as my design wall. Spray basting on this design wall, with a sheet to protect the hardwood floor works absolutely A1 for me. C9P

My third quilt, which I tied, was a king size. It was summer and I had large pieces of cardboard which I layed out on the lawn and I actually tied it outside!! My next several large quilts were professionally quilted from a company in Stover, Missouri. They do a super job!! I now have a large table in my sewing room which will accomodate a large quilt. Rag quilts are great because you quilt each block as you go and then piece each block together. Joyce

I'm lucky in that we have a large pool table that my husband made a plywood cover for, so I have a nice large place to lay it out for measuring for borders, backing and batting and for making the sandwich if I'm quilting it on my Pfaff. What I hate and procrastinate on is figuring out my backing and sewing it. Don't know why I feel this way, but I do,.

I have been reluctant to spray baste because the spray seems so expensive. About how many quilts (say about 60 x 72) would one can do?

Nice site - thank you.

Many churches have rehersals and meetings during the day on Saturdays (choirs, ushers, etc.) Contact your minister and inquire about using the tables in Fellowship Hall, Kitchen, Conference Room (whereever there are tables)during these rehersals. Our church does it all the time for various member activities. The only requirement is that they leave the area exactly as they found it. There is no expense to the church and they would be providing a help to members of the congregation. A token donation to the benevolent fund or a Biblical themed wall hanging would be a nice gesture.

I'm in the same boat.

I am new here so Hi !!! I just learned about the basting spray but have not used it. I saw a you tube thingy about using Aqua Net spray in place of the basting spray so I tried it. I smelled so bad, too strong. My quilt did not stay together very well either. So I may try the other spray but I have not thought of using king size bed. Hope the spray does not stick to everything else, floor, maybe use newspaper?

I bought mine at Country Fabrics in Shiloh, Ohio. It is an Amish-made wooden quilting frame. Cost about $125 for a full-size quilt frame. They have a web site but are not set up to take orders online. Call them at the phone number on the Internet.

Hi! I recently did a 120 x 120 and I find I don't actually have even floor space . So I like to quilt as you go method and it takes a lot of strain off of your shouders and arms and back and especially your Knees. Trish

This sounds very doable. I have 2 bad knees and no way can I get down on the floor. Thanks so much for the link!

I will NEVER thread baste a quilt again.

The only exception (there is always one to every rule) would be making a quilt with a pieced back.

SPRAY, SPRAY, SPRAY

Besides, I am always late with quilts so anything that makes the process faster and easier is wonderful.

But I HATE finishing quilts - 6 done this last year - none with binding.

What are you folks using for spray basting and how do you use it> This is the first I have heard of it, sounds like it would let go before I go a queensized quilt quilted and would make the needles sticky.