Wall Method or Schamber Method
 

If you use the "wall" method, use the blue (painter's) tape instead of regular masking tape. Painter's tape is totally removable within 7 days.

Also, I too have used the Schamber method and love it. Just requires purchase and storage of those long boards.

Have you considered using Nancy Zieman's method of using small pieces of fusible tape to baste your quilt together? Check out Sewing with Nancy on You Tube, there might be a video on her method of basting a quilt.

use painters tape it is ok to use on carpet I use it & there is no sticky tape on quilt or carpet Happy quilting

Duct tape definetly stretches your fabric and can leave a nasty sticky residue.But I had the same problem So what I ended up doing is using safety pins --run the end of pin horizontally into carpet. Now I have a quilt frame I attached to the wall.All it is basically is 1/2 in.thick x 1 in. wide boards that have 1inch long nails protruding out 3/4 inch apart.These nails are barely thicker than strait pins.Each hole would have to be drilled first then push the nail through.The side rails are adjustable for width and the bottom rail is also adjustable for length. I put a 1 inch thick block for spacer at center and both ends on top and bottom rails.----So how handy is your DH

I recently saw a video from someone showing how she layered her quilt on a wall. Try googling it. I have had great luck using Harriet Hargraves instructions for laying a large quilt on a table. Actually, her book is fantastic for it's instructions.

You might ask a church if you can use the tables they usually have them set up in the basement.

I saw duct tape and carpet. DO NOT do that. There will be a residue left that will not come up. That happened at our church during vacation Bible School.

Have you thought of renting space at your local quilt shop to baste the layers together? I know people who even rent the long arm frame long enough to pin baste the sandwich together. Give your LQS a call.

Pinkiris ~~ Mahalo for the link.

I just took a one day class on making a French Braid Runner. I used flower pins to put the sandwich together (because I accidently left the safety pins at home), then got busy and haven't gotten to the quilting yet.

This is a good small project to try out the Elmer's Washable School Glue basting technique on. The flower pins will be easy to remove and replace with Elmer's. :)

Do you have a LQS with large tables you could use to baste your quilts? Or, could you have a LAer baste them for you?

[QUOTE=ckcowl;5548771]generally- people use pins when doing it on a floor-
Yes, T-pins are what I use. Very sturdy.

i hate getting down on the floor to baste a quilt too. The arthritis makes it so hard to get up and down. I have taken quilts to the church and pin basted them there but when not available or time pressed I have done it at home without getting down on the floor. Since I pin baste my quilts, i just strip my bed down to mattress, spread my backing evenly across and start layering with batting and top. I pin in center and work outward on one side, then walk around and do other side. I sometimes get it pinned to mattress but it is easily corrected.. Everything stays in place and doesnt shift so quickly get it done. Remake the bed when you are finished-heck,you have to do laundry anyway so strip the bed on laundry day and pin baste. Nothing like multitasking!

I use T-pins and pin the backing to the carpet (I joke around to the family that I'm staking the quilt) then put the batting on and then the top on and pin it really well with quilt in the day curved pins (love them

Try asking at your library about using their big meeting room tables during a time when they are not being used. Much easier on your back too.

You can use masking tape on carpet. You may need a little longer strip for extra hold, but I have done it successfully with no problems.

check with a local church, civic center, office boardroom, state agricultural extension center etc... and see if they have a room with banquet tables that you can use...not only will you be able to spread out but you dont have oget on the floor to do the work..also, you might even have some volunteers ready and willing to help you. another place to try is a local fabric quilt shop-they usually have the space available too!

Do you have access to a church, community hall or a friend with a larger home that you could use to get it basted? Our home is big enough to do what I need to do. However, our church has a Life Center which lets quilters come in and use the large tables to do big projects like that. Most any church would have a room for church gatherings, ect,I am sure.
Mariah

Many new libraries have places to do this at. Some churches have areas that they will let you put the tables together to do this also. Ask around in your area.

I would suggest the widest painter's tape you can find. It sticks when it needs to and removes easily.

I agree with Holice. This is the way I have always done it except for my first which I taped to the tiles. These days my knees couldn't stand it. Even at LQS we did it on a Horn style cutting table. If I am lucky and have one ready to pin when I go to my daughters she has an island bench that is 9' x 4" - marvellous. She lives about 90 minutes away by car so it's not just a case of popping over there.

I have always used blue painter's tape and wouldn't use anything else. I baste my quilts on my cutting table and tape each section of backing as I pin. The painter's tape can be removed easily and re-used on the next section of the quilt. It leaves no residue on your fabric or table.

I have a carpeted floor and find that I don't need to anchor the quilt down, seems to stick to the carpet quite nicely!!

Have you tried the walls? Protect them first and you will find it easier to do it on a wall.

i have a king size bed and have found that as long as it is a double size or smaller i can lay the material on the bed , smooth it out and layer / sandwich my quilt easily .... i slide my cutting mat behind the fabric to baste or pin and have had not problems with wrinkles.... is easier on my back too... it works for me

This would be my suggestion... Hope you can find a way that is not too hard on your back!! The next best suggestion would be to ask the library or your church for a space? I've also done this...

I go to my church, when they are not busy using a room and put two large tables together and do it that way. Easier on the back and knees. I also use painters tape, works great.

I use 505 spray with great results. If you can use a church, Senior Center etc. I would take all the quilts and a friend to help hold the fabric. Lay down the back then the batting. Lay half the batting back and spray the baking. Smooth well from the center out. Lift other side and repeat. Then smooth all the batting well. Add the top in the same manner. After the top is flat, turn over to smooth out the back. Done. This will hold together well even while free motion quilting!

For years, and I mean years, I've pinned my quilting to carpet. Never used duct tape. Pin the backing (wrong side up) across one end (squared up to the wall) and place the pins in at an angle with the heads over the carpet not the quilt. Pin the opposite side, then do one side and finally, the last side. The backing should now be pinned to the carpet under SLIGHT tension. Float the batt down, centering it on the backing. Do NOT pin the batting. Finally float the top over the batt (right side up), centering it. Remove one pin at a time and place into the top. Pin in the same manner as the backing. When all done, you should have the quilt sandwich pinned to the carpet under slight tension. Starting at a narrow edge, remove one pin at a time and begin basting. I baste in serpentine rows about 4-inches apart. Use a basting thread that removes easily (Coats & Clark has one) called Basting Thread (duhh). Continue the rows of basting removing the pins as you progress up the quilt and rolling the quilt as you go. When all done, the pins are gone and the quilt sandwich is ready to quilt. Never had any shifting with this method, nor has the backing rippled. I've done both hand and machine quilting using this method. Good luck.
SandyQuilter

don't give up the ship. We downsized and the only way I could sandwich a quilt was on the entry tile floor. The problem is that my knees wouldn't take it. Solution: Went to the library and borrowed their meeting room for about 2 hours, used their 6foot tables (put 2 together) and sandwiched all the quilts in a couple of hours. I did use spray adhesive to put them together. Other options are a rec center, church meeting room, or buy two tables and put out on the driveway to sandwich the quilts. Remember the adage...where there is a will there is a way...Good Luck.

I use basically the same method as SandyQuilter but instead of lining it up against a wall I begin by putting one pin at the top center of the backing, then at the bottom center using slight tension but not enough to distort the fabric. Then pin from the middle out to each corner. Next pin the two other sides, again working from the middle out. Next lay your batting on top & gently smoothing it out flat. Then lay your quilt top (right side up) on top of the batting, centering it and gently smoothing it out flat. Pin all the layers together with the bent safety pins - leaving them open for now. Once all the safety pins are in place, remove the T-pins from around the backing. Now you can carefully pick up the quilt sandwich and lay it across your lap to close the safety pins.

If your in an apartment, do they have a club house? I'm able to go down and make my quilt sandwich in our club house. I've also gone over to the senior center and used a meeting room to make my quilt sandwiches. I use basting spray when I have to transport my quilt sandwiches. Good luck.

I would be worried about basting to the carpet. They make a tubular quilt frame that you could take apart easily when not using. Maybe you could baste on those. I know Joannes' sells one.

If you have a church that you attend close by that would be a great place to see if you could baste a quilt there. I know my church has let us use there kitchen and dining area where we have tied off quilts. Even had a few extra hands that were more than welling to help so they could just learn how to do it. It can be fun.

Go to utube and watch Sharon Schambers method of basting a quilt. It is quick, easy and fool proof. You don't need to get on the floor or have a huge table. It is quick and no wrinkles. I did not like sandwiching my quilt until I watched Sharon. I never could get it right. So now that I use her method it is a snap.

I use large quilt pins, but I do not close them while it it still on the floor!

Thank you and your whole family for your many years of service! It is not only that man or woman actually in uniform that serves but those holding the homefront together! Thanks Marie

I have no idea on the duct tape thing, but is there a church nearby that would let you go there and use their tables to lay out the quilt and 'do your thing' I am not sure where you live, but if there is a small school near you maybe they would let you use the cafeteria tables some afternoon after lunch has been served. Just some possibilities. I am sure others will come up with some good ideas for you as well, and I will be anxious to hear about the duct tape also. Would painters tape work?

Wow, what a wealth of ideas! I think I've just lucked out. My dining room table is 72" x 48", so I could easily sandwich almost any size quilt on that. Although it's not really high enough, it sure beats trying to get down on the floor. I tried getting down on one knee to get something at the grocery, and I couldn't get up. That was one of the most embarrassing, scary things I have done. Two lades came along and helped me up and I was eternally grateful to them. No floors for me. I'll use my table!

Thanks for all the input.

Jeanette Frantz

My back is to shot to baste on the floor. I have used the method in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39I5A...eature=related (about 5:45 into the video ) . Once you try it you will never sit on the floor or bend over tables again.

[QUOTE=sligman;5548755]I have recently moved from this huge military house where I had tons of rooms to spread out my quilts on the floor to bast them and tape down the backing and all that goes along with it now were retired and live in a really tiny apartment and have no room in any hardwood floor room and the biggest room i


I solved this problem a few years ago, my solution was to put extra box springs on my bed, that raised it up so that I would not have so far to bend over to pin my quilts.
You you lay a cutting mat on your bed, then you pin the backing onto your bed at the corners. then the batting then the top. Just reach under the quilt and slide the mat to where you are pinning or basting your quilt, so that you don't pin or baste to your bed, your quilt sandwich stays tight till your finished pinning.
And it's easier to get out of the bed in the morning. And easier to make the bed.

Duct Tape will leave a horrible residue on everything it's stuck to.....DO NOT USE IT!! Perhaps you have a community center where you are able to put a couple of tables together to baste your quilts. I used to use the empty cafeteria of my local elementary school after hours. They were kind enough to let me in for an hour or two when I needed the space. Maybe a friend's house if all else fails.