I have a huge weird quilting question that Im completely lost on???
 

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 have is the living room and its carpet and thats if i move somethings out of the way ill have maybe enough room to do a full size quilt so is it ok or am I crazy to use duct tape to tape down the backing of my quilt cause i know we normally use making tape for this but i honestly dont think it will stick and i have 4 quilts im working on right now not including my stuff and the small projects i got goin on also. SO do yall think that will work or will it mess up the carpets or any suggestions for doin it ive spent all this money in these quilts and time with a bad back i dont want to not get to finish them. and my family is lookin forward to them badly. PLEASE HELP thanks

maybe you'll get lucky again! my idea is to use cellophane packing tape - the wide stuff. try that and see if it will work. i think duct tape would stretch your fabric out of shape when taking it off of the fabric. also, the carpet may work to your advantage. it seems like the fabric will stay where it's placed, kind of like a design wall.

generally- people use pins when doing it on a floor- visit Alex Anderson's web site, or check the tutorials here- there are a couple u=tube videos too that will show you how to pin your quilt backing to the carpeting for layering/basting.
i would not use duct tape or packing tape- the sticky residue left on the fabrics will be not only unsightly-but difficult to remove.
i also do not have room to lay out a large quilt in my home- i visit the community center- when they do not have anything happening it is not a problem to slide a few tables/chairs out of the way & have a large tiled floor to lay everything out & prepared. and they do not charge for using the space. I've also used a room in the basement of our library also for free.
but check out the tutorials for preparing your quilt for quilting- you will find many useful tips- some people prefer a carpeted floor :) (easier on the knees)

I would not use duct tape, it leaves a sticky residue.

What about checking with your local library, church, township hall, or senior center about using their banquet tables for a couple of hours? Most will let you. Put a couple together to make it large enough. I like this because you are not down on the floor.

Use Sharon Shambers' method or quilt as you go. I used to use my table. Start on one side, let the excess layers hang off the other side. Baste the space on the table then smooth the next portion and baste and so forth till it's all basted.

If you cut your backing/batting large enough, duct tape could work but you'd be trimming it off w/ scissors when basting is done. there are probably better ways to accomplish this but the duct tape could work too as long as you have surplus to trim away. you'd just cut beyond the tape and then pull tape along w/ your remnants up after you have trimmed the quilt away?

if you use duct tape you are going to have sticky mess on your carpet.

I would use masking tape and baste it hanging on a wall! Or call the local library, mine is use to quilters coming and using their conference room when it isn't booked for something else.

There are churches and quilting shops that have big banquet tables to use for basting. Churches are all over and very helpful if you need to go in during the week. Put two or four together.

you can baste your large quilt on a table as small as a card table.
Just layer each section on the center of the table. stretch and baste the section on the table area then gently pull the next unbasted section onto the top of the table. Baste that. continue pulling sided to side, top and bottom.
The hanging over the edge and stretching keeps the layers flat. So you don't really need to lay the quilt out full.
Try it. it works

I agree with everyone else, don't use duct tape. It surely will leave a mess on your quilt & carpet.
If your apartment doesn't have a community room, there's lots of places that do. Library, churches, county extension agent. Any place that's big enough for meetings will have tables and space. Plus this saves your back. If I had to sandwich my quilts on the floor, it would NEVER happen.

**You might see if there's quilting groups in your area. They would be a big help. My group meets in at a local beer distributorship (they have a free meeting room). When anyone brings a quilt to be sandwiched, everyone jumps in to help. They're put together in no time.

Good luck and welcome to retirement! :cool:

This is exactly how I sandwich and baste my quilts! I never have problems with puckering! I used to use a card table but now I use my cutting table which is just a little bit bigger than a card table and it is taller so it is easier on my back! I start in the center and then pin towards the outer edges.

I also would suggest a church. Usually they have 8 ft tables, and an many times they are already put together because of their own quilting groups. You do not have to be a member to call and ask when would be a good time. Most churches are more than happy for you to come in. I would never baste on a floor.Just too difficult for me.

I use masking tape, on 2-3 of the folding banquet tables, that can be set up anywhere (driveway - yard too)- masking tape the backing down, spray 505 basting spray, spread out the batting, spray 505 basting spray, carefully add the quilt top. i pin around the edges (hang over from the pin the quilt top days before spray basting). I use the dining table for smaller tops, I cannot use the floor anymore, bad back and sore knees, and the money spent on the banquet tables (about $40 at sams club) sure beats medication and back pain.

Holice has given you good advice. I use my dining room table and spray glue. I covered the table with plastic, to protect the table. I had no overspray, and did it in 1/4's. No puckers and it was done in probably 30 minutes. No glue on the floor either. Try it, it's a good method.
Sue

There is an episode on www.quilterstv. that shows how to baste on a smaller table. Search under Programming.

Check out Sharon Schambers videos on youtube. A card table beside my dining room table and I can do any size up to 94" wide. My boards are only 8 feet long. White prefinished 1X4s from Home Depot. Smooth as can be and just pinned - no basting. My only precaution for you is not stretch the batting - just pat it in place.

I have used duct tape with no problem on quilts, but never tried on carpet. I know I'd pin the quilt to the carpet.

I think the idea of finding some banquet tables to use is the best idea.....rather than on your hands and knees....
I am lucky that I use my dinning room table for all my sandwiching....but I do not do quilt over twin size.
I have had HUGE success of late with using Elmers School Glue for my basting ........

Could you please give us a tutorial on using Elmers School Glue to baste your quilts?

Do you use it straight out of the bottle or dilute it or ........

Mahalo in advance!

Oh my goodness it is soooooo easy....just did another one yesterday.....
I will think on this and see if I can come up with some 'props' and do some pictures...
what I like the most is no insdie fumes to worry about, no over spray......
and it all washes out....................

Also check with your LQS, I know at ours if they aren't having classes they are happy to let you use their tables. You might also check your local Sr. Center

I've also used one of the cardboard cutting boards (for cutting out clothing patterns - like this: http://www.joann.com/superboard-40-x...prd_01025055a/ ) on my kitchen table - I do half at at time - use binder clips (like this: http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Catalog/ca...affixedcode=WW ) to fasten the layers on one side, spray baste.

The cutting board protects my table from overspray (if using spray baste) or pins.

You might ask at the Chamber of Commerce if there are conference rooms available at any of the businesses.
And has already been posted, many churches still have quilting groups so the churches are used to people using the big tables.

I used this method on my current quilt and I am COMPLETELY pleased with the outcome! I also used spray basting. I put a sheet on the floor and newspaper beside the quilt on the wall to catch the over spray. Pretty sure I will use this method again. :thumbup:

I have the same problem with limited space and getting down on the floor is OUT OF THE QUESTION. My husband went to a home improvement store (Lowe's) and bought a 4' x 2 1/2" folding plastic (?) table. It folds down in the middle and has a handle for easy carrying. I put the quilt sandwich on there and starting in the middle smoothed and pinned. To keep it from moving on me, he used some small vice clamps (3 on each side and 2 each at top and bottom bought at some store). It works beautifully. No more getting up and down from the floor. Easy and convenient to store the table.

I use 2" x 2" x 8' boards and hold them together with c-clamps and balanced them on my kitchen chairs. Then you can attach the bottom layer with tacks and get the layers all together for basting. When done just undo the c-clamps and put away the boards until the next project. Works great!

We also live in a little carpeted home! Wouldn't move for anything in the world, so I have learned to adapt. Find a long foldable picnic table - generally metal (that's good because you don't push your pins into any carpeting and then find you can't lift your pinned quilt (been there - done that!). I keep the table on the porch and when I need it, I bring it into the living room - middle of the floor and find that I can work around the table, I am not on my hands and knees, it's a lot smoother and the only thing I can really complain about is that your back kinda hurts when you are done, but knowing that it is done and you are ready to go makes it all worth while. I always start at the center and work my way out and I just pull the quilt over here or over there and it works out just fine. Edie

I have used board on a dining table, village hall, community centre etc. I also have a caravan and use the large colapsable table. Then I had brain wave wall paper folding tables over 6 ft and 3ft wide. Also found. It is very good when I'm in a field with the sun shining and sandwiching.causes a stir. I have used to hold down double sided tape of various types for backing.

This really works! I have basted lots of quilts this way on the kitchen table, some as large as a queen. I mark the center of the backing, batting, and top and pin the centers together. Straighten all three layers, and you're good to go. If you baste from the center outward in all directions, everything stays nice and straight. A few Acco clips along the edges will add some weight, if you like, but that's not necessary.

In addition to these locations, check out your local County Extension Office, you may even get assisance with the sandwiching.

Using the floor is back breaking! Go to your church, library, community center, or somewhere long tables are available. I usually put two together and "jack" them up with bed lifters (available at Wallmark inexpensively) to make the tables at a heighth that is "easssy" on the back!!

not sure where you live but I know around here there are some quilt shops that will let you use their tables and also some churches and it would be easier on your back using tables instead of floors

I use a table, I clip the backing to the table doing the center first then the edges. this seems to work for me. I just finished a queen size quilt for a grandson.

Going somewhere else where you can use big tables would be my first choice - but I have and still do sandwich quilts on my bedroom carpet. Lay your backing fabric down, wrong side up, and pin it to the carpet around the edges. Layer your batting over it and smooth out. Then lay your top down, right side up, and smooth it out. Now, using your cutting mat, slide it under the sandwich, between the backing fabric and the carpet (you may have to remove some of the pins) .Now you can pin the sandwich together, using the cutting mat as a solid surface against which you can pin. Still a lot of crawling around on your knees, but it works!

i use blue painter tape, it works great on carpets, you may have use a bit more than you would on a floor. for larger quilts I use my dining room table, I bast half or 1/4 of the quilt and then the next, I had had no problems with wrinkles on the backing. As they say, if there is a will there is a way!

I used to use T pins on my carpeted living room floor and they did no damage. I now have laminate floors but haven't tried to baste a quilt on it yet.

Right now I have evolved to using Elmer's glue in sections on my protected dining room table. I have pin basted on the floor or on big tables when I have access to them. I have also thread basted on the floor or big tables. I tried spray basting but couldn't deal with the overspray and fumes. through all of this from my first quilting class we used Duct tape. For me it has never left any sticky residue on my quilts or on the surfaces. I also have a roll of masking tape one quilting teacher required. No problems there. Also have used blue painters tape. No problems with that either. Just putting in my 2 Cents worth!!

Get acquainted with local quilt store, usually they have an area where one can sew and work on projects. You need to take your machine.