I'm tired of crawling around on the floor - need clamps
 

I sandwich (is that a verb?) by taping the backing to the floor, adding the layers and pinning. I'm tired of crawling around on the floor and would like to clamp the backing to the dining room table instead. For those who do this, what clamps would you recommend? The table is about 3/4" (1.9 cm) thick and 1 1/2" (3.8 cm) deep on the underside.

Do you enjoy pin basting?

I had the exact same issue, as I got well and truly fed up of crawling around on the floor! I searched and searched for some bulldog clips that would fit onto the edge of my table, but got nowhere! In the end I got some tablecloth clips, which are designed to help keep a tablecloth on a table outside in the wind! They were really cheap (maybe about a pound for 4) and keep the layers in place just enough. They also don't get in the way as I travel around the table (I had borrowed some clamps from my dad's garage and knocked into them every time I passed them!). They are really easy to put on and take off again so I'd definitely recommend them!

I was able to use large binder clips on my kitchen table which has a formica top. Every time I pin a quilt I thank my lucky stars that I have a vintage, formica table. Because the pins scrape on the top of the table but don't damage it. If my table were real wood, the pins would be chewing it up.

The Staples page says the clips I bought are 2" with a 1" capacity, so I would think that would work on your table.

But I wonder if the basting pins would damage your table. Would you pin with the table pad on it? I think the pins would even damage the table pad. I'll be curious to know what you work out. My wood dining room table is bigger than my kitchen table but I haven't use it to baste because I worry about damaging it.

I purchased some rubber clips from Bed/Bath and Beyond. They come a couple in a pack - they are big red ones and have a rubber grip along the edge holding the fabric quite nicely.

I use BIG binder clamps and one of those cardboard cutting mats to protect my table. I used to pin baste but now I mostly spray baste. Just keep older plastic tablecloths to catch the overspray - or plan to wash the floor! I've heard you can also use the clips used to secure picnic table cloths.

I don't mind it, except for the crawling around on the floor part. I don't want to spray baste because I don't like fumes and I worry about them being toxic or carcinogenic, and only doing it when I can have the windows open would be too limiting where I live. I've tried the white glue basting on smaller items, and liked it for a while, but in the end decided I preferred the pins just because it was less messy.

If you have some other suggestions, I'm open to them, although I admit I don't try some techniques because I'm worried that I'll destroy my quilt - I don't make enough quilts that I can experiment a lot. Like self-binding quilts seemed like it would be so much easier, but it took me twice as long as regular binding and didn't look as good! I'm not saying I'll never do it again, but I'd have to practice it on potholders or something before I'd do it on a quilt again.

I use a plastic folding table and I don't use any clamps or tape, I just let the weight of the quilt do the job to get started and smooth out from there.

I do the back first - batting down "face to the table", smooth it out, lay the backing out so it's lined up where it needs to be, peel it back halfway, spatter Elmer's glue, smooth it down, repeat for the other half. Then I either take a break or bust out the iron to get that glue mostly dry, then I start shifting the quilt around on the table and gluing down all the other parts, getting each part mostly dry before I move to the next. Then I repeat the process for the top of the quilt. Once it's all glued up I usually let it sit overnight or for most of a day to make sure it's completely dry before I quilt it. I have zero troubles sewing over dried glue.

I have no problems with puckering while quilting when I'm using this method; in fact I get LESS, I think I used to over-stretch the bottom when I was taping. Basically I've discovered that if it looks nice and smooth while glued, that's how it's going to come out after quilting. If I see rumples when it's just glued, I'm going to have problems and I need to get it wet and try again. Giving it time to dry and coming back to it helps me spot those problems that I can't see when I'm in the moment.

I feel like I'm totally cheating every time I sandwich a quilt now because it's SO much easier than all the crawling and taping and pinning!! My knees thank me. :)

Sisty88, I hadn't thought about the issue of the clamps sticking, out, so thanks for mentioning that. Tablecloth clips sound like a good idea.

KenmoreGal2, I'd thought about the pins scratching the table already and was thinking that I'd have to put my large cutting mat under the quilt, but it would be better if I had something bigger. I can get some acrylic at the hardware store, but I'm not sure how big I can get that. This was issue #2 after the clamps, which were the two things that have kept me from doing it on the table.

Could you use blue tape to tape the backing to your table? I have done this.

I NEVER crawled on the floor (but I believe my best friend still does) when there are LQS that will allow you to use their classroom when not being used. So much BETTER on this old back.

The blue painter's tape is what I used to tape it to the floor, and for many other things - I love the stuff. I was thinking that it wouldn't work as well on the table because the quilt would be wider than the table and I'd have to tape it to the underside, but the bottom of the table is not flat, it has a 2 1/2" vertical edge all around it, about 1 1/2" in (why is it so hard to describe something relatively simple?).

Maybe tape for smaller quilts and just letting in hang, as Sewnoma suggested for larger ones. I know I'll have to try it several different ways before I figure out which one works best for me, and I really appreciate all the suggestions! Deb Watkins, the rubber grip clips sound like a good idea, and I have a BBB coupon, making it even better.

A cardboard cutting mat sounds like it might be better than my vague acrylic idea. Would that be that something like this?
http://www.amazon.com/Cardboard-Patt.../dp/B000G6DY2Y

Have you ever checked out the youtube for basting by Sharon Schamber? That's the only way I do it now. I even did a king size quilt that way. I used my cutting mat to prevent scratches to my dining room table (moved it around a lot.) I have a great friend who helped me baste the big one.

I use the exact same method as Sewnoma with the Elmer's glue. No clamps or tape required and it is done on the table so no crawling on the floor.

Here are the links to the Sharon Schamber basting videos. It is such a non-stressful way to baste, holds beautifully for machine quilting, and is so easy to remove as you quilt. The catch is, you need a table as long as the width of your quilt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhwNylePFAA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_EjBGz5vGQ

This is the way I do it. When DH saw that I came home with 2 6ft boards and I showed him what I was doing he thought I was brilliant. Had to fess up and tell him I saw it here. He thinks she's brilliant too. I was brilliant because I purchased the wood and got it into the jeep and brought it home all by myself. I'll leave it at that. LOL! But no crawling for me.

If the Elmer's School Glue method was too messy, you were probably putting too much effort into spreading it. I don't spread the glue, at all. I just lightly drizzle it onto the batting, then smooth/pat the fabric onto the top of the batting. Any glue blobs are eliminated, with the smoothing and patting.

I buy Elmer's by the gallon, pour some into a little dish, add a splash of water to thin it down a little (just a LITTLE water, or it stays wet too long), and then I use a 3" wide brush to dab it on. I just sort of punch our pounce the brush around on the batting, dab up more glue, punch punch punch, glue, punch punch punch... I can't brush it on or punch the brush down too hard or it stretches the batting so I just sort of dab it around randomly. I try to put a dab every inch or so but I'm not super methodical about it. It goes pretty quick and clean up is easy; just a little dish soap on my brush and it washes right off. I don't bother to wash the dish - when the glue is dry it peels right out.

This keeps it from being too messy and helps me not get big gobs. I used to just squeeze and drizzle but the squeezing is hard on my hands. This method is easy on all my aging parts. :)

I dilute the glue with a little water and squeeze it on the batting in squiggles. That's all I do for both sides. Takes about 2 minutes per side for a large quilt. Takes a little time for it to dry if I don't press it dry.

I bought a 6' folding leg table from Office Depot with a top thin enough to use the large binder clips. I tape large closed safety pins to the center of the table and the center of all four edges. You start your back with the center of the back (I iron the back so I can find the center of all for sides and the middle), use the clips to hold it in place. Fold the batting into fourths, lay centered and unfold, then the top same way. The taped safety pins are thick enough to feel through the layers so you keep you 3 layers lined up correctly. Pin baste the entire table top, then unclip and move the entire sandwich to one edge until the entire quilt is pinned. You can only clamp the back on the edge not already pinned at this point. The weighed of the pinned portion is usually enough to keep it taught. (That's not the right spelling ) I do king-sized quilts this way and can sit at my table, listen to a book on tape and pin away. Very soothing!

I do tape tha backing to the table. I smooth it, but do not pull it tight.

I make a pocket in the overhangs and put curtain rods or yardsticks in the " pockets". This puts just enough tension on the backing to minimize wrinkling/bunching up - but not enough to distort the fabric with too much pulling.

My table is 96 x 38 inches and DH made pedastals to raise it six inches.

I've done that. It works well. I use the big tables in the conference room in our office building. I just go in after 5 and set them up.

What a good idea. You just make rod pockets, like for curtains, is that right?

There is a table that can be purchased for around 65.00 dollars that folds up on the two sides. I have used this table everytime I pin a quilt. You can purchase clips that fit it really easy. wish I could remember the name of the clips I bought but my memory is flawed!

These are the clips I've used for decades. But I actually prefer hand basting to pin basting these days for bed sized quilts.
http://www.staples.com/OIC-Binder-Cl.../product_79685

Jan in VA

Wow, there are so many good ideas here that I have no idea which to try first. Thank you so much, everyone. I'll have to reread this all in a day or two after it's had a chance to soak in and watch that youtube video that a couple people recommended before I decide. Then I'll need to, you know, make a quilt and try it out.

I sandwich in a table. Look this youtube video called How to sandwich a large quilt in a small table:

https://youtu.be/jnke_KzeTI8

I love it.

Oh quilting friends... PLEASE go view this youtube video!! It is the just the best way to baste quilts! I went on so much about how wonderful it was after renting a long table to baste a quilt that my DH just bought me my own table. It's a banquet table... plastic top/folding legs... stores in the garage. No more crawling on the floor! And even though she demonstrates with a small piece of "quilt", the method works for large quilts too! I haven't done a king, but I've done a queen-size!
Please view it... if I can baste like this, ANYONE can! I promise!!!

I can't baste quilts on the floor any more and don't have room to set up folding tables so I came up with my own solution. I use blue tape to tape the backing and batting to the wall, then pin the top to it. It works great, no bending over or being stuck on the floor because I can't get back up.

Cari

Friends, I just have to say a couple more things about how wonderful the Sharon Schamber method is... And I know everyone has the method with which they are most comfortable..... (I won't have my feelings hurt if you don't just love this method! Picture big cheesy grin here!!)

She points these things out and I can attest they are true: 1)no more scratches (on anything) from pins... and no more catching thread on pins 2) no worries about rust 3) the sandwich is stable and will stay stable until you start quilting 4) you don't have to start in the middle and work out 5) you sit, comfortably, and baste! (I use my rolling sewing chair... I have to move some furniture in the living room to baste a quilt, but it's just for a day or two or a few evenings...)I did have to work at it at first, and getting everything straight is still important, and I've even had to unroll and tweak my backing once or twice... but this is the only way for me.

Ok... enough! Happy Quilting everyone!!!

I use binding clamps on my dr table. The only thing I add to the process that I didn't see mentioned is that I use a big marble that I roll under the sandwich to the spots I'm pinning to protect the top of my table from scratches. I hope you find a method that works for you. I could no way crawl on the floor. My knees would rebel and my dog would be way too curious. (0:

[QUOTE=mike'sgirl;7139284]What a good idea. You just make rod pockets, like for curtains, is that right?[/QUOTt

That is the general idea - I just pin the fabric over the ruler or rod - seems to work well enough

I like the marble idea to avoid scratches on the table!

This is a really great idea - a really clever solution to the problem. Gravity would help pull out the wrinkles, and no matter how long it takes to pin/baste, you never have to worry about pets walking across it. I always have to get mine done in one day, because if I leave it out overnight the cats will walk across it.

I can also see that the title of this thread should have been, "I'm tired of being stuck on the floor" =)

I love the marble idea. I'd rather buy and store one marble than a whole big thing to go behind the quilt - the less stuff I have to find room to store, the better (I'm a bit of a pack rat and already have enough stuff!). Can you buy a single marble? That's mostly a rhetorical question, I'm sure I can figure it out. It seems like it would make it easier to pin or hand baste, as well as protecting against scratches. I'm always worried that I'm not getting all the layers when I pin.

I use a banquet table and mark the center of the quilt, batting, top as well as centers of the quilt sides. Then I use blue painters tape to secure the layers to the table top. First securing the center section of the quilt with pins or basting spray, then pulling the quilt across the table and re-securing it to baste subsequent sections. Works great, and like you, I detest crawling on the floor. I basted my first 3 quilts on the floor and had such back issues, I either had to find a new way to baste, or give up quilting entirely.
Hope you find a solution that works for you.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-2-in-...-100027346-_-N

I've used the large binder clips from the office supply store, but they are hard for me to open all of the way. I don't have the strength in my hands that I used to have. I found that the clamps in the attached link are much easier to open and open wider.

I hi-jacked or maybe stole my Husband's clamps from home depot. I find using my glass topped dining table with them are the best way to pin the sandwich. I tried on my large thin top table and does not stay in place very good. Never got on my knees to do it.
Which ever way works for you will be best.

Crawling on the floor to baste a quilt has not been an option for many years - tow truck anyone??? Not quite, but when the knees don't cooperate it gets harder and harder to get up off the floor. I had a huge kitchen/dining room table with a Formica top that was perfect for pin basting quilts. I could tape the backing, batting and top with masking tape to secure. then beginning at one end of the quilt I would roll it up as I got it pinned, adding masking tape as needed to secure the quilt. Now I use my smaller dining room table (couldn't bring both tables when we moved to an apt., add the extra leaves, and proceed as above. I have also used a very large cutting mat, placed it on my DH's bed, which is higher and more accessible than my bed, tape the layers down and get DH to help me pin. I need to be able to move around the quilt to pin as well as sit when the legs decide enough is enough. When possible I get my best friend to help me pin baste, using banquet tables at the church, or at her home with her large dining room table. As the saying goes, "whatever floats your boat" is what you should use. I have had to make adjustment s over the years to accommodate my aging body and abilities, but whatever it takes so that I can quilt. Without quilting I become a very grouchy person. LOL.