Hello all,

I have a problem--I've had knee surgery on one knee and I have to have it on the other soon. It's impossible for me to kneel so that leaves me laying on the floor to pin my layers together. I find this uncomfortable to do and I mess up my layers as I roll around like a bug on my back! LOL

Is there an easier way to pin my quilts that would be off the floor? I have a 6’ table I could use but will pinning on the table cause puckering or get bunches? I just have to find an easier way to do this . . . It’s not a pretty sight! LOL

Sashing-Sarah709

I pin on my cutting table all the time. i just keep smoothing some people use those table clips but Im not a fan. just move it as needed

you couls alsao rise the legs if it is not high enough,bed risers

Hi Sarah,

Take a look at the You Tube Video Tutorial, it may be a possible solution.

You Tube Video
Sharon Schamber
Hand Basting a Quilt, 2 parts

Part One:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhwNylePFAA

Have a Great Quilty Day!
Pam M

Here you go:


Sharon Schambers videos on hand basting...but you could use the method if you wanted to use pins. The important thing is it gets you off the floor.

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



Ah, minute too late!

I used to pin on a table until I got my long arm. I didn't seem to have any problems. I just made sure I had everything nice and smooth and I checked often. Good luck!

This was a topic about a year or so ago and someone suggested pinning on a wall....sounds crazy, but listen. I have a back issue so I can't pin on the floor anymore. I tried this and it works and is soooo much easier and quicker.
I placed a large tablecloth (vinyl) on the garage wall, using velcro. Next, using blue tape, or masking tape, tape the backing (face down) onto the tablecloth. Spray baste with an adhesive, and add the batting. I pin about 3 or 4 pins at the very top to help hold. Next take your top (well starched) pin on the top so you can lift up then spray with the adhesive (seems to work better on the top vs the batting). Smooth out slowly, making sure all the wrinkles are removed, then pin to your hearts content. Finally, remove the tape and start sewing.
I've done up to a single bed size using this method and will be trying a queen this summer (if I ever get done with the top :)).
Hope this helps.

Ask at your local sew store or LQS. They may let you use their back room/teaching room to pin. Take your stuff there, push two or more of their large 8 foot tables together and pin on that. My local sew store even has 'plastic booties' (sawn off pieces of pvc pipe) that fit onto the legs of the tables to raise the surface up to comfortable height of 34" to 36".

I roll out the layers... baste pin, move the quilt, smooth... baste pin the rest. Then carefully look it all over for puckers, creases, sags etc. adjust if/as necessary. Then put all the pins in it, use the binder clips on the edges. Then roll it up and take it home. Sometimes, I bring the shop owner/workers lunch and my sew machine. Then I pin before lunch.... we all eat lunch together and chat...then I continue to use their room for quilting the large quilt. It's MUCH easier than trying to do it at home. I'll spend the day there. But I'll stop and talk with whomever wanders by. It helps that I will talk to them about the machines being sold there, about the service and how good they are <wink>. It's true, plus I act as an unpaid marketing person for them. And they let me sew... it's great!

I was thinking of this too. It might just work for you. I want to put some tiles on one of my walls so I can do this. Then cover the area around the quilt with newspaper to protect the wall. I learned about this from a YouTube tutorial on FMQ. Hope it helps!

Wow! Thank you guys so much for all the suggestions and ideas. :) I watched the videos--I would never have thought of doing it that way in a million years. I think I'll use my table this time since I'm just finishing this quilt but I'm very interested in trying the table cloth on the wall idea. You know, it almost sounds too good to be true! LOL I love this message board and I can't tell you how mice it is that you don't mind letting newbie’s to quilting ask questions. Thank you again for all the good ideas--you guys rock! :)