I have just finished the top of a full sized quilt I have made for my son. (I actually have two other quilt tops done, one is queen sized and one is twin sized). The problem is, the only other BIG quilts I made (about 8 years ago), a friend helped and showed me how to tape down the layers, bottom, batting, top; then pin them every 4 inches, or so, from middle out.
My problem is that now I am a little older and this process is killing my knees (I even have knee pads), hips and back. Is there another way to pin a large quilt together?
Oh, also, she had some terrific tape to tape the material down and it wasn't harsh on the cotton, nor was it masking tape. I thought it was called Quilter's Tape, yet every time I've looked for Quilter's Tape, I only find the 1/4 inch tape. I don't know what the tape she used was named. Help??
Thank you! :)
Ramona

There is a blue painter's tape that works well. It also can be found at a multitude of places not just at quilt shops or hobby shops.

this is how this lady does it, hope it helps!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39I5A3iyCtw

Blue painter's tape is easy on fabric and widely available with house paint supplies.

Sharon Schamber has a Youtube video of how to hand baste on a table (parts 1 & 2). It would work for pin basting too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhwNylePFAA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_EjB...eature=related

However, why not consider spray basting? It can be done on a wall, on a table outside in the driveway, on a piece of plywood set up on saw horses -- and is much faster than pin basting. I will never go back to other types of basting and won't use anything othger than 505 basting spray.

I go to my church activity hall and put 2 tables together and sandwich my layers there. I don't do knees:)

Great idea! Thank you.

However, why not consider spray basting? It can be done on a wall, on a table outside in the driveway, on a piece of plywood set up on saw horses -- and is much faster than pin basting. I will never go back to other types of basting and won't use anything othger than 505 basting spray.[/quote]

I have never heard of this. Does the quilting need to be done right away? Or will the spray hold long enough for a slow quilter?? I will be shopping today!

Thank you.

Thank you ladies for the idea of the painters tape! Also for the quick responses...I can now go get some things before my DH takes the car ;)
Also, thanks for the youtube videos! I have some viewing and learning to do today, gladly!!
Ramona

Get off you knees unless you are praying to the quilting gods. I go to the public library and use their "community" room. 4 large tables I can push together, and lots of space. It is free to use as long as I don't want to reserve it, otherwise there is a $175.00 charge. I can want.

Highly recommend the Schamber videos- you can use her table and rolled fabric method with pins, thread basting, and I have used it with basting spray- I have the same knee and back problems- can't crawl around on the floor anymore!

Wow! I LOVE this site!! I had never thought of borrowing my Church's cultural hall, nor the nearest library for quilting! I didn't even know there was a SPRAY a person could use for binding! I consider myself a well educated woman, yet I have never thought to look up 'help' videos on YouTube...ok, I haven't really used that site, thinking it was more of a propaganda type thing! I find out something new every time I come here. :)
Thanks, everyone!

Try using the "search" option on this board to look for threads on spray basting. Youtube also has some video demo's of spray basting.

I'm not a friend of basting spray but I certainly use the large tables at the church hall. We use the painter's tape and tape the backing to the tables (we use 3 or 4) fairly tautly. Then we lay the batting on top, smooth and lightly pat it in place and then layer on the quilt top. We safety pin every 5-6 inches checking the back fairly frequently for folds or puckers and then machine quilt it. Our quilt guild has completed dozens of full size quilts using this method with a minimum of wrinkles on the back. Two or three of our members can pin a large quilt in about an hour if everything is pressed and ready to go.

I love the Sharon Schamber table basting. I recently tried it for the first time and WOW it was so much easier..

I use two tables and instead of tape I use the large pinch clips (got mine at staples) to hold back, batting, and top together, very few or never any wrinkles, then pin away.

I refuse to do the work on the floor. If I can't borrow a space with large tables, I use the ironing board as an extension to the dining table. It may be tedious but it still works.

Great idea!