I have most of my bigger quilts basted by a LA but I always pin baste them after she thread bastes them. No matter how many times I ask that the basting be closer then four inches apart and not have the basting stitch four inches long she never does it, says that what her LA instructor said was the normal basting stitch. I doubt I use her again after the last quilt came back basted the same old way. I'll do it myself then have her tell me what I want.

Another hand quilter here. Pin basting is plenty. I usually try to get them about a hand-width apart. If you have ANY table you can use, work on it - not the floor. Center your backing wrong side up, center your batting, then center your top right side up securing and smoothing each layer as you go. Start in the center of your quilt and work your way out with the pins. When you have the entire area that is covering your table top pinned, move the whole sandwhich up, down, side to side securing as you go until you get the whole quilt pinned. The do as feline fanatic said and remove the pins in your hoop as you get to them. You'll start quilting from the center as well so you have the opportunity to smooth out any puckers as you go along. If you have a local church or fire house that has long tables maybe you could check with them and work on their tables also.

Very interesting, she is so thorough in her explanations. Thanks for sharing the site.

Great idea...I only have my dining room table, it is oval...but I think I could manage working that way..I hate crawling around on the floor. Thanks a bunch.