Sandwiching batting and backing to quilt top
 

I was hoping that someone would share any tips they may have on how to sandwich batting and backing to their quilt top. I can't work off the floor so I use my king size bed and I have the worse time trying to get my boarders straight so they don't have waves in them when I pin it. I know there must be another way or a trick to it that I'm missing. Help please!

Go watch Sharon Schamber's quilt basting video on youtube. This is part one, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhwNylePFAA Be sure and watch part 2.

I pin on top of the island in my kitchen. Probably have to have an island to do that though. It doesn't hold a whole quilt or anything, but if I shift it three times, it will work just fine. I couldn't pin on the floor either.

Dina

You need a hard, flat surface like a rectangular kitchen table (be sure to protect it with a cutting mat underneath). If that's not available to you, ask your local quilt shop if you can come in and use one of their classroom tables or maybe your church has a table you can use or a conference table at work. If the table is too low, which generally, they are, you will want to attempt to raise the height of so you don't end up with a sore back. I bought some bed lifters at BB&B and they work great.

I use my cutting table. Like Dina, I need to shift a few times to do larger quilts but it works well for me. I also use the big binder clips to hold everything in place while I'm doing my pinning or thread basting. Most times I pin because it's easier but sometimes, like with king size quilts, I'll thread baste as it's not as heavy while I'm quilting.

some folks go to their library or community center to borrow their large tables.

When I did large quilts, I went down and used the classroom of my LQS. It always made the day much enjoyable being surrounded with such beautiful fabrics and fun quilters.

I agree with Terri D. Trying to pin on a soft surface is only going to cause problems.

Try this from Ameile Scott - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnke...jOz6YpQRCs9y9w

I found I do best on the kitchen table and use big binder clips found at the office supply store.

http://kathykwylie.com/2011/02/basti...t-in-sections/

This is a great series of videos. She has other helpful ones also. I have a 6' banquet table my one machine (portable)sets on. I spoke with a friend who uses this method and she swears by it. She starts in the middle then moves side to side. She also uses a banquet table. Easy to fold and put away.

I use my dining room table, with the protective pads down on it, just use blue painters tape to tape the back down, then spray and sandwich smoothing by hand as I go.

Does anyone sandwich their quilts on a ping pong table? Have been thinking of purchasing an inexpensive one to do this.

I would love to have the room to use a ping pong table.

misseva - I always say that I need to have a ping pong table too! But I don't have the room for it either. Basting spray is awesome

Years ago my father purchased a large piece of wood. I think it was 8 feet by 8 feet. I had him trim it, but wish I had left it whole. It is 6' x 4'. He covered it with adhesive shelf liner. I lay that on the dining room table. I use inexpensive clips I purchased from Home Depot. There were 25 cents each - probably a little more now. They open wide enough to clamp the layers to the board and have plastic tips so they don't bite into the fabric. If the quilt is bigger than the board, I clip half and attaché all three layers with basting spray or pins, then unclip, move it up and do the remainder of the quilt.

Home Depot does not charge to cut wood to the size you want. They say only cut one piece out of each board, but I have had nice employees cut two pieces. Take all the left over pieces, you may come up with a use for them later.

I can slide the large board behind the furniture when not in use.