Sandwiching Quilts on small table
 

How do you manage to sandwich a quilt on a small table without getting any wrinkles in it. I have tried and I can't seem to manage it. I have a small house, smaller living room as my sewing table takes up so much room. I have 6' and 8' tables that I bought but I can hardly walk around due to my sewing table. Please help me, I have 6 tops I need to sandwich and quilt. Four of which are charity Veteran's Quilts.

Sharon Schaumburg ( google her ) has a method that should help. Find a church,school,community center,laundromat...and use their tables. Find a quilting buddy who has a big table. Ask at the local guild.

I use long rulers (3 to 4 feet long) or curtain rods as light weights to keep my backing smooth.

I center the backing on the table, and then pin up three to four inches of the backing that is hanging down on each side and slide a long ruler or curtain rod into the "temporary rod pockets" - that give a slight tension to the backing that keeps it smooth - but not so much that it stretches the backing (very much). I might put a couple of weights on the top of the table to keep this from sliding until I get the batting and top placed.

Then I center the batting and top of this. I found folding the batting and top into fourths works - and then I line up the "center points" when layering.

Then I start pinning from the center and work my way to the edges. I do put weights on the top to keep things from sliding off the table. I slide the sandwich around until I am done.

I use a small table with no problem. Amelie Scott from Edge to Edge Quilting has an excellent youtube video of how to do this.

Work with the layers in quadrants to get them put together. Work from the center out on each layer.

I mark or pin all the centers of backing, batting and front quilt layers. Match them as I go through the layers.

Now I should have used this for my last project but tried something different. I just layered the quilt 2 times and going for the third go round in the next few days. I used a new (to me) basting spray and don't like it at all. Sigh!

Check with your library and see if they have open rooms/tables for you to use.

I second the use of a business conference room, a church basement or other location.

I used to have a large table that was great, a crib quilt fit on it, and I let gravity help me keep the fabric taut, along with a few cans of spaghetti sauce! Don't have that table any more.

I do most of my layout on my queen sized bed which makes doing a queen sized quilt rather challenging. I have rolls of heavy craft paper that I cover the bed, it help firm the surface, protect it from spray baste and provide a surface I can feel/use for safety pins. But the height is really hard on me and even with spray baste, I am "crunkled" by the end of the process.

I admit to only skimming the above comments.... I use my dining room table in the winter months where I can't lay my quilt sandwich outside.
I mark the centre of the backing.with a safety pin on the right side....lay it right side down on the table.... I mark the centre of the batting with a safety pin... lay that on top of the batting, matching the centre marking..... I mark the centre of the quilt top on the right side with a pin.... removing the pin that is in the batting.... lay it right side up matching the centre markings on the rest of the sandwich. Starting in the middle... I either pin baste a fist width apart.... or if I am doing intricate hand quilting.... I hand baste....from the centre out..... once everything on the table top sandwich is done....carefully shift the sandwich to the left....and repeat...and then to the right and repeat.

You could also try a local library, they usually have meeting rooms.

Are you talking about Sharon Shamber? She visited our guild and is a master quilter. One of 22 or 24 in the world. I have watched some of her videos but haven't seen that one. If anyone wants to see fantastic quilts, google her. You won't believe the quilts she has done. I was told the judges took a magnifing glass looking for an error in one of her quilts, but could find nothing. She has been quilting for less than around 20 years.

Thank you everyone for your ideas. I am going to try a couple. I don't know if I can find a large table. All of the places I know of charge for the use of the room.

I use my cutting table to sandwich quilts. It's one similar to those sold at JAF with the fold down sides. I have done from table runners to large king quilts on this table.

I place my backing centered on the table, smoothed and then clamp it in place with large binder clips. Then batting centered. Using the same binder clips, clamp that down. Repeat with top. I place 3 clips on each side and 2 clips on each end. I normally pin baste about a hand-width apart in all directions. I've learned, though, that when doing a large king, thread basting makes the whole sandwich might lighter to deal with.

Go to YouTube and search for “Quilt Basting Basics Made Easy" by Man Sewing. He shows how to use a small table for making the sandwich. I found clamps similar to the ones he uses at Walmart for $0.99 a piece in the hardware dept. I bought 10 of them. I do exactly as he does.

umm...want a quick no fess method....check and see if any of the long arm quilters near you will baste a quilt...tee hee...no sore knees or fingers.

this is how i've been doing small quilts and miniatures for many years. when i started there was no you tube or internet. when a problem arose, i worked out a solution. the only thing i do differently than you, thimblebug (i love! your avatar & name), is that i use painters tape to tape the back to the table. start in middle of edge, tape, other edge stretching till just taut and tape. then work evenly up then down each side. i use my dining table now as my sewing table doesn't fit any room in current home. i have a large cutting mat that almost completely covers my dining table and avoid marks from basting needle. i also thread baste all my quilts for hand or maching quilting except for flannel backed.

As an idea, many quilters like an old ping pong table for layout. You want the type the folds up in the middle for storage, since you don't need a sports top, that doesn't really matter and you can get one left out in the rain. You do need a garage or somewhere to keep it but they are a great size and height!

Keep your eyes out at garage sales or Craig's List or equivalents.

I think of it like ironing sheets, I work on my ironing table. I lay the batting down and then lay a corner of the front of the quilt it. I use spray baste to keep it in place, working a small section at a time across the top and down. I iron as I go. My favorite is the heat and bond in the purple and white can. The smell doesn't overwhelm me. Once the front is sprayed down and smooth. I trim the batting to about 2" on each side. Then I proceed to do the backing the same way, making it the same size as the batting. Once it is all secure, I pin it about every 8-10 inches. The only reason I pin is that I am working on a Juki 2010q and the quilt will be puddled and turned alot. I just don't want it to gap anywhere.

When I had only a smaller circular table I would use larger binder clamps and clamp the sandwich to the table taunt and use my trusty tea spoon and pins. I would move the quilt and do it a section at a time. I used this way for more than 15 years. Now I use a different method and usually my kitchen floor.

this is what I do, think it works for me.

I also live in a smaller space and struggled with sandwiching my work. I take my quilt tops, batting and backs with me to a local library that has a room with large tables that I can butt together and sandwich to my hearts content. I have also used tables at my church. Of course a phone call and specific time is needed but to sandwich 2, 3,or 4 quilts at a time, makes it all worth it.

I use the bed in my guest room for most couch-sized or smaller quilts. It's not perfect and because it's low, I have to take breaks to stretch. I pin the top edge of the back to the bedcovering (usually an older quilt), smooth the back out, leaving the excess to dangle over the edges. Then I smooth on the batting and the top. I slide a couple of cutting mats under the center and pin. I move the mats and, when the center is basted, I slide the whole quilt over to do the edges that were dangling down. This is tricky because you need to make sure the back stays taut.

If the quilt is big, I take it to a public place (library, church, etc.) that has a couple of tables I can use. They don't charge me for the hour or so that I'm there basting. My LQS also has tables in its classroom they let people use.

Our local library now requires 5 people to attend to use a room, but that's just the number of my small group.

Another idea is if you have a local senior center, they often have either open times or craft times. I'm only 59 but our town-sponsored senior center starts at 50. Large private senior residences also have meeting rooms and might actually appreciate someone coming in, especially if you are sociable. One of the guilds my small group members go to is held at a large residence, I went to one meeting and the space was huge (does help the group was about 20), and residents are more than welcome to come to the meetings (most don't, but I think they picked up a couple regulars).

Our state likes to have public access at fire stations too, I think they are phasing them out but most were built with a room that could be used. I've done more than one quilt event at a fire station, and I think the small guild many of my small group members belong to has it's monthly meeting at one.

Like Tartan, I use pool noodles to baste quilts. Here is one of the best videos that show the process. I generally roll the back and top on my large board ironing board as they are freshly pressed. You can make the noodles as long as you need if you have a table long enough to work on. Do a search of this forum for pool noodle basting. There have been several threads about it.
here is the video link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpmWfZdxGSI

use your bed. When my kids where small, we lived in a very small house. I got 2 pieces of thin old-fashioned wall paneling and had the hardware store cut them down to 5'. I stashed them under my bed and when needed, pulled them out and put my folding cardboard cutting mat on top. This worked great for sandwiching quilts and as a sort of design wall. Then the paneling and cutting board slid back under the bed for storage. I did throw an old sheet over the bed first to catch any bits of thread, pins or overspray if I choose to use basting spray.

I agree with the members here-maybe a conference room somewhere or library. Even most cities have senior citizens centers with big tables and that might work for you.

I could physically never baste or pin a quilt on the floor as I would have to sit and wait for someone to help me get up. I do have a long, narrow piece of plywood which I put on my ironing board to spread out the quilt in order to baste it. I have also hung my quilts to be against the wall so that I can baste them; this is very challenging to do, as you can imagine, but I have had to do it in some places I have lived. I have also used a plastic quilting frame to hold the quilt taut while I worked. I would suggest you look around your house and envision how you might solve your problem. Please write back and let us know your solution, as that may provide a solution to a similar problem for someone else. Happy quilting!

Tartan, I like your idea. I have thought about putting a broomstick or small rod inside the noodle to extend the
length .

Sometimes if a quilt if very small, I'll use my kitchen island. More commonly, I'll use the floor.
If any of your sewing groups or guilds meet in a church, they might have a big open space to use.

I lay my cardboard sewing board on the table top fully opened out,.. Then I line up the backing on thereThen I and use straight pins to secure it at that line. Smooth out the backing as far as the table goes and pin there. lay on batting and smooth. Add quilt and line it up with backing and and pin it along the top with straight pins sticking into the cardboard mat. Then I pin this section fist width apart. Roll it up on something firm ( I use some old metal headers for wide with drapery rods. Then I unpin and move it up and resin as per first section and pin. Roll and keep going. I do this for fmq with a small Brother and don't seem to have trouble with tucks on the back. Hope this is clear enough for you to figure it out.

I use one foot or longer sections of 3/4 or 1 inch PVC pipe to join and extend mine and tape the join with duct tape. The size of PVC depends on the pool noodle I use, they sometimes have different size holes in the middle.
Works great and I use pins to attach the quilt sections to the noodles.