Sharon Schamber's basting method...here I come??
 

Hello all, I'm preparing a quilt top for layering and want to try Sharon Schamber's method for thread basting.. the one where she uses two boards. My quilt top is close to a double size, or so... so it is much larger than what she shows in her YouTube tutorial.. Here's my question: has anyone tried this method? Do you have any tips for me? I have the boards all ready and think it can work on my dining room table...

Thanks for your input!! I ALWAYS get good input here!!!

Here are some other threads where this is discussed. It seems to be a good method for larger quilts.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...g-t170293.html

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...s-t223952.html

http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...t219174-4.html

This is the only method I use now for basting! I realize that spray basting and other methods (pinning, etc) may be faster, but I love the way my quilts come out after thread basting. I use first aid adhesive tape to anchor my fabric on the boards, and buy thread from the thrift stores to baste with (hey, it may not be good in my machine, but it gets used up fast when basting and there is no guilt about price!). I can figure out my quilting pattern while basting and the sandwich never shifts while puddling around my machine. The only downside is that the threads can catch under the foot while repositioning the sandwich, so take care to smooth down the fabric when moving from one spot to another. One other tip - use the boards for the top and bottom layers, but roll the batting around a styrofoam pool noodle - it keeps the batting from stretching out of shape and you just unroll it as you go.

I use the boards, but I spray baste, not thread baste. Big tip - cover the boards with flannel. It's amazing what a difference that made! I work on a 6' folding table. It's much easier than re-arranging the furniture to use the dining room floor or hauling all my stuff down to the community center to use their tables.

I use a card table butted up to my DR table. I use painter's tape to anchor the fabric to the boards and leave the batting free - just pat it in place. I pin mine and have been very pleased with the results.

I have not use this, will be follwing to see what others think

wow... all great tips! Love the idea of rolling the batting onto a pool tube! I had wondered about keeping batting "organized"... thanks everyone!! I've spent the day trimming threads (do some fabrics ravel worse than others?) and checking a few seams that were not quite straight (sheepish grin...)...

The back is starched and ready... deep breath... here I go!!

Yes I use this method several times and love it (love being relative to the fact that I HATE basting). I have two tips for you ....


1) Baste from the back. The reason being is that the diagonal stitches on the top are longer than the stitches on the back (if you use Sharon's herringbone method). If you flip it and stitch from the back, then quilt it from the front, you'll have less stitches that will catch on your presser foot when quilting. I've tried open and closed toe FMQ feet and both of will catch the longer diagonal stitches of the herringbone, but I had much less of a problem when I basted from the back and had only the shorter horizontal stitches.

2) Use a water soluble thread to baste. You don't have to remove the basting stitches, just stitch over them. If you plan on washing the finished quilt, they'll come out. If you don't plan on washing the quilt, just run a slightly damp wash cloth over it and they'll come out!!

I love how this method keeps my quilt nice and flat while basting, straight while basting, and holds together really well. And no ... I have not had a problem with the water soluble thread breaking even with frequent handling while quilting.

I use the board and I covered the Broads with Fleece the quilt doesn't slip. I also use safety pin instead sewing. I bought 2 5 ft. folding tables from Walmart