Splitting batting into thirds for easier quilting?
 

I would like to quilt my giant king in horizontal straight rows but don't feel it will be easily done on my 9" harp machine. I thought about cutting the batting into thirds across the width of the batting and sandwiching/basting that middle section first. then using fusible batting tape to join the top third and bottom third? That way I'd not have as much bulk under the harp when working that middle section while trying to sew straight lines across the width of the quilt. Does this seem feasible? And if so, any precautions/tips for me?

I would glue that middle section with Washable School Glue, then quilt it making sure the "loose ends" don't get under the needle. (Been there, done that.) Then add section 2, glue and quilt that. And on to section 3. That way you will only have to deal with the full bulk of the quilt for 1/3 of the time.

Yes, this will work. It's a common QAYG technique. YOu can use the fusible tape, whip stitch, or zigzag the batting together. You can also leave the backing on one piece, or also divide it into thirds, seaming as you go. If you don't divide the backing, just make sure you don't catch it in the area you are quilting. Ask me how I know!

I did it sometimes in more than 3 sections because I like my quilts to be reversible. So, I do a large square middle section, than, I add the 4 large borders. I zigzag my batting by machine with a large and long zigzag stich without pulling or pushing the batting through but letting the machine do the work. Here a video that talks about it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry6QTj3fA1s

Marti Michell's book, Machine Quilting in Sections, explains how to do this, as well as various other ways to split your quilt into sections for quilting. She goes through each method and why it would work well on certain types of quilts. I quilted in sections before I bought my longarm, and I highly recommend her book.

This method works very well. I cut my batting into thirds the long way using a wavy cut. Be sure to mark your batting so you can get it back together correctly. This method makes the quilting much easier!

Thanks everyone! does the fusible batting tape work well to keep things in place through washings and wear? do you use it on front and back or just front?

What great timing on this thread. I was just thinking about doing this myself this morning and was wondering about whether or not this would work. Does it matter if you wavy cut the batting or not? I think it would be harder to work with when it comes time to zig zag the batting pieces together.

And thanks for the link helou, I'm going to check that out right now

you're welcome quiltingbuddy. I cut my batting in a straight line as in the video I have never tried a wavy cut and I am no expert on this. but it worked for me and because after adding the batting I quilt some what over while quilting the quilt I can not tell where was it that the batting was joined. I mainly use 100% cotton batting or 20/80 batting. I have never tried this with any other type of batting, so I can not tell how it would behave with polyester batting or other kind.

Trying to keep the backing from getting caught in the stitching would be hard for me. If I were to try this I would have to think very hard about it.
Good luck and I hope it works for you.