I use the bed in my guest room. It is a full-size Hollywood-type bed on casters which I can move around so I can access all sides from my rolling desk chair. I have it covered with a large sheet of heavy-weight clear plastic which I purchased from Walmart by the yard (or how 'bout a plastic drop cloth?) so my quilt sandwich can slide around, making it accessible from a seated position. Works for me :) :) :)

Also senior centers. They often have craft rooms with large tables and they love outsiders to become insiders. You may get a few watchers but they help to pass the time. And you may get asked to teach a quilting class for beginners.

try a church,
i go to the public library and use their tables.

this is from Sharon Schamber - very impressive!
http://sharonschambernetwork.com/Cla...our-Quilt.aspx

I have two folding cutting boards for sewing, each one fits on a twin bed. Our beds are next to each other and with the two boards, I have a working surface for cutting, tying or just basting the three levels of a quilt together. The folding boards are cheap and mine are well worn, I use them almost every day for quilting.

Carol J.

My DIL and I put a king-size sheet down or a paint drop cloth in the driveway and we spray baste each layer one half at a time. Usually takes two people, but I know my DIL has done them by herself this way.

Maybe Joanne's Fabric, if you have one near you. Or any fabric store . I know that Joanne's has a classroom. At least the one near me.

Can you lay it out on your bed?

There is a great video on the web (utube I think) from Sharon Shaumber that shows how she has a board like a 2X4 and wraps the quilt top around one and the bottom around the other and then unfolds them a bit at a time to do a basting. It was really great especially for tight spaces.

I baste mine on my dining room table the same way, I dio not have a lot of room but if you start in the center and work your way out it works, Many years ago my mother in law lost her house to a fire, Many people gave her dresses, Some were size 46 . She was not quite that big, but she needed bedding for her family so I cut them up . Sewed then together by hand , no machine , Rolled them together with old blankets as batting , Tied them on the edge of her bed, I made several quilts for her, I was only 19 years old and had no idea what I ws doing but she needed some bedding for her kids, when you are poor or in need , neccesity is the mother of invention, B.E.G.

Do you have a community center near you? Maybe they would "lend" you some table time.

I saw a tutorial putting it on the wall so it could be sprayed glued. I don't know if it would work for pinning. I just started using spay glue and love it, I still put some pins in just don't need as much.

Do any of your friends or relatives have a ping pong table. That is what I use. Good Luck and Happy Holidays

Our church kitchen has a huge (48" X 72") center island that is wonderful for basting a quilt together. I save up 2 or 3 and go up there and spend the morning or afternoon putting my quilt together.

If I can't piece on the LR floor, I go to my church's fellowship hall and piece on the tables.

Have you got a spare wall anywhere to tape it to?

I would say to take it to a local quilt shop in your area, and ask them if you can pin your quilt layers together on one of their tables, at a time that is convenient for them. I've used the floor to pin my layers together too, but it's a little hard on the knees!

I know you are in a hurry for this quilt right now, but for future reference, a couple of 6' folding tables put on risers makes a project do-able and no back pain.

Do you have a long hallway, or a blank wall in a living room?? Put up something to protect the wall, then pin your backing to the top, it may have to go sideways on the wall.. Let gravity and smoothing bring the backing down nice, smooth, and tight.. . Pin it at the bottom.. next put your batting on, using the same method.. finally your top.. If you are spray basting, make sure you also protect the floor under the quilt.. I've done this several times and it works very well. Probably a tutorial on here someplace, maybe someone else knows where. That's what I'd do.

I think this is the tutorial Judie referred to in the post above. I posted it earlier in this thread. Hope it helps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UoUzK19Vww

Go to your library or church and ask if you can use their meeting room tables to lay out your quilt. Most libraries and churches are used to this type of request. Err, my library is because there are so many quilters in my area.

Your church, your school cafeteria, a quilting classroom, anyplace that has the larger tables. I put a piece of 2 inch insulation foam across two sawhorses, and that works well, then store the insulation behind my freezer

Place your cutting board between quilt sandwich and soft surface such as bed.. It works in a pinch. Also if the community room at the local "ole folks home is not in use you may be able to use their tables..Doesn't hurt to ask.

A 4' by 8' sheet of 5/8th-inch finished (one side) plywood and two sawhorses will always make a great instant work table

Terry -- in Northern Delaware

You have that problem too?? My two greys would be curled up on the quilt trying to help.

:-)

If you have a quilt group they will let you use their tables. the churches will let you use their tables from the hall or do what I have to ---on the floor in the lounge room. Only thing with my oesteo-arthritis suffers with long times leaning over or on the quilt.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL FROM LAIDLEY, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA. HAVE A GREAT START FOR THE NEW YEAR TOO.

Once a week our quilt group meets in a church its great.

I have used that method and it worked well, but I still needed a large table area, so used the ones in the churches social hall.