Greetings to all.
Can some one please help me i am about to put a quilt together but no where to lay the backing etc to sandwich them together my table isn't big enough and the edges are too wide to use bulldog clip to hold the back down. I really need to finish it before xmas.

The floor is doable but backs usually suffer. Sometimes churches or lqs have large tables/areas where you can baste a quilt...

I have gone to my church fellowship hall and put tables together to pin baste mine. Someone said they used tables at local library. Just thoughts.

Thank you i didn't think of churches table would they let any one do that?

We have a couple of stores in our area where you can use their classrooms at certain times.

Thank you for the quick response, i am waiting for the church library to open at 10am and i will ask them. Have a good day :)

Why can't you use your bed to sandwich your quilt. I do mine and its pretty easy to do that way. Just my suggestion. Have a great day.

Thank you, the floor is very tempting right now i am checking a couple of options first:)

You can baste on a regular table - even a card table.
Just center all layers and let sides fall to the floor. Smooth and stretch out. Baste the section on the top of the table. Then pull the next unbasted section to the top and continue until all is finished. I have basted queen size on a card table this way. The sides hanging over will keep the layers smooth and pulling to the top of the table further straightens it out.

How do you pin your work on a soft surface? I always thought it had to be hard surface to be able to get the pins through the 3 layers. How do i use the bed for that? :(

I usually vacuum my floor and close the doors to keep the dogs out of the room while I pin mine down- if not I have 2 greyhounds laying right next to mom on the quilt I am trying to pin together - also pick a day DH is playing golf.

Really woww scary to me having to use a card table i am not very good at it at best of time we use to have a pool table that i used but DH sold it a couple of year ago.:(

--------------------------------------------------
I keep big pieces of cardboard stacked in a closet. I put them on my bed and then the quilt. This works for me, even though I know there are other options out there, I don't usually want to go away from home since I usually forget something essential like thread, needles, etc.

I also have 3 of CostCo's folding tables, put together they make a good large area, especially when I had a big wooden dinner table.

That's a great idea

Also try a school - they may have large table you can push together for an hour.

I also agree with churches and libraries.

How about government buildings, fire stations, ... anyplace that GATHERS - for meetings of any type

folding ping pong tables work great also :)

cool idea i never thought of cardboard on the bed. I have had so many good hints from this site it should be nominated for website of the year :thumbup:

Maybe i should ask Santa for a big folding table:)

When I use my carpeted floor I put a large cutting mat underneath and move it around to pin.

Search here for the Sharon Schamber method. I hope I spelled her name right. She demonstrates how to do it with two boards on YouTube. I bought myself the boards last night and plan to try it soon.

I can not get on my knees so I use my bed or the kitchen table in the winter, in the summer I use the picnic table. I just seen on here using the wall I will be doing that from now on. and will use the clothsline in the summer.

I use my dining room table. I turn the table pads felt side up and lay the quilt on them. It sticks to the felt and doesn't slide. I start basting in the middle and move the quilt as needed making sure the back is pulled tight as I go.
Lori

Have you asked at your local quilt shop.

I use the floor - have to contain the pets first though or they think its there for them to lie on :D

If you use some quilt basting spray to anchor things together you can use your bed--I work off my bed and do it in sections--working from one end and moving towards myself. As sections are anchored I fold them up and pull more of the quilt onto the bed--have to be able to get to both sides of the bed for this to work best. Once it is anchored with spray, you can pin, baste, or simply just get to the quilting part without doing anything more to it.

here is a link showing a quilter sandwiching on her wall. I know there is a link to a tutorial on how to do this, but I can't find it. Nonetheless, it isn't complicated. Newspaper on the wall to protect it from the spray basting. Tape backing to wall. Spray baste batting to backing. Spray baste top to batting. A few pins here & there to help support the weight of it. then... Voilla! a sandwiched quilt!

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-39588-1.htm

I haven't sandwiched a quilt since I saw the tute, but I plan to use this method when I do.

Be good to your back and knees, check out your library or church fellowship hall, or your local quilt shop, if they have classrooms, and use a table.

Our guild uses the local library meeting room. We call and book for a time when there are no meetings, then get a group together and make short work of basting several quilts each time.

I used to lay mine in the floor but now I use my dinning table. I fold all layers into a quarter, lay back down put a safety pin on the right side of the back to mark the center, lay the batting down on top of the back, you don't need to mark it with a pin. (I let my batting rest overnight on the back if at all possible) Fold the top into quarters and pin the center on the right side. I use large safety pins to hold while I baste with needle and thread. Smooth and pin the layers as you go. This is work but it is worth every minute it takes to do it. You will not have any boo boos.

Oh for goodness sakes! I never thought of using a clothes line! I'm going to try that on my next quilt. Easier on the back!

Here is a link to Sharon Schamber's video:
http://sharonschambernetwork.com/Cla...our-Quilt.aspx

I've also basted on my kitchen table by using the cardboard cutting board I have for cutting out garment patterns, and basting in portions. Lay the board out on the table, use binder clips to secure the bottom layer, spray baste the batting & top. For tops bigger than the board, baste in sections.

Our local library has a room that if not in use can be ussed for such tasks. The only problem is that if a group show

Never thought of using a card table..good idea. Thanks. The floor is just not an obtion for me.

I've been using this method with great results. I don't have a lot of room to lay a quilt out . i use my folding table and boards. i don't care to do basting but the results are worth it.

I use my grandmothers's 100+ yo quilt frame! I attach the backing with pins, stretch it out on dining room chairs and use c-clamps to hold it. Then I put the batting and top on, and pin or baste. If the top is too big I roll one or both sides until I can reach the middle. Rolling is best done with 2 people, but it's not impossible for 1 person to do. DH helps me. If I am hand quilting, I leave the sandwich on the frame. If I am machine quilting, I pin pin pin. Good luck.

I put 3 folding tables together. 2 side by side and one at the end. I have my patio or half of garage or the yard. My house is small so this is what I have to do and it works. I have two leafs for my dining table but it still hangs over. It is a problem. Good luck and I hope you let us know.

I followed this video for my last quilt. Not a large quilt but it worked very well. I'd have gone down to the basement if the quilt were larger. I'm not a big advocate of crawling around on the floor! (LOL)

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

If you have someone who will loan you two fold tables (the long ones) you can stretch it on there. I use masking tape to hold down the quilt back. I have problems with my back so I was never able to pin them on the floor so we invested on two long fold tables butt them up together and then I can roll around them when I need to pin something. I also don't baste the top bottom or batting as the basting spray holds them pretty good while I pin them but I do use lots and lots of pins. Of course now I don't have to do that anymore since my loving husband purchased the Tin Lizzy for me in July. I think I am still more afraid of it then pinning quilts but it does work beautifully just wish I had an even bigger room. Happy quilting. PS: He had also purchased clamps for me on the $ bin that most generally mechanics use so I could save on having to use masking tape they open quite big in the jaw just like a clothes pin and hold down the quilt back great you can also move them easier if you have a wrinkle in the quilt.

before you lay it out, starch both the front and back to make them lay flat. I have screwed a foam insulation board that I covered with flannel to my sewing wall. It works miracles. If I were you, I'd check out my church to see if they have a table big enough. I would certainly use spray adhesive between the layers also to keep everything from shifting.

My quilt group meets in a library and we use the floor or tables in a large meeting room. Check if your local library would allow you to use their space for couple of hours.

The use of a church is a good idea too. The women at my church meet monthly to chat, have supper and complete any crafting project we have at hand. I have laid out several quilts at those events.