I posted the other day, after discovering that a quilt I'd sandwiched SO carefully nevertheless had creases in the backing. I'm now wondering how else I might approach this, given that I have a small house with no walls big enough to use, and only one suitable floor area, which is carpeted and therefore not ideal. I've been looking at tutorials on using a table, but none of them seem to say whether you can do this successfully if your quilt is considerably bigger than the table - the videos I've looked at use quilt tops that are conveniently almost exactly the same size as the table top. Can anyone advise, please?

I have used my dining room table. I layer all three layers, than start pining, or basting, in the very middle and work out to each side, top and back. I smooth as I go. I know some will clip the backing to the edge of the table to begin but I don't. The weight of the hangover seems to keep it smooth. Once the quilt area on top of the table is basted I move the quilt sandwich one way or the other to continue with the pining or basting. Works or me.

i use my pool table with a cover overtop of it to protect it from pins. but, laying out my layer quilt for a couple days before i pin seems to work best. it seems to let the batting relax.

I use a carpeted floor all the time! Lay your backing down, wrong side up and pin it to the carpet in the corners and a couple of places along the sides, making sure it is flat and tight. Layer your batting and then the top, smoothing out each layer. THEN (this is how it works), slide a cutting mat on the carpet, under the backing and use the mat as something to pin against so you don't catch your carpet. I just did it last night - works great!

You can use your table to layer. I've done it several times. I longarm now but ocassionally I have one that I dont want to long arm. I layered a lonestar last week using my kitchen table. The picture I've attached is a quilt that I did earlier in the year on a long folding table. I use large black clips that you can get at wal mart or office supply store. When I put my backing on I use these same clips to keep my backing flat, layer the batting, removing one clip at a time to hold down batting to the back, then repeat process when I add the top. I'm spray basting between the layers. I only move the quilt about 12 inches or so each time I need to pin a new area. You really don't even need to pin but on this particular quilt I did. The one I'm currently working on I didnt pin, only spray basted.

Believe it or not, that's EXACTLY what I did, pins and cutting board and all, and the backing got creased! I was quite surprised. It wasn't a big quilt and the carpet doesn't have a thick pile either. That's why I'm wondering if I can find another method.

That's really helpful - thankyou - what I was thinking I might be able to do. I just wanted the confirmation that it still works if it's a big quilt. I have a standard-sized dining table that I think would work well - no fancy edges, so the clips would go on OK.

Good to know -would have to choose my couple of days carefully, as I'd be using my dining table!

This is what I was thinking of doing. Doesn't the quilt tend to slip off once you get near the edge and most of it is off the table?

I use the table, clip on the backing first so it won't slide. I do not clip the other layers. Start from center and smooth out. Put your cutting mat upside down under it, pins could gouge the mat.