cherrio

My kitchen, farm table, seats 8 and I have done up to a queen sz on it. do half, move and do more. It can be done! good luck

Neesie

I'm not the best at explaining things but will try. Maybe someone else can add to this.

I use large, sweeping motions and apply the Elmer's School Glue fairly quickly, so that just a thin line hits, in any one spot. It ends up being a sort of wide serpentine pattern of thin glue lines. The lines don't have to be that close together but I try to make mine at least every inch or so. If the glue comes out in a blob, I just use the tip of the glue bottle, to smear it a bit. I apply the glue in a serpentine strip from top to bottom, but only 1/4 to 1/2 of the batting width, at a time. This makes it easier to make any needed adjustments, if I put the top on crooked. Anyway, then I position the top onto the batting, lightly pat it down into the glue (it isn't enough glue to soak all the way through) and smooth out the entire top, making sure I have it straight and centered. After the first section is glued on, I fold back the unglued part of the top, then glue another section (top to bottom). I usually end up with a bit of glue on my fingers but it dries quickly and then I can "roll" it off, into the trash basket. If it's more than just a bit, I use a damp paper towel.

Scraplady

I highly recommend the video mentioned by tessagin above. Here is a link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnke_KzeTI8

It really is very informative, and the subtitles added by her son are rather entertaining to boot! I bought a 4' X 8" piece of plywood that I put on top of my oval-shaped dining table. I can do most large quilts in sections of at least half the quilt at a time. I have just enough room to walk around the table with the plywood set on top of it. It's not the ideal height, I suppose I could put bricks or something under the plywood, but have just used as is. I put an old tablecloth under the plywood to protect the table top. This way I can pin baste, glue baste, spray baste or even use a fusible batting without harming my dining table.

Jackie Spencer

I use a room at our Library, and push a couple of their long tables together.

Quilt Novice

I go to the library also. My quilting group gets together one a week in the big meeting room.

amyjo

I use clips that I bought at Menards in a container. I clip the back to the table (right now I go to the church 1/2 mi away). then I add the batting and then the top. Then I pin it all the while it is kept tight by the clamps. I clamp the whole thing when I have it set before I pin.

kyquiltlover1942

I used Elmer's glue for the first time this week. It was on a youth size qult, but I will be using it from now on. It was really quite easy, and no trouble with the machine needle.

kathymarie

I use tables in my sewing room for small up to large wall hangings....but for queen and king I use my old farmhouse dining room table...the key for me is something I just learned a year or so ago....but the idea has been around a long time. Someone here on the board posted it but I think the idea originally came from Sharon Schamber....you can see Sharon's videos on youtube about basting quilts. She uses two boards to roll them on. It's absolutely amazing and how easy this is to do...it doesn't even matter whether you pin baste or use needle and thread. I have 3 sets of boards...these are just 1inch x 3 inch boards we had left over from building projects. The first set is 3 feet long, the second is 5 feet long...The third set----the one to accommodate the big quilts are 2 six feet pieces of board...still 1x3....with a little peg in one and a hole in the other so they snug together. I originally wanted piano hinge that would lie flat but this works great. Check out Sharon's videos....they are amazing....no more bending over the bed or crawling around on the floor to baste. AND you can easily do it by yourself. It takes me 2.5 to 3 hours to baste a king size quilt at a leisurely pace.

SuzzyQ

What amyjo said - big binder clips hold the fabrics taut then pin or glue baste together. I've done several this way. Larger quilts are done in sections. Already pinned parts add weight to help hold everything "right"
If using my dining room table I protect my table with a cardboard cutting mat.

bobquilt3

I saw something on YouTube but I haven't tried it. The gal put newspaper in her wall, then pinned up the quilt backing sprayed with glue (501), smoothed batting on backing, sprayed it with glue and then smoothed quilt top on batting.
Things always look easy in the net but this did look doable.