I've tried several different ways and so far i like school glue and a hot iron best. I don't clamp to the table anymore because i was going overboard and stretched the fabric so it wasn't laying straight when i was done. First i glue the top to the batting and then i spread that out on the table batting side up. I roll up the backing and glue that down in sections from one end to the other. This way i'm working on one side at a time and i don't have to be concerned with what i can't see. I do this before i go to bed or before i know i will be away from the sewing area for a while so it has time to dry completely before i sew anything.