Wow, this is so much better than any method I have tried, and it keeps me off the floor. I especially like the part about eating cheesecake.

I am finishing my first one using Sharon's tutorial and am very impressed. Thanks for sharing.

When I've hand-basted my quilts for FMQ, I've always had trouble with my hopping foot getting tangled in the threads. On the other hand, pin-basting is a pain also and to me spray-basting isn't that great either because I can't easily move the top and batting and backing a little to re-line up the layers if I need to while quilting.

Any alternatives?

Dana

Thank you so much for all the effort and time you spent showing us this method. I have seen the video on YouTube but she uses a very small sample. This is up close and personal and I will book mark it.

I wonder if you could use warm and natural quilt batting to cover the boards. I always have left overs. Mabey will try it.

Great tutorial - your explanation with the pictures made it seem as if we were there with you. Many thanks!!

What more can we say but WOW!! :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

lovely quilt, this is so like that of
www. sharonschamber.com---------SO easy.

I was not able to find the basting sandwich on Sharon's website.. what is the correct address so I can view it.. thanks

This is Sharon Schaumber's method as well, and there is video tutorial on her website, or maybe on Youtube. Your photos are nice and clear and your quilt is lovely!

Are these just regular 2x4's covered with flannel??? And what exactly is Free Motion Quilting? I have a simple Singer Machine and would love to learn how to quilt with it! Is that even possible??

Thanks for the great tutorial and pics to go with it. You have saved my knees and back!! I will never be on the floor again to baste my quilts. ;-)

I just got my boards a couple of weeks ago and am glad to see the way you can cover them with flannel. I hadn't gotten that far yet. This looks like a simple reliable way to put the quilt together.
Thanks for the pics.
Susan

Wow, I am impressed on two accounts, firstly your quilt is lovely and secondly you have taken the worst faise out of my love of quilting (basting on the floor)! I am converted thanks to your wonderful pictures thankyou so much I shall be getting the MDF and covering them in flannel, I am looking forward to basting my next quilt this way instead of putting it off!! You have made it look so easy and I am sure I shall be able to master this method without any trouble, I may do a smaller quilt unill I get the hang of it.

Gal

Has anyone tried this layout technique but using pins instead of hand basting? Seems like it would work.

AZWendyG- if you don't mind sharing, how much did your boards cost and did you have to cut them yourself from a sheet? I've never bought anything like this before...

(thanks)

I'm so happy that you are finding this info helpful. :thumbup:
I was almost impossible for me to baste a quilt on the floor too, but this process makes basting actually enjoyable for me!

I'm sure you could pin-baste this way as well. I have spray basted (with 505 spray) smaller quilts the same way with great results. It makes it easy to achieve a pucker free basting job without a second person to help.

My MDF boards came from Home Depot pre-cut at 8 feet long and primed, so all I did with this set was staple on the flannel. I have another set for baby quilts that I cut down to 5' lengths, but I know any lumber yard will cut them for you, usually for about 50 cents a cut. These boards were the most inexpensive option I found, but I'm sorry I don't remember the exact cost; I'll check for what they are called and for the price the next time I'm in Home Depot and let you know. If you already have 5/8" plywood or mdf on hand and want to cut your own, you certainly can. Whatever kind of board you use, it is very important that they are extremely straight and even. Otherwise your quilt will get wonky as you roll it up, and then you'd a have a bit of a mess.

By the way, I finished the FMQ on this one and will post pictures as soon as I can.

Gal,

I actually ENJOY basting this way; it's practically pain free (unless I prick my finger with the needle ;) ). It gives me a time to examine my quilt top as I'm basting and start planning how I'll actually quilt it.

If you can find them, be sure to get tables that adjust to counter height. That way you don't have to lean over them and you'll have no back problems with basting either. If you cannot find tables the right height, you can raise them by cutting pieces of pvc pipe to slip over the ends of the legs to raise the tables to a comfortable level.

Me neither! :thumbup:

Your tut is wonderful!! It IS as if we are right there with you!! This is the perfect solution, on so many levels!!!
Thank you!!

I'll go ahead and check it out this weekend. My hubby is not table saw-equipped ( or inclined)*grin* so I always have to factor that into any equation when talking about cutting things.

Your tutorial is excellent. Thank you for the answers and can't wait to see your lovely quilt completed.

Aswendyg, thanks so much, you have opened up a whole new way to baste for me, I even feel excited about it, I have a friend who can help me with the wood part. Your method is so valuable to all those who cannot get down on the floor anymore to baste, if I can sit down to baste most of it I shall be laughing, at this stage I am thinking of using the big tables at our church hall, thank you again.

Gal

Update:

I went to Lowe's this weekend and got two 8 ft boards for about $20. Then went to Joann's a bought three yards of flannel for about $11 ( used coupon). I used your tutorial to complete basting on my quilt top and it worked wonderfully. I did use pins though. Wow! Such a huge difference! Thanks again for sharing this method that makes this task less odious.

Had to add my thanks. Basting is the most difficult part of quilting foe me. I cannot wait to try this! Thank you, again, and your quilt is beautiful!

Thanks so much for sharing. You did a great job with the pictures and the instructions. These brought to life what I saw in the SS youtube tutorial. My Dh is ready to get the boards for me. I'll need another table, too. :)

I use the board method also but I use my pins, I can take them out as I quilt.

Great tut! Tks.

Thank you so much! What a useful tute!

Thanks for sharing. Hope to use this method in the near future...

I have used the Sharon method on small quilts. Your tute and pics are much better than hers IMO. Thanks!

I'm presently doing this with a larger quilt. First time for me. I'm finding this easier to do than pinning and being on the floor. And I hate to do any hand stitching. I like the idea of covering the boards with flannel. Thanks!

Just what I've been looking for! Aren't you the smart one?!!! Thanks so much for sharing your quilt basting method tutorial. I've already sent out for the boards and hope to practice this weekend. Can't wait to see your quilt when it's finished!
Hugs!

I'm going to Lowe's for boards as soon as the snow melts. Thanks for sharing and the precise instructions.

Thank you for showing this method "in depth".

I understand it now!

Umm...those lime cheesecake bars look good....recipe??? please???

I am sitting here, just thrilled, because I hate sandwiching SO MUCH! Crawling around on the floor makes my knees hurt, my back hurt, and my hamstrings cramp. Have you ever had a hamstring cramp? Trust me-it hurts.
I already have two of the same tables from Sam's-adjustable! I already have flannel! All I need is wood from Lowe's which is 5 minutes away!
And right now I'm working on a queen sized quilt that I was REALLY dreading finishing cause then I'd have to sandwich it. Now I don't have to dread that part anymore!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!

I have to go to Home Depot next time DH goes. Neat tute, thanks!

I used my warm and natural scraps to cover the boards and it worked fine.

Today was the first time of using this method and I have to say I am actually looking forward to basting the next one! So much easier than using the floor. Thanks for posting this tutorial!

Thank you for your great tutorial. Also thank you for giving us the info on Sharon Schamber's tute. I'm going to have to make a trip to Sams, Lowe's and Hancock's to get set up. Any more I can't get down on the floor to sandwich a quilt (have problems getting up). You're a life-saver and I appreciate the time and pictures to give us this very useful tutorial. I love your quilt, too. You'll have to give us pics when you're finished.

I'm THRILLED that so many of you are finding this info helpful! I know I hated trying to sandwich a quilt on the floor and this method really makes basting an enjoyable part of the process. :)

I've had this quilt done for awhile now (using it every evening on the sofa) and need to get it outside during the daytime so I can take some pictures of it to post...maybe this weekend.

This is a great tute. Very helpful. Now, since I am new at quilting my own quilt, once you get the quilt basted, you take it off the boards, right? and how do you handle it to quilt it on your machine? Also, you quilt from the middle out to the edges, don't you? Thanks!