kimv44

THANKS TO ALL!!! : ]

I knew there was a good reason to join this message board!!!

Just like Underdog and his alter ego Shoe Shine Boy.. I too have an alter ego... by day I work as a software engineer and by night, I quilt... If any of you know or have an engineer in your family you know it is sometimes hard for us to stray from the textbook instructions...

I am a self taught quilter and I really don't have any friends who quilt, except for all of you : ).. so if it doesn't exist in the old Singer Quilting Bible.. I pretty much have no clue that it is out there.. I am thrilled to research and try the methods you ladies have suggested!!

Thank you all for your advise!!
K

vintagemotif

I love her method! I no longer pin baste, which I dislike doing.
I no longer spray baste, since I didn't like the chemicals.
This method works!

katier825

Spray Baste is the way to go! I don't have a problem with the smell or overspray. I do spray in a grid pattern, not every square inch. When I get to the edges, I position the spray going towards the center of the quilt. I have not hand basted since discovering spray baste. Love it!

redmadder

I used 1 X 4 lumber and C clamps for many years. I glued pieces of cardboard in layers and made a light weight surface for basting once getting on the floor hurt too much. Can you tell I'm a DIY kind of gal?

Anyway, what worked the best was putting tables together and taping the backing down. A thin piece of poster board slid under where I was working protected the tables from pins. Can't use the sprays.

NJ Quilter

I use the large, black binder clips when I sandwich. I use my craft table and have done up to king size quilts this way. I smooth out the backing (wrong side up) and clamp it to the table. Lay out the batting and smooth. Then clamp that into place using the same clamps as for the bottom. Then the top with the same process. I might get an occasional pucker but for the most part everything is smooth when I am done. Once I have the center portion of the quilt pinned I undo the clamps and move everything to the next section and repeat the process until complete. Can be a bit tedious on a king with the size of the table but it works in the small space I have.

Millstream Mom

I use Sharon's method. Old knees, 2 'helpful' dogs, dust bunnies and dog hair convinced me that there had to be an easier way! Yes it does take longer than spray basting - but like others on the board, I have breathing problems that are triggered by some aerosols. I like the fact that I can sit in my office chair and just keep scootching sideways and baste away at the dining room table! And I know when I'm done that that baby isn't going to shift at all!

Yarn or Fabric

That video was really cool. I am going to try that out. I think I'll be heading in to town to get the thread and going to check out the lumber store for finished painted boards pretty soon... very interesting.

neeng

As long as the windows are open, fumes are fairly minimal. I've had a little overspray but it cleans up with any soap and water or whatever cleaner you use. (I take that as a hint that my floor needs cleaned anyways......).

TwinRiverFarm

I have used Sharon's method for quite a while now, love it! I can use up old threads and garage sale threads for the basting, and I snatched lightweight basswood boards from DH's wood stash. Try threading 6 or more needles at once to speed the process up.

PaperPrincess

Patsy Thompson also has some free videos on spray basting

http://www.patsythompsondesigns.com/free-video/