Once I switched to using my cutting table to sandwich and using 505 I found that I really don't mind.

Rob

Patricia, thanks for mentioning Sharon Schamber. I looked her up on YouTube and learned something new. She said you could use her technique with any size quilt. I don't think I could lift the boards on a large quilt. She said the boards need to be larger than the backing. I might try it on a smaller quilt in the future.

I don't mind at all since I switched to Elmers washable school glue. Goes very fast and I've never had a ripple to worry about.

It's amazing to me how many frame quilters, myself included, made the switch because we hated basting the quilt sandwich.

Hi Lisa, The boards are not really that heavy, even after you've rolled up the top or the backing. My boards are: 2.5 in. x 3/4 in. x 8 ft. long. I work on a makeshift table in the basement. It consists of two sheets of plywood taped together and supported by saw horses. After the top is rolled up, I sort of push it to the back of the table,I don't actually lift it. Then I work on the backing. When both boards are rolled up, I position them in place without actually lifting them completely off the table.

Your idea of trying the method on a smaller quilt is a good one. I'm sure you'll like it.

I love everything about quilting. I sandwiched two small quilts today. I sometimes make two and quilt them one after another. I will totally finish these two before I start any more. Donating these quilts and more to kids that must be removed from their homes.

I used to pin baste my quilt sandwiches & having a really painful back, it was not fun! I'm always looking for ways to make things easier. Now that I've found June Taylor spray baste which I can use in the same room as my bird without any problems, & I've learned to use a long cardboard tube from a roll of poly batting to roll the layers slowly as I spray the fabrics/batting, it's now a quick & simple project & I don't dread it any more. I sandwich it, let it dry over night and quilt without a problem. No dodging pins, it stays together even when I squabble it up to push it through the machine as I'm quilting & now I love everything about quilting!! :-)

I always believed that I "HATED" making the sandwich so I have TONS of unquilted tops in a pile. Recently I came to terms with my fear of Free-motion Quilting and I am now doing much better in the quilting department. As soon as I overcame that fear, I was just rearing to get going and to do so I needed a sandwich. I had that puppy basted in no time flat. Turns out that I was using the dislike of making the sandwich as an excuse to keep me from quilting.

That is why I ended up with a longarm.

It's not my favorite part of the quilting process, but I know I'm almost there when it comes to sandwich...I love the feeling of finishing a quilt.