Mkotch

A friend uses a fold up plastic table on risers and clamps the sandwich down at one end to hold it tight.

I use a double bed in our guest room, pinning the backing to the quilt underneath it to keep it taut and scooting a couple of old cutting mats underneath for pinning. This isn't great for the back, but I can leave it and come back later. I also quilt bigger quilts in sections so I don't have to sandwich a giant quilt all at once.

Lee in Richmond

My husband smoothed the edges of a 4x8 sheet of plywood, which we put (on top of a cloth to protect) on the dining room table. In between uses, it slips behind the china cabinet. He also put some pieces of 2x4 together to raise the table legs about 4" higher, to save my back. Then I use painter's tape to tape down the backing, and go on to pin and baste.

klswift

For years and years I did not have a place for a big enough table to sandwich a quilt and , if I went down on the florr to do it, I would not be able to get back up! But, I did have a big tall bed - hhmmm. I purchased 2 pieces of very inexpensive wall paneling (thin and lightweight) and had them cut it to 6 foot. I store them under the bed and just slide them out when needed. This gave me a firm surface to open up my cardboard cutting board and now I had a large firm spot to sandwich on. Added bonus was that I would clip 2 corners to the paneling to hold it firm. (It was also a great spot to cut out clothing patterns without worry of cutting thru to the bedspread!)

Ellen 1

Contact your local quilt shop and ask if you can come in and use their classroom tables. I did that when I first started quilting. They were happy to let me use the tables.

madamekelly

I do this by putting several layers of towels on my diningroom table (old and battered oak) and then spread my backing face down on top of that, pin and tape securely around legs so I can start in the center. I apply Elmer’s school glue swizzles in about a four inch grid. Carefully lay batting center on quilt center and smooth to the edges. Swizzle glue again on top of batting, and apply center of top over batting. Smooth carefully, then with a hot dry iron (and a sacrificial cloth, which is just a large scrap of light colored fabric that will get glue on it through the quilt, but I wash and reuse it, so if is not wasting fabric). I press the glue to dry it. I let the whole thing sit for at least an hour or more. While it is drying, I pin around the perimeter of the table to secure the glued area. With a helper, I flip the whole thing over and press from the back, and then I am ready to smooth and glue another area. Works great, and no tucks in the backing. Much easier on my poor arthritic knees.

themadpatter

Can you clamp a 1" x 2" x length of the table to the table where the edge of the quilt falls? Then you can use push pins to anchor yhe quilt to the board.

And QuiltE, bed risers!!! OMG i have a set DH didn't wantbto use for the bed and I was looking at buying new used furniture for my quilting room but it was too low. You. Are. Brilliant!!

Stitchnripper

ive learned that if I pull the backing too taut it relaxes when released and causes wrinkling.

vschieve

I sandwich my quilts, usually queen size, at my mother's nursing home, lol! TV rooms, on the floor, or conference room, big conference table.

tuckyquilter

You can roll the quilts on boards and spray baste on a patio table. I no longer pin as they are a major hassle. I use Sharon Schamber's board method but spray instead of thread or pin basting. The 505 Spray Baste is the best - and ONLY one I use after a horrible experience with other brands.

Sharon Schamber has a youtube channel with a great tutorial on the board method- but she does the thread. Using her method allows me to spray my large quilts without another person having to help me.

I learned this from Patricia Drew, right here on the board.

kwajgirl

I go to my church and put 2 or 3 8 foot tables together and use them. Most have the long 8 foot, or at least 6 foot, tables and they are great. If they are the older ones you can use clips on the edge. The newer, lighter ones have deep sides so I use blue tape to hold the backing secure.