How do you layer the 3 peices for pinning to top stitch the quilt?

Can everyone share their way of layering the quilt for top stitching? My problem is that I lay the back down, the batting on top of that and the quilt top on top of that and starting at the bottom and one side, i start smoothing it all out and pinning and no matter how I do it...the back always puckers and folds and is uneven. I turn it over, and end up taking out the pins and smoothing it out again, and then the bottom half and still...turn it over and pin and that confounded back puckers again.

So, can y'all share your tricks of the trade on how you layer the quilt for pinning to do the top stitching and keep the back flat and smooth? I have heard about the spray glue, but there's no way my husband will let me spray that in the house, and I have no place outside I can move to. I have the large and smaller safety pins and they work great...if only I can make the back stay flat and smooth.

I also have only my large kitchen table to work on and the top is to thick to use those clip things to hold the backing to it. I have bad knees that prohibit me from working on the floor. This is the part I hate most about quilting!!!

Thanks for any suggestions!!!

Wow Cheri I was going to recommend the spray but if you can't do that let me think. Are you using the quilting safety pins? And it always good if you start pinning from the middle that works for me when I don't use my spray or the spray does not stick anymore. Also basting first might help to hold things down, you can either machine or hand baste. Let me know what you think. Mahalo

spray when he is out! I just open widows and doors and go for it. Has never taken me more than 15 minutes........lay it all out, peel back half, spray a layer flip the wadding back over and smooth, spray that and smooth the other layer on. Walk round the table and repeat. The stuff is safe enough as long as your dont sniff it like glue (not that I ever have sniffed glue..... smoked pot in my mis spent youth but never sniffed )..........er.......maybe I should backspace half a line there!

If you are worried about the odor of spray basting, use 505 spray. It is odorless. (but you still should use it with the windows open!)

Clamp (or tape) your backing to your work surface to keep it straight before putting the batting and quilt top on. This will hold your backing straight and keep it from getting wrinkled as you are adding the other layers.

I second taping the backing to the work surface. I am taking a beginner class and that was what we did (we just used masking tape). The instructor said to be generous with the tape and smooth it carefully.

I agree with Karen. I usually clip ( I use carpenter's wood clamps from the hardware store). But the last quilt I did was too small to reach the edges of my table, so I taped each layer down. Nary a tuck underneath. I also start from the middle and work outward with my pinning. I have never sprayed to keep them together so have no advice about that.

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Originally Posted by AlohaSandy

Wow Cheri I was going to recommend the spray but if you can't do that let me think. Are you using the quilting safety pins? And it always good if you start pinning from the middle that works for me when I don't use my spray or the spray does not stick anymore. Also basting first might help to hold things down, you can either machine or hand baste. Let me know what you think. Mahalo

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AlohaSandy - yes, I do start in the middle and use the quilt safety pins and work my way out. I start lining up at the lower left corner and pin the bottom, then start smoothing it all out and then start pinning center out. I have used needle basting and love that technique too but the pins work..I just don't have enough pins (ordered more today!) Today I did that, turned itover and the back was all puckered. I unpinned the bottom half, then turned it over and started over, then repeated that ont he top half and still...puckers. Granted, every time I do it over, the pucker gets less and less but good grief I spent 2 hours this morning on it and just now have it at least okay. Surely there is a better way! I must be doing something wrong!

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Originally Posted by Divine Daisy

spray when he is out! I just open widows and doors and go for it. Has never taken me more than 15 minutes........lay it all out, peel back half, spray a layer flip the wadding back over and smooth, spray that and smooth the other layer on. Walk round the table and repeat. The stuff is safe enough as long as your dont sniff it like glue (not that I ever have sniffed glue..... smoked pot in my mis spent youth but never sniffed )..........er.......maybe I should backspace half a line there!

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Trust me...he'd know!!!!

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Originally Posted by K. McEuen

Clamp (or tape) your backing to your work surface to keep it straight before putting the batting and quilt top on. This will hold your backing straight and keep it from getting wrinkled as you are adding the other layers.

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The clamps won't fit on my table...the table top is to thick..it has a side-facing thing on it...about 5" wide.

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Originally Posted by Jean Sewing Machine

I agree with Karen. I usually clip ( I use carpenter's wood clamps from the hardware store). But the last quilt I did was too small to reach the edges of my table, so I taped each layer down. Nary a tuck underneath. I also start from the middle and work outward with my pinning. I have never sprayed to keep them together so have no advice about that.

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Only table I have to use is my kitchen table and that is a nicely finished wood surface that I can't tape on and it is to thick a top to use the clamps. I know.. I'm the poster child for quilting problems!!!

Here is pictures of how I pin the layers together to get the problem I discribe above. Am I doing this right? I will STID and then do some stippling/meandering in the larger areas. Center sqs are 10x10 and the smaller sqs are 4x4: and the sashing is 2"

You know, I have nothing but sympathy and a whole lot of empathy for Cheri. That's one of my major problems and it is so very, very frustrating. And I have a HUGE table to work on, too. Maybe it is just spray, spray, spray . . . anyone ever use Super Glue?

Cheri I don't think you will damage the wood of your kitchen table if you use blue painters tape or that new green frog tape. It is designed to easily release and not leave any residue behind. I have used my hardwood floors for taping my quilt backs to and it works great, but now I am using 505 Spray and Fix exclusively for sandwiching my quilts. Since you can't use the spray or get on the floor, I think the painters tape on your kitchen table is your best option. If you are really worried about the tape, just take a small piece and test it on a small area of your table.

Also make sure your quilt back and batting is at least 2-3 inches longer on each side than your top. You need that extra backing to get everything positioned correctly and so you can easily quilt to the edges of the top.

Attachment 18489

I saw someone on line use a card table with a large board on it and then she used the binder clips to clip it on.

Cheri I have had that happen to me also and yes it is extremely fustrating it just never seems to stop with the puckering. I see that someone recommend the 505 spray odorless that seems to be ok or you can always try to do it when he leaves lol, he will never know if it is odorless. What kind of batting are you using maybe it is that the cheaper ones don't seem lay in place really well and also bunch up a little I use the Warm and Natural it is a little more but it is really nice. Let me know how you are doing ok.

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Originally Posted by ShirleyPickett

I saw someone on line use a card table with a large board on it and then she used the binder clips to clip it on.

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I saw that too, it was a YouTube video about making the quilt sandwich. Very clever!

Is it possible that your pins are too close together and the back is puckering as you pin? I saw a video a while back about it and the girl was explaining that your pins should be a fist size apart from each other (sideways, top ways and diagonal).

When I use to pin, my table is also to large for the reg. clips. I had several vise grips in the garage so I started using them on the dining room table and it didn't hurt it at all.

This method might work better for you. I haven't tried it but thought it was a good alternative to pins. I use spray basting and get the beat results from 505 spray.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhwNy...e_gdata_player

This is part 1 of the video, just click on part 2 at the end.

i use Sharon Schamber's method, rolling backing/batting on one board, top on another. Then I hand baste(I hate basting but this is worth it). I don't get tucks or puckering.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhwNylePFAA

Here is the table I use:

http://www.allbrands.com/products/abp03782-0313.html

Is there a quilt shop, library, or recreation center you could go to and use their tables to layer your quilt? That's what I try to do when I have quilts to layer. I tape the backing down on the table. Then I fold the batting in quarters, putting the fold down at the middle of the backing. Unfold the batting and smooth it out gently. The quilt top is folded in the same manner, and I put it down on the batting. I start pinning in the middle and pin down the center and across the center. I then start working out in the quarters of the quilt that aren't pinned yet. I don't put as many pins as you have in yours, and I don't close the pins until all the pins are in place. I haven't had a problem with puckers (yet!). I hope that helps. I've never used the spray for basting, but I have some. Gotta use those coupons for something, you know!!!

Taping the back down is a great idea. Always start pinning from the middle, smoothing the top as you go. With the back taped securely you should not have to worry about the back slipping. Pin, pin, pin about every 5-6 inches. Sounds like a lot but very worth it. Since I only hand quilt with a hoop it is easy for me to keep the back smooth as I go. Good luck, and happy quilting.

You are funny!!! HAHA

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Originally Posted by coffeebreak

Trust me...he'd know!!!!

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I use painter's blue masking tape and tape the back face down to a large surface and make sure all wrinkles are out. Then I put down ironed batting (ironing get those wrinkles out too from the folds) and tape it down too. Then I put on the quilt top (face up) and smooth it all out. I start pinning from the middle and work my way out.

I saw a YouTube video where someone used a card table and set a large piece of plywood on it. She laid her back quilt layer and clamped it with office clamps to pull it taut. She layered the batting and top, then pinned. I thought the plywood was a good idea since the clamps were easy to clip onto it. By the way, she kept the plywood under her carpet when it wasn't being used.