Val, making the quilt sandwich is my most dreaded part of the quilt-making process. I have done it on the floor and can't anymore. Instead of spending a lot of money on a frame, you might want to consider doing what I do - I have one of those banquet tables - you can get them pretty cheap. I put the back down and mark the center on each side, then I use clamps to hold it to the table taught. Then I put the batting down, smooth it out and center it and transfer the clamps to that. Then finally I get the top down, centered, smoothed and clamped. Then I pin baste it from the center out, (while leaving it clamped in place), and then when I have to baste the parts on the sides that overhang the table sides, I unclamp it, pull it over to clamp and pin one side, then do the opposite side. I use it also as a cutting table and it holds my machine when I'm sewing, too. It's a lot easier by far than scooting around on the floor. I just think that a quilt frame would be in the way - (they are a chore to put together) and they are expensive. If you were going to use it to also hand-quilt then I would say yes, it's worth it - think that's a possibility??

My 81 year old knees would appreciate some other way to baste. I just finished another one on the kitchen floor.
I really don't have room for tables. My sister does hers on her bed but I don't even have a large enough bed.
Ah me!
Theresa

I highly recommend Sharon Schamber's method. I used it for a king sized quilt recently, and it worked very well for me.

It is essentially the same as using a quilt frame, and all you have to store is two long 1" x 4" boards. I was able to put two long tables together for king-sized, but otherwise, most dining tables would work.

Basically, you wrap your quilt back neatly onto a 1x4 board, wrap the quilt front onto another 1x4 board. Unroll a section the quilt back onto your table leaving the wrapped board at the "back" of the table. The weight of the board keeps the backing smooth and straight for you. Align the batting at the front of the backing and along the sides, leaving it hanging over the board and back of the table. Then align and unroll a section of the quilt top, smoothing it onto the batting and setting the wrapped board onto the board with the backing.

Now you can sit in front of the table and comfortably baste the exposed, sandwiched section of quilt. Sharon stitch bastes, but I'm sure you could also pin baste if you prefer. I just slid my largest cutting mat underneath the section of sandwich I was basting to protect the table top.

As each section is basted, you just pull it forward to hang down the front of the table, pull the batting over to the front so you can now unroll another section of the bottom/backing, smooth the batting over the backing and hang it over the back again, then unroll and smooth the next quilt top section.

Continue until the entire top is basted.

Check out her video. I highly recommend this method.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sharon Schamber basting a quilt

A quilt frame is awfully big and expensive to use only for basting, IMO. They are almost as personal as a sewing machine, too.

You would have to consider space allowances, if you wanted to use a machine on it, then which one, ease of loading all the layers.... I think if you truly wanted to do it, then you should find different possibilities and 'try them out' just as if you were buying a machine.

Have you tried googling basting alternatives and see what comes up? Maybe there's some little heard of fantastic way to baste!

I pin basted a quilt on Saturday at my Quilt In.... haven't done that in years and it was absolutely NO FUN!! I totally get where you're coming from!

Thank you Empress for posting that Sharon Schamber video. Have you used that method for a large quilt?

Thank you all for your suggestions. I have seen Sharon Schamber's video before..I even posted a question about it..perhaps a year ago...thanks for the reminder! It's time to revisit that as an option.
Rita.. I'm with you, I would have more finished quilts vs. finished tops if I didn't dread the sandwiching. You are right about the banquet tables...pretty cheap at Walmart...that's an option.
I have four plus tops I want to do... I think I'll give each method suggested a go and try to find a happy solution for me!
V.

I use to use the driveway for very large quilts, but the last time, quilt layers were blown about by the wind... and the wind blew every day for weeks. While I would dearly love to have a frame, and they are easy to make, I just don't have the space to set one up. Although I did consider using the LR, DH objected to not being able to watch TV

I went to my local box store and purchased 2 folding tables, each 2'x4'. The tables are just light enough to be easy to carry (they have handles -very necessary), adjustable-height legs, and are very sturdy. Folded, they slide easily under the bed. Set up end to end gives me 2'x8', just enough spread the layers flat. I plan to get two more so I will have a working area of 4'x8' which means I can layer almost half the quilt at once. I used blue tape to fasten the backing to the table (no clamps handy but I think they are a good idea). The only problem I ran into was the weight of the excess fabric tried to pull the quilt off the table; the tape helped and using a couple chairs to support the overhang took care of the pulling.

Yes, mlweaving_Marji, I used Sharon Schamber's method for a king sized quilt the very first time, and it worked like a dream!

When my knees and back rebelled, I started using Patsy Thompson's method of sandwiching a quilt on the wall. I got posters at the dollar store; tacked them to the wall, and used that wall as a combination design wall and sandwiching wall. I could spray baste (and pin) a full-sized quilt in less than a hour. I have a long-arm now, but still use that wall as a design wall.

Here is a link that might be useful: Spray Basting Quilt on Wall

Wanda, I have been trying to figure out a way to use her method, without having to permanently attach something to the wall. How are you using poster board? Are you pinning through it? Etc. Etc. Etc.
I have been thinking of hanging an old sheet or flannel blanket and pinning the backing from that and then follow the rest of her method by spraying.
I may get desperate enough to,try it.
Theresa

I used finishing nails to put the poster boards on the walls. There are removable adhesive products that would probably work just as well (my wall is in my quilt studio, so it's not a "visitor" area where I would worry about tiny holes in the wall). I just use pins to adhere the fabric. My original plan was to put flannel over the boards; however, because I pinned the layers after basting, it's easier to deal with the boards without the flannel.