I have an interesting conundrum at the moment. I’m loving my new basting area (apologies for crappy instagram pic)
It’s a good size to get up to about 84″ x 90″ without having to fold bits over and wrestle it around like I had to on my 70″ square kitchen floor area.
My only problem is that the flooring up there is the sealed hardboard kind, and I’m struggling to find the best thing to stick my backing down with to keep it taught. Magic tape and masking tape will hold it down okay, but any movement on top starts unsticking it again (I’ve tried one quilt with each now) On the kitchen floor I would use parcel tape, which worked brilliantly but leaves a sticky residue, which I can remove from the lino, but I imagine would not come off the hardboard.
So my 2 options seem to be this:
1. Find the perfect tape that has strength and endurance and no residue
2. Get some cheap lino and lay it up there for basting on
Any thoughts? Do have a solution on the perfect tape front? That just sounds like far less hassle than laying lino ;o)
Thumbtacks?
Nope, no idea, but good like finding it, maybe it's like finding the perfect man…..
*doesn't exist!
*luck*
Do you guys have painters tape? Its that blue/green stuff? I've never used it on that kind of surface, but maybe?!
Use weights/ dumbbells instead of tape?
Nope, no suggestions. Just slight envy that you have a space like that! Juliex
Cheap flooring is the way to go! I got mine in the homebase sale and it wasn't too painful on the bank account, laying it however was totally painful on my knees 🙁
I agree with Hannah. Weights might be the way to go. Is this your new re-finished loft space? 🙂
Pound land adhesive tiles?
If you can't find the right tape then some cheap lino would do the trick. Considering how many quilts you'll be basting it's worth the investment.
I sometimes use weights when I run out of tape. You could just make a handy little stack of them in the corner?
Cheap lino is your best option me thinks! Jxo
oh Kelly's idea of adhesive tiles might be an easy way of getting the flooring done.
I use painters tape too, as someone above suggested. I'm not sure it would work differently than what you have tried. I like the weights suggestion or the stick on tiles.
I use painters tape too – it works well on the polished wooden floors I usually baste on. Might be worth a try as a fairly low cost investment before you try laying a cheap lino floor. It might also be good for basting on the lino, because it shouldn't leave any sticky residue. I use the wider 3M brand stuff – I've tried cheaper brands but they just don't stick well. Good luck!
I use painter's tape. Can you add a window up there and a nice floor and call it a study?
I don't use tape, sorry – not needed for spray basting, but kind of think 200 degree heat and spray glue could have a horrible 999 outcome!
Looks like a great space Katy. I've no experience with tape but I think that you're going to need some cheap flooring
I will do some tape experimentation. Or better still conduct a survey of colleagues as they wander into the office. Duct tape is strong but I reckon it'll leave residue – including on your fabric! What about electrical tape? That doesn't leave any residue and is quite strong.
Or you could lay extra heavy polythene like damp proof membrane – duct tape that down and work from that?
I am with Leanne, painters tape always works for me. I think you may like it better with flooring, hard wood? Can you put a window in!? That would be awesome 🙂
Just try gaffa tape in a little corner to see if it leaves a mark.
Get a big ole tin of ronseal and varnish the floor a couple of layers, that should allow you to pull up the tape easily. 🙂
Massive heavy cans on the quilt back? I know someone who does that and swears by it?
ha ha, i can't help with batting but you're the only person i know who has had work done on their loft then left the floor clear!
I use packing tape, but I lay it perpendicular to the edge of the quilt rather than parallel (so the tape pulls the quilt out, rather than just keeping it in place. I don't know if that will help, but I baste on carpet FWIW and it seems more stable that way – less shifting and unsticking.
What about those self-adhesive tiles that are about 12 inches square? That might be reasonable and quick.