How to Build a Table Top Quilting Frame

A quilting frame works like this embroidery hoop, but on a larger scale.

A quilting frame stabilizes the three main components of a quilt -- backing, batting and top -- during the process of tying or quilting the quilt. It also allows you to hand or machine stitch your quilted pieces together, to make sure that you correctly line up the backing with the batting and top, and to keep those pieces from sliding around during assembly. Build a tabletop quilting frame to perform these functions at a reasonable price.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Table
• 1-by-4-inch wood boards, 4 each
• Saw
• Sandpaper
• C-clamps, 4 each

Instructions

1. Measure the top of your quilting table to determine the basic dimensions of your quilt frame. Call the width of your quilting tabletop measurement A, and the length of your quilting tabletop measurement B.

2. Use a saw, such as a 15-inch to 20-inch hand saw, to cut two 1-by-4-inch hardwood boards to match measurement A, and two to match measurement B. Simply measure the board to the desired length and saw straight across, parallel to the short edge.

3. 

   Sanding the boards will keep them smooth and prevent snags and splinters.

   Smooth down the cut ends, tops and sides of all of the wooden boards using all-purpose, medium-grit sandpaper. You can purchase this type of sandpaper in a multi-use pack of square sheets. This will prevent the boards from snagging the quilt fabric.

4. Line up the two long boards along the long edges of your table, laying them flat. Place the two shorter boards (also flat) at either end, overlapping on top of the long boards at the corners.

5. 

   Use a clamp like this to hold the boards to the table at the corners.

   Use C-clamps to attach the boards together at the corners and to hold them onto the table. The clamps should hook under the table and above the top board and hold tightly to keep the arrangement together, so when you purchase the clamps make sure they open wide enough to enclose the depth of your tabletop plus the extra 2 inches of the board widths.

Tips & Warnings

• When you use the quilt frame, hold the quilt fabric to the frame using thumb tacks.

• If your quilt is smaller than the dimensions of your table, simply move the wooden boards inward accordingly and use the C-clamps to tighten the frame to the table at the edges.

• Use only hardwood boards; other types of inexpensive boards may split under the pressure of the clamps and the tacks.

References

• Mother Earth News: How to Make Tied Quilts and Homemade Quilting Frames
• Threads Magazine: Quilt it Freehand