Quilting table and method of using same

Abstract

A quilting table includes a rotatable and height adjustable tabletop supported by an elongate leg assembly mounted on a base section. A plurality of clamping members can be releasably attached to the tabletop. The quilting table can be used in a method of making a quilt, in which multiple layers of material are positioned on the tabletop, the user sews the layers of material in a substantially straight line, rotates the tabletop to alter the position of the layers of material, and resumes sewing in a substantially straight line.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A quilting kit comprising:
 (a) a table comprising a rotatable tabletop supported by an elongate leg assembly mounted on a base section; and   (b) a plurality of clamping members adapted for releasable attachment on the tabletop.   
     
     
         2 . The quilting kit according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of clamping members comprises first and second spring-biased hand clamps. 
     
     
         3 . The quilting kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the leg assembly defines a leg assembly length and the tabletop has a height that is at least partially defined by the leg assembly length, and further wherein the leg assembly length is adjustable whereby increasing the leg assembly length elevates the height of the tabletop and decreasing the leg assembly length lowers the height of the tabletop. 
     
     
         4 . The quilting kit according to  claim 3 , wherein the leg assembly comprises a lower member, an upper member, a biasing mechanism, and a lever, the lower member having a first end received in an opening of the base section and a second end telescopically received in the upper member, the biasing mechanism operatively connected to the biasing mechanism whereby pulling the lever upwardly with no weight applied to the tabletop elevates the upper member and the tabletop. 
     
     
         5 . The quilting kit according to  claim 4 , wherein pulling the lever upwardly while applying weight to the tabletop moves the upper member and the tabletop downward. 
     
     
         6 . The quilting kit according to  claim 4 , wherein the biasing mechanism comprises at least one from the group consisting of a gas spring, a hydraulic spring, and a mechanical spring. 
     
     
         7 . The quilting kit according to  claim 3 , wherein the tabletop is mounted on a lazy susan, the lazy susan mounted on an upper end of the leg assembly, the tabletop rotatable clockwise and counterclockwise. 
     
     
         8 . The quilting kit according to  claim 7 , wherein the tabletop is substantially circular. 
     
     
         9 . The quilting kit according to  claim 8 , wherein the tabletop has a diameter of twenty-four to thirty inches. 
     
     
         10 . A table apparatus comprising:
 (a) a base section;   (b) a leg assembly having an upper end and a lower end opposite the upper end, the lower end of the leg assembly mounted on the base section, the leg assembly extending upwardly from the base section and defining a vertical axis;   (c) a tabletop attached to a rotating mechanism mounted on the upper end of the leg assembly, the rotating mechanism adapted for rotation about the vertical axis of the leg assembly whereby the tabletop is rotatable about the vertical axis of the leg assembly; and   (d) wherein the leg assembly defines a leg assembly length and the tabletop has a height that is at least partially defined by the leg assembly length, and further wherein the leg assembly length is adjustable whereby increasing the leg assembly length elevates the height of the tabletop and decreasing the leg assembly length lowers the height of the tabletop.   
     
     
         11 . The table apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the rotating mechanism comprises a lazy susan, and the tabletop is rotatable three hundred sixty degrees clockwise and counterclockwise. 
     
     
         12 . The table apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the tabletop is substantially circular and has a diameter of twenty five inches. 
     
     
         13 . The table apparatus according  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of clamping members attached to the tabletop. 
     
     
         14 . The table apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of clamping members comprise first and second spring-biased clamps. 
     
     
         15 . A method of making a quilt comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a table apparatus comprising a tabletop mounted on a leg assembly mounted on a base section, wherein the tabletop is rotatable about a vertical axis defined by the leg assembly;   (b) providing a plurality of layers of material;   (c) positioning the plurality of layers of material on the tabletop;   (d) releasably attaching the plurality of layers of material to the tabletop;   (e) providing a sewing needle and thread attached to the sewing needle;   (f) sewing the plurality of layers of material together in a substantially straight line to form a first line of stitches extending in a first direction;   (g) rotating the tabletop; and   (h) sewing the plurality of layers of material together in a substantially straight line to form a second line of stiches extending in a second direction that is different from the first direction.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the step of releasably attaching the plurality of layers of material to the tabletop comprises clamping the plurality of layers of material to the tabletop with a plurality of hand clamps. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of layers of material comprise a top fabric layer, a middle insulating layer and a base fabric layer. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the tabletop is mounted on a lazy susan, and the lazy susan is mounted on an upper end of the leg assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein a height of the tabletop is adjustable, and further comprising the step of adjusting the height of the tabletop. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the leg assembly comprises a lower member, an upper member, a biasing mechanism, and a lever, the lower member having a first end received in an opening of the base section and a second end telescopically received in the upper member, the biasing mechanism operatively connected to the lever whereby pulling the lever upwardly with no weight applied to the tabletop elevates the upper member and the tabletop and pulling the lever while applying weight to the table top lowers the upper member and the tabletop.