Longarm Quilter wants to learn how to use stencils and rulers
 

Good morning everyone ! I am fairly new to the longarm world and I am learning my freehand ability is not what I wish for. Any suggestions from any of you and how to get started learning to use rulers or stencils to fill in areas and the best place to find them??? I sure appreciate any help ! Thank you !

Welcome from Minnesota and happy quilting :)
sorry, no special advice

Welcome from NE Ohio.

Thank you Thumbelina from Texas !

Hi from Ohio. Sorry I can't help with your question/problem because I use pantographs.

:) welcome from se TX -- sorry, I handquilt

I find just quilting more quilts helps you tend to get better with every one. I try to use a different design every time.

Hello and welcome from northern California!

I highly recommend that you purchase the Longarm Academy videos from Handi Quilter. They are full of everything that you need to know using templates, stencils, marking tools, groovy boards, pantographs. Its like having a teacher right along side you!

I understand completely about not being able to freehand what is in my mind. My allover flowers, leaves, hearts, and dragonflies aren't too bad. I've even done feathers and free-hand fans -- although I don't want anyone looking too close. Two summers ago I attempted to do continuous curves -- that curve from the intersection of the pieces out to 1/4" and then back to the next intersection -- and knew I had to rip it all out. Even my husband agreed and he is less critical than I am of my quilting. At that point, I knew that pulling out the templates even though I had never used them was going to be better -- and it was. But boy does it slow me down.

I don't own a long arm, but rent time in one of two different locations. One of the shops I think offers classes in the use of templates, although I have only taken the orientation class so I could rent the machine. I've bought templates at quilt shows -- Machine Quilters Showcase primarily, but I've seen them at other big shows -- typically anywhere where you can buy a long arm.

As for on-line resources, the two that come to mind first are Quilters Rule at http://quiltersrule.com/ and The Gadget Girls at http://www.thegadgetgirls.com/

As for how to use them, my "education" was watching the demonstrations at the shows, then coming home and drawing on paper with them. I've never looked for any videos, but I'm sure there are DVDs available and possibly even videos on YouTube.... I guess now I need to go look.

Good luck.