Long Arm Question
#21
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Finger Lakes, NY
Posts: 1,873
I just bought the Leader Grips at an AQS show last week and haven't even used them yet. I had never seen them before so I asked at the HQ booth (I have and HQ Avante) and everyone raved about them. They came highly recommended.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smAAa4MyKOA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smAAa4MyKOA
#26
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Winchester, VA
Posts: 1,552
I have been longarming for just over 15 years and still like pinning the backing to the leaders, basting the batting and quilt top to the backing, and attaching the lower portion of the quilt top with pins to the leader. My leaders are a heavy canvas to at first my fingers did get a little sore, but now that the leaders have softened up the pinning is quick and painless. I order Hobbs batting at wholesale prices directly from Waco, TX. I purchase thread and patterns from Linda's Electric Quilting, The Quilted Rose, Dallas Threads, Kingsmen Quilting, Sewthankful, Urban Elementz,Nustyle Quilting, Golden Threads and some others I can't recall at the moment.
Wishing you the best of the best of this great hobby and/or business!!
Wishing you the best of the best of this great hobby and/or business!!
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 368
I pin with T-pins. I got my leaders from Nancy's Notions and they have a ruled grid on them. I take time to measure all three pieces of my quilt sandwich and am careful to get all the middles lined up when I pin. It is awkward to pin at first, but am now quite fast. The big T pins really help me esp since they are stronger and don't bend.
#29
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Littlefield, TX, USA
Posts: 1,077
Take your time purchasing gadgets. I started with an old Nustyle machine...green monster, think regulated was not a word that went with quilt machines when momma machine was made, lol.
I learned a lot from that old machine. Folks would ask how I kept the stitches so even...Practice, practice & a bit more practice.
It had a wide base (about 4")...and I got a no-frills ruler (7.00 usd). After a few months, I made myself an extended base from a piece of plexiglass I bought at a hardware store. I also used some of the extra leftover for making a long ruler. I used that to practice cross hatching. I then found the LineTamer from fourpaws quilting & paid about 22.00 for it. I love that ruler, mostly for it's bright green tint. It's an excellent took for stitch in the ditch...you line the center groove over the seam & there is no way to jiggle off line.
Pantos were about the only way to go with the non regulated machines. When I got the new machine (TL18LS)...I learned to use stitch regulation...and now go between both regulated & non regulated.
I've made an extended base for this machine also (about $13.00). I now have other rulers and templates. I added a Qbot V3 & that has eliminated the need for pantos.
When lining up pantos, I would put the needle where I wanted the next row of stitches to start stitching..roll the quilt & then adjust the stylus (later a laser light) so it was at the start of the panto...and that worked well for me.
Find what works for you. There are some great videos on youtube... Sharon Schamber; Jamie Wallen are two very helpful quilters. Also, find those for your machine and view those...I used to just search youtube for quilting or long arm quilting....and tons came up.
I learned a lot from that old machine. Folks would ask how I kept the stitches so even...Practice, practice & a bit more practice.
It had a wide base (about 4")...and I got a no-frills ruler (7.00 usd). After a few months, I made myself an extended base from a piece of plexiglass I bought at a hardware store. I also used some of the extra leftover for making a long ruler. I used that to practice cross hatching. I then found the LineTamer from fourpaws quilting & paid about 22.00 for it. I love that ruler, mostly for it's bright green tint. It's an excellent took for stitch in the ditch...you line the center groove over the seam & there is no way to jiggle off line.
Pantos were about the only way to go with the non regulated machines. When I got the new machine (TL18LS)...I learned to use stitch regulation...and now go between both regulated & non regulated.
I've made an extended base for this machine also (about $13.00). I now have other rulers and templates. I added a Qbot V3 & that has eliminated the need for pantos.
When lining up pantos, I would put the needle where I wanted the next row of stitches to start stitching..roll the quilt & then adjust the stylus (later a laser light) so it was at the start of the panto...and that worked well for me.
Find what works for you. There are some great videos on youtube... Sharon Schamber; Jamie Wallen are two very helpful quilters. Also, find those for your machine and view those...I used to just search youtube for quilting or long arm quilting....and tons came up.
Thank you everyone for the input; I do not plan on buying much other than thread and the red snappers. I even decided to wait for the pro stitcher, I would rather learn to be proficient without it, but if all else fails and I am awful and need help of the robotics I will get it then. I got the HQ Fusion and I am so excited to learn!!!
#30
I love my Magna-Glide prefilled bobbins from Fil-Tec (they have magnets on them and work great). I would also recommend taking classes to see what type of Longarm quilting you like - i.e. freehand, pantos, computer guided.
I have bought items from my LA dealers, from panto designers (paper ones), thread companies (Superior and Fil-Tec), vendors at quilt shows, and teachers. I have bought batting from vendors at quilt shows as well as JoAnns. Shop around and see what vendors have what you want or need.
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