This is mainly for those that have a long arm or mid arm. What kind of bobbin winder do you use and where did you get it from? Do you use an industrial type or one from you DSM? How about clamps? Do you use a special kind or the one's that came with your machine or frame?

I have a Hinterberg frame and Voyager 17 frame, size L bobbins. I was using a portable bobbin winder, the $30 one and it just isn't working good at all. I have done some research and found one at Kings Men Quilting supply for $84.99 and Hinterberg sells their own for $99.00. Was just wondering if any of you have used the one from Kings Men?

Also, I have the featherlite clamps and I am not too crazy about them. I bought my machine used and those are the clamps that came with the setup. I just purchased the grip-lite clamps. Anybody use those?

Try joining the homequiltingsystems group at http://groups.yahoo.com . Check their files before posting, and/or run a search on previous posts. These topics have come up there. If you can't find the info you want you can post to the group, but the moderators prefer that people check files and previous posts first.

i have the tin lizzie 18 and it came with the winder, so i can't help you there.

but i can give you a great idea for clamps from sharon schamber. let's see if i can describe it right.

cut a piece of strong fabric the depth of you work area front to back and twice the length of the distance from the side of the frame to the side of your work plus whatever extra you think you'd need for future projects. (i just cut mine looong). slide a rod of some kind through the fold (she stitches here but i don't bother - you'll see why). you can use a dowel, a skinny pvc, anything. PIN the other two ends of the fabric (the loose or open ends) to the sides of your work. Now... you should have a pinned piece of fabric that looks like a loop, with a rod at the fold, flopping down from pins from the side of the work. okay so far?

now, using the clamps that came with the frame, or any other cheap clamps ( i use alligator clamps. make sure the jaws are big enough to go around your rod), attach the clamps to the frame the way they were supposed to go, and and attach the biting end around the rod. the clamps cannot slip away. if the clamps are the right size to go around the rod it is impossible. the rod keeps them in place. the best part is that the rod distributes the tension evenly on your quilt as you work.

as you roll the quilt up, you have to unpin and repin those side fabrics, but you had to unclamp and reclamp anyway. sharon schambers goes into a little more detail like stitching where the rod will go, but i simplified the process.

i believe the whole thing is on youtube. i tried every clamp i could find and was never satisfied. with this process it doesn't matter what clamps you use, as long as they fit around whatever rod you use. i do it with two clamps. maybe 4" in from each end. let me know if it works for you.

oh, i use plain old straight pins. heavy duty.

Butterflywind, I have a Tin Lizzie 18, too. Have you had any problems with your winder not working?? Mine is only filling partially, not quite half way. Getting frustrated, I'll have to call the dealer on Monday. :cry:

mine is over filling. i have to watch it. i never filled it while i used it, so that's not a biggie. before i start a quilt i fill a few bobbins and use them up. then i fill more and so on. whatever is left on bobbins, i use on my regular machine on the top spindle to sew on the binding, and then to hand stitch the binding.

i do have a problem remembering the direction the thread will wind in. i'll have to mark it on the machine. i have little arrows everywhere on the frame and the machine.

will you get a stylus for pantographs?

btw, that yahoo group is very informative. i've found some answers there in the past, i even have it bookmarked, but i can't figure out how to ask questions AND HAVE THEM POST! the moderators are not very helpful.

Butterflywing,
I had problems with it over-filling too and called to see how to adjust it, which we did, but now the problem is much worse. I should have just left it alone and kept an eye on it like you do. Oh well, live and learn.

I have a stylus for pantographs, it came with the machine and it seems to work well. Just be careful when you buy your pantographs, don't get them to wide or you'll have problems being able to follow the entire design. By wide, I mean top to bottom not side to side.

Sandiphi, didn't mean to hyjack your post, sorry! :oops:

If you are really into quilting on your mid arm, consider going all the way with a winder from SWF embroidery machines. It's definately more pricey about $210 as I recall, but I've used mine for 5 1/2 years with no complaints. It has a timer that you adjust. You can put the bobbin on and walk away. Adjust the timer for the thread your are working with - darker colors lower the time a hair and so on. The winder from Kings men works just fine and that's what I started with years ago, but instead of shutting off, the bobbin winder kicks off and the motor keeps racing. Drove me nuts, wasted electricity. I use enough as it is. I'm not sure about the size business. My bobbins are M, but you can ask them.