long arm quilter - turning your quilt?
 

I have read in a lot of articles on long arm quilting that many turn their quilts after quilting 3/4 of the way to avoid the weight on the arm of the machine. I have never done this but I agree the weight of a king size quilt really bears down on the machine (I have a hinterberg Voyager 17 and a stretch frame). Do any of you turn your quilts and if so, any suggestions?

i'm a long arm quilter- i've done lots of king sized quilts- i've never turned one due to excess weight...on the arm of the machine??? the quilt does not add any weight to the machine- the poles it is rolled on on the frame holds the weight of the quilt- i have turned a quilt to do side borders before- but that was only a directional issue...i don't understand what you are meaning- how can there be weight on the long arm machine? and what (arm?) my machine has handle bars on both ends...they do not come in contact with the quilt at all...maybe a picture would help show the issue you have with the quilt weight (weighing down the machine)

The only reason I have ever turned a quilt is to be able to quilt a border in one pass. I just turn it 1/4 turn so the sides are now the top and bottom. The only reason else I can think is that the machine can only take so large of finished quilt on the take up bar. If the roll of already quilted quilt gets too large to fit in the arm, you would have to turn it around and quilt from the other direction. This is not due to weight, but to the arm depth. Usually on a short or mid arm system and a large quilt.

I'm also confused as to why the weight of the quilt would have any bearing on anything. I've never turned my quilts on the longarm. I do know that on some machines you have to adjust the height of one of the bars - I think the take-up bar, but that is due to bulk, not weight. I guess if the quilt was too big to adjust the bar you would need to turn it - is that what you mean? I don't have that issue because of the way my frame is built (Innova).

Yes, that is what I am trying to say . . . The bulk of the quilt on the take up bar. My frame does not have a mechanism to effectively raise that bar. There's plenty of room in the throat of the machine. I would be interested in knowing what frames you guys are using as they sound like they are more effective than mine. Thanks!

Wow, I've never heard of that either. On my frame (Grace Imperial) there is no weight on the arm of the machine. It's all on the takeup roller. I guess if there's not enough room to roll the completed portion of the quilt it would start rubbing and possibly restrict the movement, but I haven't run into that issue.

I have never had a problem with weight. Have only turned to quilt borders.

Innova 26 on 12 ft Innova frame. No turning and no problems. I think if you feel it is too much for your set up it most likely is and go ahead and turn. I think there are more people that can not handle the bulk of a king quilt all rolled up on one side of the frame and that is why they turn or there is no quilting space left and that is why they turn. I hope that makes sense.

I also have the 26" Innova on a 12' frame. The frame has a two-bar take-up system, so you never have to level the quilt, and there's more than ample space for a large quilt to be loaded onto the take-up bar. There's a picture of the frame on this page - http://www.innovalongarm.com/products.html

I don't think you can buy the Innova frame separately, but you might be able to find another frame that would work for you.

I don't think you can buy the Innova frame separately, but you might be able to find another frame that would work for you.[/QUOTE]

I really like my new long arm, but if I could change one thing, I would have a frame with a dead bar (also known as an additional take up bar) so I didn't have to adjust the bar as the rolled quilt gets bigger.

After spending so much money already though, I can't imagine telling DH I'd like to have a different frame. I'm hoping I'll get used to it and won't mind it after a while.