Thread: Question on Red Snappers

This is a question for all longarm quilters...I have been quilting on a longarm for only a couple of months and recently viewed a video demonstrating Red Snappers - an alternative to pinning the quilt top and back to the leaders. Please let me know your opinions, pro or con, if you have ever used these. I constantly seem too be sticking myself and the Snappers appear to offer a painless solution. Thanks!

Those that have them seem to love them. I tried making the Poor Man's red snappers Pictures of Poor Man's Red Snappers and while these worked pretty well I still go back to pinning. I guess I have become proficient at it, and it seems easier to line up my centers for the backing. I have only been bit by the pins on a handful of occasions. The snappers use a bit more fabric so you have to allow for that when preparing your backing. Apparently they are rather tight when you first use them and it takes quite a big of hand strength to get them into place properly but I have read they loosen up with use. They make for quick loading once you get past the learning curve.

I have had a mid arm for about 6 years, but really got in to using the past year and a half. I always pinned. About 6 months ago I bought the red snappers (after trying the poor man's red snappers). I didn't think the price was so bad for them. I can load a quilt very quickly. Much quicker than with pins, and more even. Here is a link for a you tube demo that is just how I do it. I think you would enjoy using them. I don't think it uses more than 1/4" more fabric than pinning. IMHO Ann
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udj94FQ1juE

I have "Leader Grips" - similar product. They work well. If the "grip" is too tight, just buy a length of dowelling a little bigger diameter and put the grip on it for a while - it will stretch it slightly as if you had used it awhile and make it easier to put into place. I don't use pins anymore to attach the quilt components to the frame. I still use them at times to anchor fabric where I want it prior to basting etc.

I love my red snappers. They're super easy to use and if I get halfway through a quilt and want to work on a different one it's no big deal. Just a few seconds to take off the one i'm working on, a few minutes to load the other one and good to go! The only con is that sometimes if i'm working at the very top or bottom of a quilt my machine may 'catch' briefly on them but it's nof nearly enough of an issue to not use them. Go ahead and order them - you'll wish you'd done it sooner!

I have the Red Snappers that I use on my Bernina frame, with my Bernina 820. I don't know if I would use the word "love" as there are issues with them; such as tight to use at first , catching the platform at the beginning and ending of the quilt, and an un-quilted space at the beginning and end. However, it is the best method of loading a quilt on the frame that I have found. I also tried basting and pinning the quilt to the leaders. If there is a better way, I have not found it.