Quiltingboard Forums - Make Your Own FMQ Grippers

Instead of using gloves or buying expensive grippers for my quilt when doing Free Motion Quilting I made my own. I usually use gloves but I'm hoping with these it will be easier, not having to always remove gloves to trim threads, cut fabrics, press, etc.

I think I may make a cloth cover for the top because they are kind of ugly. I used what I had on hand but if I went to the store I would buy clear contact cement. The bottom is grippy already so I won't need to glue on shelf liner.

They are actually big enough for my hand to rest on them comfortably. I tried sliding that stack of fabric around the counter and they seem to work well.

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The size is for comparison, that is a 10" block.
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I pulled the rubber out of the bottom, trimmed the toe doodad length so it would fit comfortably between the layers as an extra assist to hold the gripper. My original intention was to glue on elastic, but I'll try this first.
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Then I cut the left side gripper slightly above the holes where the strap fit in, and rounded the edges of the top and bottom portions - matching the shape from the left and right foot by turning one upside down, making sure to put the roughest surface down -- and glued them together with Super WeatherStrip Adhesive. You spread it on, touch it together then pull it apart and let it dry somewhat, then put on more and hold them together. I put silicone bands around the top for extra hold and put heavy cans on them while they dried.
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