So, I've been able to play with my frame and machine a little. The thing I'm finding is that loading a quilt (so far charity quilts, so they're small) takes longer for me than the quilting does. The first one took 2 hours + to load, and an hour to quilt!
One of the things taking the time is pinning through the ticking on the leaders. Now, in fairness, the pins that came with the frame are terrible. I'd swear they were dull if they weren't brand new.
They're T Pins (
http://www.dritz.com/brands/showcase...p?ITEM_NUM=101) , and I also find the presser foot of the machine hooks on them and yanks them out (when I baste to be able to remove the pins) and I'm afraid that one will get in the way of the needle and cause a real mess. I also find that because they're dull, or whatever, I'm losing 3/8" pieces of skin at a time when I skewer myself while pinning and they suddenly go through the ticking and fabric. (yes, I suppose my technique can use some work too)
I've got some detachable zippers on order, and will be changing to that sort of set up (
http://dragonpoodle.blogspot.ca/2012...-quilting.html) when they arrive, but for now, I'd just like to stop bleeding on the quilts and speed things up a little.
So I figured, what better place to ask than here.... what do you all prefer for pinning to the leaders?
I've been looking at hat/corsage pins. I figured out my flower headed pins are too thin and bend, so they're out. Are there other suggestions?