Originally Posted by
quiltingloulou
Haven't got a long arm but I did watch a You tube video where the young lady had resorted to small magnets to hold the backing fabric along the metal roller. She had tried the zipper and other methods but now found the magnets worked fine. She was very competent too.
I watched that video after you mentioned it. I can't figure out how the magnets don't deform the fabric (assuming they're earth magnets) or slide right off (assuming they're not) She does a good job with it, I must tension my quilts tighter than she does, cos it seems like it shouldn't stay, even though it does. I've read / watch a few of CraftyGemini's offerings. I agree, she seems competent.
Originally Posted by
CarolynMT
I would not load a quilt without my red snappers. I practiced on a system that had zipper leaders, and you had to either pin or sew the quilt to the leaders in that case. With the red snappers, I never touch a pin. Matter of fact dont think there is a pin at all in my long arm room. Takes me about 15mins to fully load a quilt. it stays straight never had any issues with that. Would probably take me less time but I sorta poke around and listen to music
I would definitely recommend them to any and all people who have long arms. They are a godsend! worth every single penny and then some.
Nancy's Notions carries them:
http://www.nancysnotions.com/product...ding+system.do
and her shipping policy says to just add $9 to the US shipping cost.....
http://www.nancysnotions.com/categor...?intcmp=FFSHIP
I was going to use my chainstitching machine to do the zipper, but I can see how that will wear out and wear thin eventually.
I gave in. After all the rave reviews for the Red Snappers, I located a set in Edmonton. They were pricy, but I get to use them as soon as I get the current quilt off the frame.
About $20 more than if I'd shipped them from Nancy's notions. I think it was the times people are taking to load a quilt that convinced me.
So you must be doing the baste the batting to the backing then use it as a reference then baste the top to the reference line method? It looks slick. I'll be trying that once I get the current quilt off the frame.
Originally Posted by
ghostrider
Until your zippers arrive, I'd switch to corsage pins. No point in buying Red Snappers if you're switching to zippers, imho. Corsage pins can be found online at longarm supply places or locally at florist supply places and craft stores (not sure what those would be in Alberta, sorry).
I probably phrased that badly. A month ago, I found someone who would order the zippers for me. She said she had no idea when she'd get the order done, so I can call her and say thanks but I don't need them anymore. The craft stores I can find. The others I'm not sure of. Luckily, I get wholesale on my sewing notions anyway, and corsage pins are one of the things I can get.
Originally Posted by
dunster
T pins are probably the worst pins you could use, IMHO. They are not sharp, and I don't even like the idea of them going through my quilt fabric. When I pinned I used those yellow-headed pins. They're strong and sharp (enough) and they show up when I drop them on the carpet. Now I use Red Snappers. I tried pinning, then Velcro. The problem with Velcro or zippers is that you still have to attach the fabric to the leaders, which means sewing or pinning. Red Snappers solve the whole problem and they come off very easily. I use Red-E-Edge clamps for the sides too, and love them as much as the Snappers.
I had been thinking about having to create another leader for the zippers to attach to, and being able to get that crooked too, and,... you're right. The RSs seem like they're less fussy. I need less fussy, because I don't need anything stopping me from quilting.
Do the RSs ever deform the fabric with how firmly they install?
I would probably look at the Red E-Edge clamps if I hadn't built the side leaders that Sharon Schamber uses.
Originally Posted by
momto5
If you really want "tearless" loading, buy the red snapper type clamps...best part of it is, there are no pin-sticks to worry about!
Yes, Apparently I am very motivated by avoiding pain
Originally Posted by
DebraK
once you've Snapped, there is no going back ;-)
I laughed out loud when I read this. The people in the food court of the mall I was walking through thought I was a nut. This settled it for me.
Originally Posted by
AliKat
I now have red snappers for the take up roller and the backing roller bars. I also used them for the quilt top but haven't finished the quilt now on the frame. So, not sure if I'll remove them from the quilt top when I get to the bottom of it.
Re: red snappers ... I couldn't put the rods together and had to get help from a fellow quilter's husband [he's an engineer and I knew he wouldn't harm my red snappers.] Also, the first few times using the r.s. will probably require more time and hand pressure. Mine took me a bit of time but at my friend's home her r.s.'s were easier to put on.
I also have the magnet bars from Harbor Freight so I can float my top. Just haven't used them yet.
Thanks for the warning about the first couple of uses. I'll make sure DH Is around to help if necessary. I'd like to hear what you decide to do when you get to the bottom of your quilt!
What was difficult about assembly? It looked straight forward in the video I watched, but if there's a gotcha....
How do the magnet bars work? I don't think I've heard of that before... or is this the same as quiltingloulou mentioned above?