Originally Posted by
LAQUITA
Leta:
You said : Plus, I use the big magnetic bars on my long-arm to give me some tension when I "float" my quilt tops. can you please explain where you place these strips? Or maybe even send me a picture please? You can send the pics to my email address if that would be easier.
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I ask all this b/c I have 'free" use of my girlfriends long arm. Her hubby just bought her the Mach 3 software for it, makes the quilting choices unnumerous and all with the click of. Mouse. It's great and I know I'm blessed to have this opportunity.
Hi LaQuita!
I'll try to post a pic once I get home from work, but I will try to describe how I use this.
First of all, my frame is a wooden Grace-type frame, with metal conduit as the poles. They look very similar to the posts used in chain-link fencing, but they're much sturdier.
Second, I only attach the top and bottom of the backing to my leaders - the top of the batting and the top edge of the quilt, I stitch down onto the backing. The backing is rolled on the belly-bar, but the batting and the top just "hang" or "float" over the edge of the bellybar. That bar is where I let the magnets do their work - they are very strong. Be careful not to pinch your fingers - ask me how I know, and even more importantly, DO NOT LET TWO MAGNET BARS GET TOO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER - you will have a devil of a time separating them (again, ask me how I know!).
OK, I just found a pic online that shows what I mean. this is not my system, but it shows the concept quite well.
See how the quilt drapes over the bar in front (bellybar)? In the green box, you should see three black bars - those are the magnets. They hold the tension for you when you float the quilt.
I prefer to float my tops because I can not only tweak the top, but watch the batting as well. When I first got my machine, I used the take-up bar for both the top and the backing, but found that the batting was prone to shift and I did not have a good of control of the top either.
Just my personal preference.
Obviously, if the frame poles are not metal, this would not work for you.