2 questions for longarmers, quilt tops and sew zone space.
12-04-2020, 03:12 AM
#11
Power Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SoCal
Posts: 11,905
Originally Posted by dunster
I used to float my quilt tops, but I've found I get better results on large quilts when I attach the bottom to the leader. I don't think it matters as much on small quilts.
12-04-2020, 04:44 AM
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 8,138
I float all my quilts, I think the only one I ever pinned was the very first quilt I did on the LA, and I had so much trouble getting it mounted I never attempted it again. I make a lot of queen and the occasional king quilts, along with smaller ones.
I do pin my sides and I pin when I get to the bottom, I make sure it's staying square with each advance and I do sometimes pin the edge in the middle if I need that to keep it square. That isn't needed very often. I do have a cord mounted along the front that I have slides I can move to line the quilt up vertically as I advance. Don't recall who posted about that, but it's really made things easier for me.
As to quilting space, I ran into that with my 15" Bailey, but it didn't have robotics so wasn't that hard to deal with, and with my 24" HQ Fusion, I've had a few times I'd needed to be careful on large outer corner designs, but for the most part it's not an issue.
I do pin my sides and I pin when I get to the bottom, I make sure it's staying square with each advance and I do sometimes pin the edge in the middle if I need that to keep it square. That isn't needed very often. I do have a cord mounted along the front that I have slides I can move to line the quilt up vertically as I advance. Don't recall who posted about that, but it's really made things easier for me.
As to quilting space, I ran into that with my 15" Bailey, but it didn't have robotics so wasn't that hard to deal with, and with my 24" HQ Fusion, I've had a few times I'd needed to be careful on large outer corner designs, but for the most part it's not an issue.
12-04-2020, 05:43 AM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 698
I have a Nolting with a 16" throat. I float my quilts, but I baste my sides and when I get to the bottom, I baste it also.
A king quilt will take up a lot of space. I wouldn't do anything larger than 9 inches.
Just my 2 cents!
A king quilt will take up a lot of space. I wouldn't do anything larger than 9 inches.
Just my 2 cents!
12-04-2020, 11:38 AM
#16
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Lake Elsinore, CA
Posts: 15,145
Originally Posted by aforristall
Where did you get your magnets?
I have them, and tried them, but I still prefer attaching the top to the leaders. I use Red Snappers rather than pins.
12-04-2020, 02:36 PM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 988
Originally Posted by aforristall
Where did you get your magnets?
12-05-2020, 07:00 AM
#18
Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 47
At the beginning of my longarm experience, I pinned; next, moved on to floating; finally discovered "Loading Lori's Way" and Leader Grips. (If interested search Youtube for "Loading Lori's Way"). I use a bungee cord with toggles mounted across the front to keep everything straight and centered as I advance the project while loading. This has been my preferred loading method since I discovered it about three years back! If I need to unload and turn the quilt for borders or sashings this method makes it much easier for me. Zone space: my machine has about 15 inches of usable space. I seldom set panto size above 10 or 11 inches which gives me enough room to adjust zones as I advance, if needed.
