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: 12,025
12-04-2020, 04:44 AM
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 8,151
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: 755
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: 15,242
I think most people use the magnetic tool holders from Harbor Freight. https://www.harborfreight.com/18-in-...der-60433.html
I have them, and tried them, but I still prefer attaching the top to the leaders. I use Red Snappers rather than pins.
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: 992
Be careful with those magnets, and I mean reaaaaaal careful. They cut the pad of one finger off when then magnets got too close. The snapped together and tore off the pad of my finger! They’re super strong. I just threw all of mine away. Not worth the risk!!!
12-05-2020, 07:00 AM
#18
Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 49
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.
