First try with my new long arm
03-14-2021, 12:50 PM
#1
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 4,368
First try with my new long arm
Just set up my new long arm and tried my first practice piece.
The quilting is pretty wobbly and frankly, it's pretty alarming for someone who is quite decent at FMQ on my domestic/ mid arm machines. Skills obviously don't transfer. But, I'll stay with it.
Took me an hour to load this little piece. Hoping I get quicker!
Watson
The quilting is pretty wobbly and frankly, it's pretty alarming for someone who is quite decent at FMQ on my domestic/ mid arm machines. Skills obviously don't transfer. But, I'll stay with it.
Took me an hour to load this little piece. Hoping I get quicker!
Watson
03-14-2021, 12:56 PM
#2
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Mars
Posts: 2,549
How fun! And your quilting is great for the first time - yes, maybe it's a little wobbly, but I'll take a picture of my first try at a longarm and you'll feel a lot better about yours! 
Congratulations on the new machine and I hope you have a wonderful time with it!
Congratulations on the new machine and I hope you have a wonderful time with it!
03-14-2021, 02:57 PM
#4
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Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: northern minnesota
Posts: 2,480
looks good for first try. Yep, it is a different learning curve from sit-down. But, I think you will really like the long arm after a bit of practice. Some things I learned, is that shorter stitches give a smoother look especially when you are trying smaller motifs free hand. Try changing the stitch length and see how it goes. Also, don't know if you have a stitch regulator....but again, smaller stitches can give a smoother look as the machine is trying to keep the stitches even so in tighter curves, you fight the stitch regulator. One of my instructors made me turn the stitch regulator off so I could feel how much smoother my quilting was without it on. I of course don't do much custom and use the stitch regulator mostly. But she was right, much easier to do tiny stippling and pebbles without the stitch regulator on. Have fun...you will be surprise how quickly your skills grow. Oh, the loading will get a bit faster...but ...yeah...it takes a while. I put on some music or listen to audio books.
03-14-2021, 04:38 PM
#7
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: kansas
Posts: 6,407
your first post made me grin--think that the first 3(or more) quilts I loaded I had to have my laptop by me to watch/pause the video showing how to do it--took forever! Now, a prepped quilt (pressed, backing and batting correct size) only takes about 8 min!
It will get easier. And you control of the machine will get more fine-tuned so you control your stitching much better.
It will get easier. And you control of the machine will get more fine-tuned so you control your stitching much better.
03-14-2021, 04:46 PM
#9
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Alturas, CA
Posts: 9,393
It's amazing how much of a learning curve there is to moving the machine instead of the quilt. When I got my sit down Bailey, I thought I wouldn't have much of a learning curve, since I was used to moving the quilt, BUT I was used to standing while FMQ,instead now I was sitting, big learning curve. LOL
03-14-2021, 04:59 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Ont. Canada
Posts: 465
The first piece l did using a midarm on a frame resides at the bottom of the dog's kennel cage,lol. I agree with the suggestion of shortening those stitches, or turn off regulator and slow down machine's movement.
Pocoellie, l use my Bailey on a frame, but have it set low so l sit while using the frame. My stool has wheels. I do stand for pantos, as my lnspira frame has a panto shelf ( you stand at front to use.), otherwise l can't see to follow lines.
Pocoellie, l use my Bailey on a frame, but have it set low so l sit while using the frame. My stool has wheels. I do stand for pantos, as my lnspira frame has a panto shelf ( you stand at front to use.), otherwise l can't see to follow lines.
