First try with my new long arm
#22
Power Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Between the dashes of a tombstone
Posts: 12,716
Forgive me for a facetious post, but I just like to imagine what someone who knows nothing about quilting would make of the heading "First Try with My New Long Arm"....it reminded me of a friend who used to compile an annual 'commonplace' book, which he sent out in lieu of a Christmas card (it was always wonderful); one of the regular categories was "Strangest Book Titles of the year", and the one I loved the most was "A History of Japanese Chins", which, if you don't happen to know of the breed of small dog to which the title refers could indeed seem strange!!
#24
Power Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,827
Congratulations Watson!
Before long you will be a whiz at loading and stitching with this new set up.
Keep in mind, there is a huge difference here ....... you were moving the fabric and now you are moving the machine. I remember someone doing a demo and saying, this is more like writing (two handed, granted!) and once she got that into her mind and hands, then it was game on, and she moved ahead in leaps and bounds!!
Good Luck!!!!
Before long you will be a whiz at loading and stitching with this new set up.
Keep in mind, there is a huge difference here ....... you were moving the fabric and now you are moving the machine. I remember someone doing a demo and saying, this is more like writing (two handed, granted!) and once she got that into her mind and hands, then it was game on, and she moved ahead in leaps and bounds!!
Good Luck!!!!
#27
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Southern, Utah
Posts: 1,233
Congratulations Watson! It's a big step to get a long arm. Everything you do will get easier and quicker. Right now you have to think of each step, kind of like learning how to drive a car. I think your first efforts are very good. I'm sure each time you use your longarm you'll just fall in love all over again.
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 448
When you move to a longarm you have an entirely different set of muscles controlling the path of the stitching. That takes a bit of getting used to, just like it did when you were learning to FMQ on your domestic. Just do a lot of practice and the control will come as you get used to how to move the machine head accurately.