Railroadersbrat

So I've been doing some research about floor frames and could use a tiny bit of advice, if it's possible.

All of the floor frames I've seen, shows that the rollers actually have canvas on them, to allow the quilt to be pinned to it, then rolled and tightened. My floor frame didn't come with the canvas, so I've got an idea but want to see if I'm on the right track or maybe get some different ideas. I tried to attach pictures for reference, but my connection is being a pain tonight, so I've linked my post from this last VQW.

Quiltingboard Forums - View Single Post - Virtual Quilting Weekend--11/12-11/14/21

Am I right to assume that the canvas is actually put on the rollers prior to the quilt and that they're somehow attached via safety pins or maybe Velcro for easy removal? Instead of canvas, could I use Muslin instead and should there be some form of padding around the rollers?

I don't want to do anything wrong with the frame, I am still a couple of months or more away from actually using it, but if there's something special that I need to get, I need to know now so I can start looking and saving the money.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks everyone!

Gay

My frame has the canvas attached with double sided velcro, this works because the rollers are alluminium. But with wood rollers I would probably sew a good narrow hem, place something like grosgrain ribbon on top for strength and tack it down. I guess you could also try the velcro but may need to tack it anyway as the adhesive may not stick for long.

PurplePansies

My Hand-Quilter Avante dealer is the inventor of the canvas leaders with zippers for longarms. The Quick Zip System. You can buy them from their shop and call or email them with any questions. You won't find nicer people anywhere. (Contact info below.)

To answer your questions, though, sticky back Velcro is attached to the poles and sew-on Velcro is attached to the canvas. You'll need 3 leaders. You pin (or I guess you can baste) the backing to two of the leaders and one edge of the top to the third. Muslin wouldn't work because it is too stretchy and not sturdy enough. The zip system is nice because you unzip them and pin half of the zipper to those 3 parts of the quilt. You can do this sitting down as opposed to standing at the frame to pin the top and back to the leaders. I guess you could remove the leader from the poles as it is velcroed on and sit down to pin. I'm just used to the zippers as they came with my LA.

The Quilting Connection, LLC
Sue and Al Schmieden and Angie Dugan
21 Adams Street
Elkhorn, WI 53121
OR our 2nd Location
200 W. North Water Street
New London, WI (Please do not send mail to the New London location)
Phone: 262-723-6775 (for both locations)
email: [email protected]
www.LongarmConnection.com

sewingpup

I just did a search on "how to attach a quilt to a hand quilting frame" Looks like there are several methods. Wow, several methods. I saw some where the quilt layers are attached one by one to the frame just using tacks, then I saw methods were a leader made of canvas or muslin or some other sturdy material was attached to the rollers using tacks or staples, and I saw some made of PVC rollers with PVC clamps used to attach the quilt. On these, the quilt was moved and then the clamps put back on. I have a long arm machine. I usually just pin my backing to the leaders placing long pins head to toe. Yep it takes a while but I have gotten used to it and it is just easy to do. Using zippers, you have to sew them on and take them off and that takes time too.

juliasb

I have a floor frame that allows me to use clamps to hold the quilt in place to the frame so I do use any canvas or muslin leaders. I have used it for years for hand quilting. I don't think I could use it for machine quilting. The frame here looks like it could manage a DSM.

kyquiltlover1942

I like the velcro method, because I can take the leader off and baste my backing to it and the take up roll. Lot easier than all the pins, Then i can just stick the whole thing back on my frame.

sewingpup

The velcro method works well if you are taking the quilt on and off the frame to do another quilt....Once a quilt goes on my frame it stays on until it is done. My leaders came already attached to my frame so to do the velcro or the red leaders method, I would have had to detach the leader to put on the velcro or stitch a casing....Did not want to do that as the leaders were on nice and straight....so I just pinned....now I like pinning cuz it seems I have better control of getting the backing on nice and straight without wrinkles....I think there are a lot of methods to do something and some things work better for some people.

mermaid

My leaders are red & white striped 'ticking', and taped to the aluminum bars with silver duct tape, I like the stripes because it allows me to pin straight, My frames is 2nd hand and a lge amt of the ticking came with it, so replacements can be made.