Marjpf

I just bought a long arm and would like some support. How long does it take to get the hang of this? What sort of pattern is easiest to learn with? Any other advise would be wonderful.

sewnsewer2

Congrats! I don't own one but have used one. You will get the hang of it quickly.

I like the meander.

dunster

I just bought one too, and I had the same question. In researching books that might help me learn how to learn to use the longarm, I came across the following quote in Machine Quilting Solutions by Christine Maraccini:

"The general rule is that it takes one full year to become comfortable and proficient on a longarm."

Daunting, isn't it? Actually that estimate makes me feel better about practicing. I'm not expected to get up to speed in the first day, week, or month. I have a whole year!

I've been practicing all kinds of different quilting patterns on a D9P that I made just for practicing. When it's done it will have a little bit of everything, so it will look pretty strange. I'm also going through this site and trying out the fillers that look interesting: http://www.daystyledesigns.com/365project.htm

I am drooling over quilts that Shelley and Ronda K Beyer have posted recently. I don't expect to reach that level even after the first year. Maybe not even after 100 years.

What kind of machine did you get, and how are you practicing now?

AnnaF

Welcome to longarm quilting. It took me about 3 yrs to feel really good about my ability to turn out consistant high quality work. You will find that doing pantographs will make you the most money. You should practice practice and practice some more. Just load up some muslin and work on pantos and free hand designs..over and over until you're happy with your work. Drawing is something else that helps tremendously. Learning how to do feathers is something that takes a lot of drawing and practice. I've spent hours practicing to on paper to get a design down pat then go to the machine and practice some more. You should join the Machine Quilters Professional yahoo group. There is a wealth of experienced longarm quilters available to help you with questions.
If there is a longarm quilter in your area that offers classes take the time to take some classes..there is nothing better than a private hands on class. I love to teach longarm quilting.
If you can try to go to some to the national longarm quilting shows...MQX is the one I've been to a number of times and taken classes. I don't know where you live but there are shows all over the country now and it's really worth the money to go. You'll come away inspired by the best of the best.
If you have any other questions feel free to ask me.
Anna

quilter girl

What kind of machines do you lucky ones have.......I'm dreaming

Oklahoma Suzie

I don't have one, but would love one.

crashnquilt

Well, if you were a bit closer to Missouri, I would love to come help you! I have the HandiQuilter 16 machine and love it. As far as finding books and the like to help, good luck ain't much out there. Linda Taylor does have a good book out.

I belong to another forum that is geared to machine quilting and it BY FAR has been my best source for help and information.

http://www.mqresource.com Two types of memberships, free membership and Premier Membership. The premier membership gives you a discount to online classes and access to several videos. Free membership gives you access to all the forums and there are some really good free videos available. I strongly recommend you at least join the free membership and check the site daily. Everyone there is more than willing to help and they are a great bunch of people.

dunster

crashnquilt, I joined MQResource a few days back but I hadn't really looked around there until I saw your post. The site is a little hard to navigate for the first time, but Oh!My!Gosh!!! The pictures of completed quilting are incredible. Thanks for recommending it.

dojo36

i bought one also, have had it for about 10 days now. it's a pain in the hind side. i can sure see why it would take at least a year to get comfortable with it. my first practice quilt i threw in the trash, the 2nd one went to my friend's dog and the 3rd one didn't look half bad and the 4th one is on the frame now. my threads keep breaking, i keep adjusting the tension first one way then another trying to get it to look good. i forget to put the pressure foot down - that doesn't look good for sure, lol.
birds nests! so far i've just been meandering. the machine fell off its rollers and broke the encoder that controls the lizzie stitch that goes frontwards and backwards, new part has been ordered, it will still manual stitch both directions. i was attaching my side bungee cords upside down and just finally realized that today, no wonder i couldn't meander all the way to the side of the top, kept bumping the bungee cords. so i've just had more problems than the average bear, lol. i need HELP for sure.
donna

dojo36

one more thing - ya gotta have a master's degree to thread the darn thing. but i'm determined to show this thing who's boss. mine is a tin lizzie 18, what did yall buy and what kind of troubles are you having?
donna