Cedar

Has anyone used a quilting frame like this? I cant find anything similar online. If so, is there anything I should know about it or any tips. Im excited to try it out.

AprilM

Cedar - lucky you! No, havent but will ask around and report back if i find out anything useful! Im sure you have probably checked out youtube videos already. I guess sometimes in the absence of directions, etc. ya just gotta take a deep breath and jump in the deep end and swim as you go! This is the VOICE OF EXPERIENCE - lol! But i will put my feelers out for you!

sschick

It does look like a homemade version of the Grace Cutie or Mini frame. Maybe watching some videos on how to use those, while not exactly the same, might give you some tips. Just a thought.

Cheers,
Shari

thimblebug6000

Maybe this fellow has some tips, he speaks quite slowly but clearly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F24UUQdBW5I

ElaineCovid

I bought one of these years ago at Paducah - then I mounted it to an IKEA coffee table that my husband raised/extended the legs on. It worked fairly well. I sold it to a lady who sat at it on her test drive and immediately produced such beautiful free motion quilted leaves and tendrils that I was envious! I sold it because I found a more traditional frame/machine set up...As with anything new, there is a learning curve (previous person excluded LOL).... the best advice I can give is to get comfortable with a certain speed when you free motion and always use that speed... also, don't clamp the quilt too tight...

Cedar

Ooo that is similar! The machine does have a little trolly like that. If it's the same I might have to track down some dowels, but it looks like thete might be hooks to hold a rolled up quilt in the back

tinlizzy

I bought one of those and used it for years. I had a 70's sewing machine and had the cord to the foot pedal extended, so that I could use it as the sewing machine moved from side to side. My main issue was that the movement had a lot if inertia, so that it circles were a bit squared. I quilted many quilts with this, but upgraded to a Q-zone frame from the Grace company during covid.

Snooze2978

I started out with a Grace Pro Frame 10ft long similar to that one. Had the same type carriage but if you're doing large quilts, you'll find out you have very little depth (throat) space as you advance the quilt. Your machine probably has maybe a 9 inch throat and once you get to the end of your quilt, you have very little space to move the machine around unless you turn the quilt around. It's a great starting point to see if you even like quilting though. I advanced to a PCQ robotic system and then added another gadget and for the life of me can't remember the name but it allowed you to use up to 17 inches even with a 9 inch throat.

I then advanced to another robotic system called MQR that used some of the parts from the PCQ so I didn't lose too much of my investment. Then I advanced my 9 inch throated machine to an 18 inch throat where someone cut the machine in half and stretched it but I'm sure he's died after all these years unless someone took over his business. The machine didn't look pretty but worked like a charm. I finally advanced to a 26 inch machine and 12ft frame. Sold my old system to a couple in Illinois.

So my starting small gave me the clue on whether I'd even care to quilt my own quilts without going into big debt. And yes, I'm still quilting to this day. My first system started back in 2005 so 20 years I've been quilting my own quilts.

Good luck with your new system. It will be great for small projects such as baby quilts, wall hangings, table runners and maybe small lap quilts if you turn it around halfway.