Maybe This Will Help for Free Motion Quilting
03-13-2021, 12:37 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 289
Maybe This Will Help for Free Motion Quilting
I've looked around on the internet for things to help me move the quilt sandwich around easier, but the cost is out of our world. I've got better things to spend my money on than plastic.
So I brain stormed and came up with a solution. Cut out from hardwood, or if you don't have that, some nice Pine wood, something about 3/4 inch thick and the size that will fit your hands comfortably. Make two of these wood shapes, and sand down all the rough edges
Go to your local hardware store, or just buy online wherever you can find 1/8 inch thick sheet cork.
Glue the cork to your wood, and let it cure. Then just cut away the excess cork, and then bevel the edges slightly.
Now you have two hand paddles you put atop your quilt sandwich, and move it around without having to use a lot of force. It's especially nice for people like myself who have arthritis, and gripping things for long periods can hurt. All you need are your palms to move things around.
I'm not posting a picture, as I believe anyone who makes these will make them to suit themselves. My trial pair were just pieces of hardwood measuring 3/4 x 2 x4 inches. Oh yes, I used Gorilla glue to tick things together. Maybe you can carve the tops, or wood burn a pattern to decorate yours.
Hope this will help someone.
So I brain stormed and came up with a solution. Cut out from hardwood, or if you don't have that, some nice Pine wood, something about 3/4 inch thick and the size that will fit your hands comfortably. Make two of these wood shapes, and sand down all the rough edges
Go to your local hardware store, or just buy online wherever you can find 1/8 inch thick sheet cork.
Glue the cork to your wood, and let it cure. Then just cut away the excess cork, and then bevel the edges slightly.
Now you have two hand paddles you put atop your quilt sandwich, and move it around without having to use a lot of force. It's especially nice for people like myself who have arthritis, and gripping things for long periods can hurt. All you need are your palms to move things around.
I'm not posting a picture, as I believe anyone who makes these will make them to suit themselves. My trial pair were just pieces of hardwood measuring 3/4 x 2 x4 inches. Oh yes, I used Gorilla glue to tick things together. Maybe you can carve the tops, or wood burn a pattern to decorate yours.
Hope this will help someone.
03-13-2021, 12:47 PM
#2
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 9,556
Interesting tip, thank you!
Back before I got my longarm, I just used gardening gloves with the nubby, rubbery print on the palms. Worked pretty darn good and I always bought a multi-pack of them at Costco in the spring, they were quite affordable.
Back before I got my longarm, I just used gardening gloves with the nubby, rubbery print on the palms. Worked pretty darn good and I always bought a multi-pack of them at Costco in the spring, they were quite affordable.
03-13-2021, 01:38 PM
#4
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 289
One reason I don't use gloves is that they just don't work well for me. Not sure why I cannot get used to them, but, the one paiur I have never helped me move the fabric around
I just used my blocks with cork, and what a difference they make. They moved the fabric around effortlessly. I hardly had to put downward pressure. And my random movements were easier, and more precise. I will be trying to used these to follow lines I have marked on the fabric to see just how precise I can get.
I just used my blocks with cork, and what a difference they make. They moved the fabric around effortlessly. I hardly had to put downward pressure. And my random movements were easier, and more precise. I will be trying to used these to follow lines I have marked on the fabric to see just how precise I can get.
