Acrylic Extension does NOT make it easier to FMQ
 

For Christmas I wanted an acrylic extension for my sewing machine (Janome MC4800). One of my primary reasons was the extra space for FMQ. I have liked my extension thus far. Tonight is the first time I tried to FMQ on it.

I would say that was a fail! Couldn't move the quilt around on it for anything. Partly because the quilt kept getting caught on the corners, and why else I am not sure. I just know that it was incredibly difficult to move the quilt around on it. I am quilting a larger lap quilt, approximately 60 x 72.

Pulled the extension off, would rather deal with the smaller space - at least I can move my quilt around.

Ultimately I would like to get a table with an insert for my sewing machine so that everything is flush with the table.

Anyone else with this problem? Am I missing something obvious that I am supposed to be doing to make this easier?

for fmq you really need a flat surface with the sewing machine and then have tables or ironing board or anything you can use to support your quilt. You will be able to move it around and your fmq will be alot better experience.

Can you take the feet off the acrylic extension table and use it as your insert to set the machine flush into a table?

i cut my own extension out of 1/4" plywood and 2 x 4 blocks for legs... then i covered the sewing machine AND extension with plain old oilcloth. i taped it down around the hole i cut for the foot (about 3" square) with duct tape as it comes off pretty easily... i only tried it because i wanted a bigger extension than those available... mine is 4 ft from right hand side of sewing machine to left hand corner, and 3 ft deep as that was all the bigger my table was. this has made it a lot easier to move around and all i have to do is re-tape occastionally... it usually lasts thru 3 or 4 quilts before it has too many 'fuzzies' on the edge of the tape to affect it...

deemail has a great idea. Have you posted this in the tips section?

Wow! What an AWESOME idea!! Gotta try this one, Thanks!

I've got the 4800 and the extension table, and I found the same: the surface just doesn't seem to be slick enough, and the fabric won't move easily on it.

Someone on here uses that thick foam board stuff and covers it with plastic to make a bigger area to hold the quilt high enough. I don't know if it is under tutorials or what. It looks like it would work well too.

I read that a very very small amount of silicone spray wiped over a surface will help the movement of the quilt. I've bought the spray but haven't tried it yet - so don't know how successful it would be.

it of course takes some practice to get the hang of using a different surface. after some time (some people) wonder how they ever managed to quilt without it- but in the beginning it was difficult because it was (needing to learn) a new way. with some practice it would become much easier.

I'm working on the thick foam board extension for my machine. I decided to cover it to hold it together when I move it around instead of fighting with the two layers. Hopefully, I will finish it up soon and be able to test a quilt on it.

Funny, tho, how exciting it was when free arm machines came out, and now we're all wanting big, flat areas!

I have an acrylic extension table that 'fits' my machine if I tape it on. It was made for my last machine. What a pain!

I would love to do the foam board thing, but I am having trouble finding what I want locally. All I can find around here is full 4'x8'sheets. I would need 2 sheets, (1) 2" and (2) 3/4" sheets. It would be about $40 to make - more than I care to spend. Lowe's has 2'x4' sheets online, but those particular items they won't ship to store and will only deliver via truck. I'm sure that would be costly. I've even investigated other types of foam, from upholstery foam to floral foam, but they are all too expensive. The only thing cheaper is regular styrofoam, but I don't want those little bits all over the place. Any other ideas?

You may still need to add a slippery covering like the Supreme Slider or cover with oil cloth as suggested, or with the heavy clear plastic tablecover you can get from JoAnns to reduce the friction.

I was just wondering if I could use oilcloth, having been looking at a site selling it this morning, when I was searching out a wipe-clean tablecloth. Thanks for the confirmation!

deemail, you are very clever and resourceful :thumbup:

Thank you so much for starting this thread. I have the same issues. I will be interested to hear what others have to say.

I've heard of people that use a silicone baking sheet ... cheaper than the Supreme Slider.
Suzy

I think you may need to smooth the rough edges on the extension table. I am using car wax on the bed of the sewing machine and table - makes a nice smooth surface!! Car wax is safe for all plastic and metal parts. I support my quilt on a large table and an ironing board on my left side lowered to the same height of the table. This has worked for me with little extra expense. Good luck and enjoy the process!

Yes, my little table sits in the closet now and my machine is level with the table.
I posted about quilts getting caught on edge a long time ago.
Now have a long arm frame with a short arm machine. I just keep wasting money trying to save money.
Now I need to save up for a long arm machine.

I love my extension table. I actually broke the first one when I took it on retreat with me. Luckily my husband is a machinist. He used the broken pieces as a pattern and cut me out another top from clear acrilic. He also rounded off the corners and screwed the original legs back on. While I only machine quilt Linus quilts what I love about my table is that I can keep notions and stuff like my scissors, extra feet and lots of stuff I need all of the time under it. That way they don't get in the way but are perfectly visible and accesable while I am sewing. If I need to have a bigger area to say sew a binding on a bed size quilt I just set up a folding table behind my machine to support the quilt I am working on.

Look at the Quilt in a Day site. Eleanor Burns has instructions for changing a kitchen table (she calls it a farm table) to a sewing table. Then, you can have your acrylic extension level with the table top. I found a table at a thrift shop and my husband cut a hole for my machine. It makes FMQ much easier!

deemail, what a great idea, I think I'm going to try it.

yep, me too. i had my extension on for quite awhile and loved it.but then my quilts kept getting caught on the corner and drove me nuts enough that I removed it. can't win for losing.

One yard of JoAnn's heavier clear vinyl draped over the surface should help. Mine has a hole cut in it for the needle area and I use one piece of tape there. If you're sewing on a table, put the machine and extension to the right so you have as much vinyl covered table as possible to the left to support the quilt. My ironing board sits at an angle to my left to help if the quilt is heavier. Gravity is not your friend when FMQ. A yard of vinyl is 45" wide so it smoothes quite a few edges.

The foam sheets I used were sold at Lowe's a few years ago as insulation material. They were 2 ft x 4 ft and 1 inch thick. But they are just white styrofoam...when you cut into them you see all the tiny little balls! But once you cover all the raw edges with duct tape and cover the top surface(s) with oilcloth or vinyl, you won't have little bits or little balls to deal with. I posted pictures of mine and how I covered it at this link:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/mission...e-t171975.html

There's another post called "Update to my version of the foam quilting table."

I had the same issue with trying to quilt on the acrylic table...kept getting caught on the corners of the table even though they are rounded.

I like the idea of the custom-made plywood extension but I would find that hard to lift out of the way to get to my bobbin or to be able to use the free arm on my machine.

AnitaSt

You can also purchase a mat that goes over the top of the machine area with a slit for the actual sewing area. It is made of silicone, I think, but whatever it really helps me to glide the fabric around during FMQ. I use mine every time I FMQ and it didn't cost that much. Think it was about 10$. Worth the money. If your LQS does not carrry them, try a quilters site and look under notions. Good luck.

I am always amazed at how resourceful you guys are!!! Deemail - can you post a picture? I have trouble making my own picture in my head. Guess that would make me spatially challenged? But it sounds like a very workable solution. Should get my dh to read descriptions (or even my son). Then I could get them to draw me pictures - because I have trouble seeing it without the visual.

AnitaSt - loved your pictures of your updated table. I had seen the foam board idea on YouTube. I like yours even better as you took care of the loose ends having the potential to cause problems. Also like that you can move it in one piece and not worry about the stacks sliding apart.

Looks like I need to pick one of these nifty ideas, commit - and go find the materials!!

Will also have to check out Eleanor Burn's website for converting a regular table to a sewing table. Was just telling my dh this morning that I would like it if he could put me something together.

This is what I found on U-tube and set my tables up just like it, it works great! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g14go...feature=relmfu

I've had the same experience, which is why I made my "box quilting" table, it's level with the bed of my machine.

Use a sew slip or supreme slider, makes a hell of a difference

I've had the same problem with my acrylic extensions table, it makes me crazy. The quilt constantly got caught on the edge of the table...I thought I was doing something wrong. Finally removed it...

I have found that the teflon oven liners work really good to make the area slick so the fabric slides around and they are really large too.

I found a desk at a resale shop and my DH cut a space for my machine, now my machine sets in the drawer. I had to put a piece of board under the machine to set level with the desk top. The desk top is Formica but you could also get a piece of scrap Formica from the store to make a more permanent surface for the FMQing. All I have to do is spray some furniture wax on and it is sooo slippery.
Happy quilting
Jan

I use a chair next to me to hold the weight of the quilt and I puddle it on top of the extension table and the large table my machine is sitting on. You don't want all the weight of the quilt resting on top of the extension table. Yes it sometimes gets caught on the edge until you learn to spread the weight around. Keep trying, maybe with something smaller until you get the hang of using the ext, table.

I bought one made for my machine and it works very well corners are rounded so it doesn't catch and slides in where the extension the legs extend so it is easy to move

I have a QC4800 and have been thinking of ordering the acrylic extension for FMQ. I took a class .....was not good at FMQ at all....thought maybe the small area had something to do with my issues. Couldn't be me LOLOLOL
Some time ago a board member did a post on using the Silicone baking sheets or oven liners for FMQ, just cut a small hole for the needle. Thought about trying that, now I am really confused on which way to go. Go on a quilt retreat in February and signed up for a FMQ class, beginner/ intermediate levels. Will decide then.

I had the same type of problem. The extension is great for just regular sewing but not for FMQ.

I found that a sewing table (cabinet) with an insert, making a flat surface and using the Supreme Slider made a world of difference in my FMQ. I wouldn't do it any other way. I'm thinking of also using a sewing machine grade silicone spray on the areas that don't have the slider as I read about somewhere on line. The quilt has to be flat and supported how ever you can make that happen.

i have seen where they advertise that having the extension for the machine would make it easier to FMQ but could never figure that one out since it is easier if everything is on a even surface especially the quilt needing to be flat , i would spend the money on a table before i would buy an extension

The silcone spray works...just make sure its a sewing grade spray...