I saw a video on making rice bags for your long arm. The thing about it was..they didnt say what they are used for. Can someone share? Also do you use them?? Thank you

I read that they are to be used to gain more control, especially when doing micro-work. I tried it and definitely did not like it!

what do you mean exactly? gain more control of your machine? do you lay them on your machine?

They are used for control of the quilt in the frame being
quilted. Lay them along the length of the quilt just inside the
frame...............helps to keep from getting puckers in
the quilt while quilting.

I believe they also add drag so your machine does not 'whip' around. I think Sharon Schamber tucks them into the take up bar to pull the quilt taut. I would like to see them in action!

I saw them used this way.

I use a batting scrap to take up slack in certain spots, usually a border (measure your border-don't just sew on a strip of fabric).

I am a long arm quilter and I have not heard of this. I can't imagine how it would help, but as I said I have not tried it. HUMMM thinking about this.

They are to put more drag on the quilt when you are doing finely detailed work--micro stipples or tiny little designs. I haven't done that type of quilting yet and not sure if I ever will.

Another use for rice bags is for heat pads. They microwave them and put them on sore muscles.

Go to Sharon Schambler's site that is where I believe this was orginated from.

This is where I saw it and she never says what they are used for.

How long is a long arm quilter? Thanks

she has videos that shows how she uses them

Most people consider anything larger than 18" throat a Long Arm probably because you have to have long arms to use one that big--LOL JK!

8-11" or 12" is short arm.

12-18" is mid arm but there are some 18" machines that I would consider a long arm because of all the bells and whistles and how expensive they are. These may or may not have a foot controller. Some are based on commercial single purpose machines and others are stretched domestic machines.

Longarms have a single purpose, usually come with the frame and do NOT have a foot controller. Now they make some machines that blur the line between Long Arms & Mid-Arms. They do have a foot controller but sit inside of a table like commercial sewing machines only they turn them a different direction--HandiQuilter pops into my mind with their Quilt Table Fusion & Avante machines, APQS George, and Gammill has a home table now.