Longarm Learning Curve Frustrations
 

I'm cutting my teeth on a long-arm and it's proving to be a painful process. I'm thinking now i should have played more video games as a child for better hand/eye coordination! I'll get this, I'm sure but it took me 5 hours today to rack and do 3/4 of a twin sized quilt! :shock: Thread breaking, tension issues, not centering the top on the rack...you name it, today I screwed it up the first three times I tried. How long does this take to learn? I feel like a total slow-poke. Thankfully I have work projects to finish and practice on. I had to come home and piece on my FW since it's a machine that actually doesn't fight me. LOL. Tomorrow's another go at finishing the twin sized and hopefully get a wall-hanging done. Wish me luck, I'm gonna need it!

It does take time to get in the groove of LA quilting. 5 hours is NOT BAD for your first attempt. I took me a 1/2 to load my first quilt. I recently did a twin size (lots of quilting with even more stops and starts in the pattern). It took me over a week to quilt.
For the thread breaking - what thread are you using in the top and bobbin? Make sure the height of the quilt is not too high or low. Not sure what machine you have, but as my quilt gets past the middle, I need to raise the bars so it's not dragging. How about needles - what are you using? Are you cleaning the bobbin area as you change out the bobbins - you'd be surprised how much lint accumulates in a short time. I also change the needle quite often. And, don't go too fast.

For thread breaking rise the bars - I find it is better to have the bars a little high than low so there isn't any dragging. Hang in there it takes time and one of these days you will load and quilt and start quilting with ease.

Thanks. It's a basic Nolting, no stitch regulator, no computer (what's the fun in that? :p). Right now I'm in basic stipples and loops. Good point on raising the rail, I hadn't thought of that. I'm sure there's a sweet spot, I just haven't clicked into it yet. I lock the stitch to begin and then start the machine and it skips right off then the thread breaks. I'm using Coats and Clark mach. quilting thread. Nothing fancy but not anything weird. I just feel so slow. I do brush out the bobbin race and underthroat when I change bobbins and yes, very linty. I'm also a lefty and the machine wants to move left to right while my brain wants to track right to left so I'm constantly remembering not to quilt myself into corners, though sometimes I don't remember soon enough. Lol. I just see people who do this make it look effortless. I make it look like a child's abstract art at this point.

You may benefit from looking up tutorials by 'Jamie Wallen' on youtube. He has several and they are very informative. You may like the one where he explains about drawing your free motion designs on paper just to get the feel of it, by getting your hand and brain to work together. This really works. There are also several other videos by other quilters and longarm companies that you may find helpful. Good luck and congratulations on your new longarm.

are you pulling the thread to the top at the beginning. i used to have a problem with it tangling and breaking if i forgot to pull it up and hold it as i started. it takes time. be patient with yourself.

I have been learning on my long arm for about a year and a year before on a mid arm and I am just now feeling comfy enough to do work for others--and only meander or basic panto. It takes time and practice--don't rush yourself this learning can be fun. I think what helped me the most was not working on a quilt. Get yourself a few sheets from goodwill and a piece of batting and knock yourself out.
For centering your top faster do you have center marks on your leaders? I put marks on all 3 with a sharpie as well as hints to me as to which side of quilt gets pinned to where. This way when I get the center of the top I only have to line them up with the marks. I am a very visual person so if I can see it I can do it
For thread breakage I would switch spools and see if you still have issues. Sometimes no matter who the manufacture of the thread it can be bad.
Try to enjoy your learning curve and show us pix :-)

Hi Trivia42, I just got my Handiquilter LA this May and yes there is a learning curve. I have watched every video and read books like crazy since starting. Have found good quality polyester thread ,40 weight, to be strong, pretty and a whole lot less lint. Use the same weight in top as well as in bobbin. When checking bobbin tension , hold thread while in bobbin and it should fall down firmly like a spider on its web . Not too loose though. Then on the outside edges of quilt, practice and adjust tension . I'm still new to some of this but getting better all the time and have found speed not to be a good thing especially if you want pretty work. Good luck and keep practicing.

Every machine runs a little bit different depending on the operator. Relax and practice, practice, practice! With practice you will find what works with your machine. Make sure you have the correct needle for your machine and that it is inserted correctly, use a strong thread (most machines do like a poly thread, a cotton wrapped poly or a poly wrapped cotton -my machine prefers A&E Perma Core) A cotton thread just does not have the strength to stand up to the speeds these machines run. Take your time and enjoy the process!!

I think after reading all the posts I'm sticking with sending my quilts to my Long arm quilter and not getting one myself!

Watch every video you can, and I really like jamie wallen. I have now got the tension problems under control after watching his video. There is learning curve just give yourself a chance. Practice Practice Practice. I use red snappers for loading and now can load my quilts quick. It really does get better!!!

Coats and Clark's quilting thread? I believe that is made to be used in domestic sewing machines. Thread made for longarms needs to be stronger because they sew at higher speeds.

I tried King Tut and Signature first, and both worked pretty well -- just a little threading and occasional breaking. Then I tried Glide thread -- never any shredding or breaking. Glide is all I've used since then! Here is a link to Glide thread: http://www.bobbincentral.com/ . If you search, there were some recent threads (no pun intended! :D ) about Glide on the QB.

Here is a link to the Jamie Wallen video on setting thread tension. This video has helped a lot of quilters (including me!) get tension set right:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1mRhcquZTM

It is going to be difficult to develop your quilting skills if you are using thread that breaks often.

that thread is not very good-we had lots of trouble with it and now only use Glide and not problems at all.I use the C&C only for piecing -otherwise I was gonna throw it away.Try a different kind of thread and see if it is better.

I always test a small section on the side off the quilt before starting. I check the top, bobbin tensions...and make sure I am happy before putting needle and thread to the top of the quilt. I would suggest doing a practice piece..try diff threads, designs..take note on what threads you liked and what worked..and what you didn't like. Ask another longarmer close to you if they would be willing to let you use a few of their diff threads to try before you buy. and above all? don't forget to breathe! (I cannot tell you how many times I cried when I 1st started on a short arm system. I was the only person in Phoenix who owned my brand system at the time..and my dealer was in Washington State! no classes..no one to call...no Quilting board. Its amazing I am still quilting on a track system!) Hang in there!

Hang in there. I got much better after about 3 quilts. I do lots for charity. No ones compains if something is not quilte perfect. Non quilters do not have a clue. I can do a twin size one prolly in 5 hours now---from the start of loading. I just quilt free from the front of the machine. I have about 5 patterns I could almost do in my sleep. I do not have a stitch regulator. I do not even have a bobbin winder.

I use Bottom Line prewound bobbins and Essential Pro Thread from Connecting threads. I can use other threads for the top but this is what I mainly use.

My machine is old---HQ16---and bought on Craigslist. It will get much better.

I have had my LA for about 2 years now, purchased during Covid, so no testing models etc. But I've never regretted my purchase! Definitely a learning curve and doodling/practicing will help develop the muscle memory you need. Check the website specific to your machine as they might have all sorts of tutorials, cheat sheets etc to help you out.
I have been using Aurifil thread (cotton) since day 1 with no dificulties at all. Perhaps lintier than poly but I clean out my bobbin case etc with every change anyway.
There is a good printout called Troubleshooting Stitch Quality Issues from Quilters Headquarters:
https://www.quiltersheadquarters.com .

Note this is a 9 year old thread that got bumped.

A "zombie" thread, lol!

I asked in another thread whether it was an issue of some sort when an older thread gets bumped into the current world?

Responded to in that thread.