Congrats on the new addition. Good luck with the art!

I recently got a mid arm with frame, and to practice I used 2 old twin sheets with a thin blanket as batting. I was able to
purchase these at estate sales very cheap. I tried all different patterns on them and really enjoyed getting to know my
machine. Once I completed it I was so happy with the mixed up patterns that I put a binding on it and have it as my
first whole fabric quilt. Enjoy your machine!

Good idea on the 'whole quilt' concept for practice. I have had my Avante 18 for almost a year. I can knock out a full/queen in about 2.5 hours AFTER the time spent pinning it into place. That's a free motion meandering pattern (my own loops/circles design). You have to get comfortable with the machine and develop your own rythm Look up pantographs and continuous designs online for some education on what's available out there. Have fun!

A few months ago I stumbled onto this site it was about midnight and I was about ready to go to bed, but someone was talking about using velcro to fasten their quilt into the frame instead of all the safty pins. I was tired and I thought I saved the site but have never been able to find it again. I rushed right out the next day and bought a huge roll of velcro but that is a far as I have gotten. Does anyone know how to do this? I assume you would sew one side of the velcro to the leader on the frame, but would you sew the other to the quilt top, backing ??? The person was talking about something she had done wrong and was so glad she had used velcro and not pins, because with the velcro it was so easy to correct. Can anyone help me with this. Thanks in advance

I cannot get over how big this is! Even on the crib-size, without the extensions, it takes up most of the little room it's in! I'm hoping that it will fit from corner to corner if I need to put in the extensions!!
I like to use iron-on pictures and then "paint" them with fabric markers and use them for practice! So much fun! And in the end, a great little wall hanging!!
I'll look up the velcro tip, Sonya, because that seems like a pretty good idea! If I find it, I'll let you know!

congrats and good luck!

I have a similar set-up that I learned to "mid-arm" quilt on. There are lots of factors as to how long it will take you to do a quilt. I found that my JukiTL98Q was picky about thread. The best thread combination was Superior KingTut on top and masterpiece or SoFine on the bottom and being sure that the thread tension was good. If you need help with thread tension watch Jamie Wallen's video on YouTube. Also be sure that everything is level. You use your whole body with your upper arms kind of locked into your sides, but you have to be loose as well. Pam Clark has a lot of good videos on www.thequiltingschool.com. I found I was better at free-motion rather than pantos. Practice, practice, practice. Do lots of small practice pieces. It's really scarey when you do that first quilt that you spent so much time making and worrying you are going to screw up. I would pick something with a busy fabric that you can do free motion on and pick a thread that matches your fabric, so if you do mess up a little it won't show. I got a lot of confidence quilting on this system, and was no longer intimidated to go and test-drive the real long arms. Yeah! and I just bought a long-arm! Good luck and let your creativity flow!

THank you for the links. I am having a hard time finding "how to" on the internet! I guess most people know what they're doing when they buy it or buy it from a shop with lessons. Did you sell your mid arm? How do you know if a machine is picky about thread?
We should be able to finish putting it together tonight. I can't decide if I want to go thriftstore shopping tomorrow (It's the monthly half off weekend!) or stay home and play?

Congrads on the new set-up. Show some pics when you geta chance. I have a Phaff Grand when they first came out, i only do my own quilts with a loop-d-loo all over, but do a practice piece first to get to know your machine. Have Fun and relax and it helps make it smooth!

Practice, Practice Pratice. Show us pics!