OMG! why didn't I try this sooner?
 

Ok I know I am a newbie even though I have had my machine for over 5 years. I keep learning different things. Well one thing that I did was to mark my quilts where I wanted to quilt them. I have been on my hands and knees marking for straight line quilting..... I have done many quilts straight line quilting and marking all of them.

Then today I have a quilt that has a lot of dark and when I mark with chalk it tends to rub off .... so I broke down and tried the quilting bar that came with my machine. I mean duh!!!! Why didn't I do this sooner???

I know its silly but I just wanted to share my excitement and say something in case there is someone else out there who hasn't tried that yet. Just try it!

But now I am wondering if they make bigger ones??? So I can quilt 4 inches apart instead of just 2" or less apart.. hhmmmmmm.... time to check the internet :)

Isn't it fun to learn new things especially those 'light bulb' moments?

I have a Husqvarna and the bar that comes with my walking foot doesn't screw in...so it actually shifts a little as you use it..... what machine do you have?

I have a Janome 6600 and this bar doesn't screw in either. I have been watching it to be sure I catch if it does shift, cause I can see that happening

:cool: I love those light bulb moments!

I do not know why more people don't use their decorative stitches for quilting there are so many stitches and they are beautiful.

I don’t use the decorative stitches for machine quilting because the stitch length is set for two single layers of fabric and is too tight for the additional thickness of the batting. It doesn’t produce a nice smooth stitch and causes puckers in the quilting. Some may be able to use them successfully. I cannot.

The quilting bar on my older Janome 4800 also becomes loose. I think the problem is that the screw can only turn one or two threads at most which loosens with the vibration of the machine.

My lightbulb moment was when I used my 1/2" ruler (used for marking 1/4" lines) as a quilting ruler for echoing around a border. I used a normal foot, just being careful not to push the ruler under it. I then echoed that line by putting a the ruler against it, giving a gap of about 3/4".

I have since used my 6 1/4" square ruler for wider gaps. Tape can be put on at different measurements to give various widths between rows of stitching.

Even though I now have quilting rulers, I still grab the ordinary rulers for simple echoing or crosshatching on smaller projects; it saves changing the foot too.

I have found that my quilting bar has a tendency to move somewhat...making my straight lines somewhat wonky. So now I get out my green frog masking tape and securely tape that thing in place. Of course I may have to redo it each time I'm quilting a new project with straight lines as sometimes I want them smaller or wider...at least they are no longer wonky.

You can use any length of quilting bar as long as it fits in the hole designed for the original. You can mark off the size you want with brightly colored tape. I can use a straight part of a coat hanger since my quilt bar is secured by a screw.

When I do straight line sewing, either with my regular or walking foot, I use a piece of computer paper (8.5x11 or 8.5x14). I cut the width strip I need and sew along the edge. After the first line I just line up the edge with the previous line and sew away. Cut a new strip when the old one is worn. Have used this method when quilting pot holders to full size quilts.

When I used to quilt on my domestic, I found that my spacing bar would sometimes move in the process of manipulating the quilt around so I use masking/painters tape to do any spaced quilting greater than 1/4". I would quilt right next to the tape. You can use a strip several times before it quits sticking. I would not quilt anything with lines spaced greater than 2" unless I was going to put some kind of fill in the area. In those cases I would line up two strips of masking tape side by side and remove the one that wasn't going to have quilting next to it. It is difficult to find painters tape wider than 2". In my experience anything with larger spacing just doesn't look that nice after washing.

great idea!!! economical too!

I did see that as well... but I just watch it closely. Still better than crawling on the floor marking lines :)

I love that bar. I also bought a foot for my Juki 2010 with Double bars-one for the right- one for the left.

I use this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=2-KmKn_xuLU

It has made my machine quilting straight lines so much easier.

Whenever I sell a machine I tell the person that they need to take a day, a bit of fabric, a large pot of coffee and just play with the machine. Just like when you get a new car and take it out for a drive - do that, learn the buttons and dials, see what it can do. Even play with the stitches and using a sharpie, mark down what stitch, length and width next to the stitch line and keep it in the drawer as a cheat sheet. Folks are so anxious to jump into making a project, they do not realize how much they will benefit from learning their tool first. AND IT'S FUN!!!

I love these little ah-ha moments! Then I'm always like, how did I not see this sooner?! On the plus side, I then have multiple ways of doing something. I know I can do it the harder way if need be, plus the new ah-ha way. ;)

I ordered those last nigh from Amazon!!!!!!

I have seen that foot before.. maybe that will be my next toy I buy :) ha ha ha

The bar on my Brother walking foot is a tight fit, but my friend had one that slid, so we wrapped those little rubber bands they make for little girl’s hair aroun it, and it can slide to adjust, just not while being used, but other that making one, you might not have any option but to try and contact the company to see if one is available.

Such good advice! I've been leading some "learn to sew" classes at our local library, and some of the people bring in their own machines. When they look at a special foot or need to know how to adjust something, they can't believe it's in the owners manual - when I get them to look it up, they're amazed at what's in the manual....

Can you post a photo of this foot and where you got it? I have the 2010 too and have never seen one!

This is fantastic! I was looking for something just like this. I am so excited and am going to buy one right away! Thank you!:D

Just wanted to put a tip out there for all......I downloaded the manual to my machines to my computer so I have a digital copy and put it in Dropbox. I can access Dropbox on my phone, tablet, and computer. When I am stuck somewhere waiting....doctors office, airport, car servicing,etc. and if I had kids to pick up or wait for, I can read over the manual. Sometimes I see something new (or new because I forgot) and other times it is just a reminder of what my machine can do and how to do it. This is the one way that I read my manual through from front to back.

Nancy's notions has one that you can use every 3 inches.

The bar does work well, but I am also a fan of blue painters tape. It comes in several widths. I can move it several times along my quilt before replacing it. I sew next to it, not through it.

I just ordered one. Sure do hope it fits my Juki 400. Thanks for the link.

Murphy: That is a great idea to download the manual so you can access it during those down times.

Yeah but its not for a walking foot..........

I use blue painters tape -- I can use one strip several times. I follow the tape with the edge of the foot so I can make the strips as wide or narrow as I want. The bar on my walking foot is a bit wobbly so I prefer the tape.

I use the blue painters tape also.
It comes in different widths and each
strip is reusable for several stripes.
And it’s cheap!

Unfortunately this foot would not work with my Pfaff when I want to use the IDT. I don't know if it would work with a regular walking foot. I MUST USE a walking foot or IDT for my quilting.

I haven't tried my machine's seam bar, since I had one on a different machine that wouldn't stay still. I should try it and see if one of the fixes here would work if it slips.

I've used painter's tape, but don't sew right next to it, since my needle could/would catch. I put it 1/4" away from where I want to stitch, and use my 1/4" foot along the edge of the tape.