I to would like to know how you tighten the quilt on the frame that was made out of the PVC pipe
My frame has four pieces that goes on the top bar ,it has grooves in it to tighten the quilt.I was just wondering what you would use for that . Wilma Osmond

Wilma:

Check your private message.

cassiemae

For those of you still looking to make one of these frames, check out this link I read about on a longarm forum I'm in, for the Snap Clamps. They are available in different sizes so you could easily purchase 1/4" larger than your pipe size, and you have a choice on the legnth as well. They also have all kinds of elbow fittings, Y fittings, etc.

http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/accessory/pvc.shtml

Hope this helps. :D

You are very good at finding things in obscure places! Who would have thought to look at that sight for quilting frame material? Way to go. 8)

Thanks Cathie, but I can't take the credit for finding the site. Another lady on the longarm forum posted the link with a suggestion on using these to avoid hitting side clamps with your machine or as a method of quickly re-loading your quilt onto the frame for some touch-up quilting, etc. When she said this, I thought about this discussion here and figured it might be a good (quick, easy, & cheap) alternative to buying more pipes and cutting your own.

Besides, we're all quilters, no matter our method of choice, and we are all continually looking "outside of the box" for ways to make the process a bit easier. So, like all of you, when I come across helpful info, I want to pass it on.

(Tim would probably have tried to charge you for it... $19.95? $29.95? :lol: )

I found some different pics...maybe they will help and maybe not.

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...uff/Image1.jpg
The floor frame without risers

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...uff/Image2.jpg
This is for if you want to make the risers removeable

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...uff/Image3.jpg
If you add the dark pieces it will double your work space.

HTH
Trisha in MO

Great picture! Would you please send the measurements?

Ohhhh I see...you use pvc that has a slot cut out of it lengthwise to pop over the edge of the quilt to hold it to the frame!! clever!!

Thanks to all for this info. Everyone is quick to jump on it to come up with the answers. I was just wondering about frames my self.

A man made one for me about 17 years ago, but he really had trouble with the long vertical cuts to make the "half pipes" that clamp down and hold the quilt in place over the frame. In fact, he seriously cut himself while making one. (Not mine!)

My homemade one worked fine. Eventually it got thrown out - I can't remember why. I have a QSnap one now, and I like the way it can be extended so that more people can quilt at one time. The QSnap "grooves" in the "half pipes" are nice, but I honestly didn't have trouble with the homemade one (without grooves) either. I think it was because the gauge of the homemade one was heavier and it just clamped tighter to the underneath pipe. The edges of the homemade one were a bit rough in places, but you could probably smooth them out.

I have a couple of lap frames from QSnap too, with the narrower pipes. I am a BIG fan of the PVC frames. I believe they put less stress on the quilt and are much easier to use.