Quilt frame cloth leaders
 

I want to replace the cloth leaders on my quilt frame. Has anyone here on QB used the ones from Nancy's Notions? And do you like them? I checked out the leaders on Bayside quilting and they would be allmost double the price. Any other places I might check on? Thanks.

I haven't used them, but I think at least some of the difference in price is that the ones from Nancy's Notions are not finished. You have to cut the 3 leaders apart and hem and/or serge them yourself. Since I don't have a serger, that would be a problem for me.

I think you may be comparing apples to oranges. The ones at Nancy's Notions are by the yard ($16) so you would need to buy probably 3 to 4 yards.

i found that it was very easy to make my own leaders. i used a lightweight, not stretchable fabric that is very inexpensive. i serged the edges, although sewing a narrow hem would also be acceptable. i sewed a perpendicular line at the center of each leader so i could properly line up the top, back, etc. then i wrote on each leader its position on the frame and how to attach the top, back, etc to that leader. that has been most helpful to me. the size of each leader came with the instructions for my quilt frame.

there are different methods to attach the leaders to the frame... i chose self adhesive velcro. this has worked great for me, but after several years, this self-adhesive glue has failed... so i need to find a way to reattach.

I tried to use the ones i made for my long arm and was not happy with it
and so i went to the company where i bought my machine and ordered some
man never had trouble after that.

I hand quilt and w/ the quilting group - we just use pillow ticking cut to size and staple them to the wooden frame.

I made my own with striped canvas....works great!!!!!

http://shop.quiltsonthecorner.com/Ca...as-Leaders.htm

I purchased the red snapper system and the canvas leaders described at quiltsonthecorner.com

The quality is very high. Also check out the tips for attachment.

Hi Kay,
do you like the red snapper system. I still just pin and don't know if I want to spend the money on the red snappers. Do you really save a lot of time over pining?
Janet

I bought mine from here:
http://www.kathyquilts.com/kathyquilts.com/
Scroll down the page, you will find info about them...they make leaders using a "fabric fast" system, and explain it all on their site. I have had excellent customer service and information from them...
Kif

I have the red snapper system and it works great. So much easier than pinning.

Hi quilts4charity,
I am trying to make my own cloth leaders also. Can you tell me if you hemmed your canvas? Also, did you add any additional markings to your striped canvas to help with centering & such? Thanks for any help you can offer.

The leaders that came with my long arm, had the selvages edge of the canvas where I pin the quilt on. I had thought of making a hem so I could use red leaders, but never gotten "round" to that. Ooops! I like pinning actually, seem to have more control and easier to line up the edges. I did mark the center of all the leaders by measuring from the ends of the rollers and then I made an offset mark I could use by determining how much space my machine would take at one end of the frame and then determining the center point of the remaining rollers. I did this so I could get the largest area where I could center a very large quilt. However, since I have gotten the 12-foot frame instead of my old 10-foot frame, I think I have only used that offset center one time for a king-sized quilt.

I had gotten plain canvas to make my leaders, I serged the raw edge, then used clear HEAVY-duty tape to attach them to the poles.

I have used a few methods to attach backings to it but am now LOVING using staples. This method goes very quick and you have the top of the staple on the backing fabric and when finished--pull the backing so the staples pop off the canvas and then trim a couple inches off that has the staples.
Using the staples was given by a fellow board member, ??, and it has been working very well for me.

Hi quilts4charity,
I am trying to make my own cloth leaders also. Can you tell me if you hemmed your canvas? Also, did you add any additional markings to your striped canvas to help with centering & such? Can you also tell me how long & wide you made your cloth leaders? Thanks for any help you can offer.