Red Snapper questions for LA's
 

A question for those of you using the Red Snappers (you lucky dogs!). I've been interested in them, but my frame is only 9-foot (due to space constraints), and I see they only come in 10 or 12-foot sections. Can these be cut down to fit my frame? Also, do they hold the quilt tightly? I tension my quilts a bit tight.

Yes, to both questions.

They are made of several sections and you can choose a combo that suits your needs. Yes they are easy to cut also if you want them smaller. I like them a lot but in the beginning I had to have DH put them on as they are tight. After I had used them for awhile and they were on a large quilt for some time they were more comfortable for me to put on.

Thanks for your answers! This are now going on my Christmas wish list!

Yes to both of your questions! I love them!!!!!

Definitely, though I had to use a utility knife to cut mine.

Know that I needed help putting the rods together, and he used channel lock type pliers. Also, the first few times you use them they will be stiff, but this will get easier.

I got mine for 30% off at one of the LQS's. So you might want to look for sales.

Thanks Alikat. I was wondering HOW to cut them. And thanks for the tips!

I was able to cut mine with kitchen /poultry shears. A pair of tin snips will work too.

I am actually getting ready to make my own snap on system.

I had purchased some Leader Grip side tension grips a while back at MQX East and was using some pieced flannel for my backing. I managed to break the snap on piece on the sewn seam and needed to replace/fix what I broke.

I decided that some smart person had to re-purpose an already made item to create these, SO ... I went in search of what they were - and found on another quilting forum that for the Leader Grip - the snap on pieces they were nothing more than a Rope Lighting Track!! These are sold by Amazon and like sites for $2.40 for a 4 ft length. I just ordered 6 of these and am off to a Home Depot to purchase some tubing that will fit them. It is identical what the Leader grips used and for a fraction of the cost.

OH MY GOSH, Betty! Now I'll have to check this out. It sounds like you bought the same side grips my friend and I did - and I do love them, by the way. I also have red snappers. I haven't figured out how to use them for the quilt top along the 'belly' bar ; if I snap it on then I can't get any where near the edge for quilting. They work fine on the backing because it's larger anyway. And, yes, they do seem to get easier to use. They were very tight at first and I struggled with them. Pat

Yes, with a pair of old scissors.

Yes for both questions too here. I love having them and wouldn't do without!!!

Wow - I would be eternally grateful if you could share the instructions on how to do this - I'd rather try this and see how I like it before investing a lot of money for something I may not use! I've never seen the system in person, so I'm not sure how it all works. I understand where the tracking would be used, but am not sure what the tubing is for :)

I was just going to bring the piece that I bought to the hardware store and see what semi flexible tubing that I could find that would fit inside of it. The rope lighting track that I bought is 3/8. I will let you all know when I figure it out.

I thought about red snappers but then I saw Sharon Schambers' method. She has a video of it on YouTube. She makes sort of, secondary leaders that she attaches a strip of velcro to the bottom of and then stitches a strip of velcro to the leaders on her long arm. She actually stitches the backing fabric to the secondary leaders, then she can just velcro the whole lot to the regular leaders and adjust as needed. I'm really thinking of doing this!

I float my top so my Snappers are not an issue for me, but I still have to DO something with that last bit of quilt that won't fit under my magnet (that is how I hold the top down. PM of you would like a picture...) I have 2 ideas for a solution. One is to baste a piece of muslin or other waste fabric on the end. Snapper that to the leader and that would give you some breathing room. What I do is just baste the bottom and edges of the quilt, then roll back to where I stopped quilting. I would love to know what works for you when you find 'your happy place'!

Oh please do let us know how you make out making your own ebarys...

Back in the old days.ha. when people hand quilted on wooden frames, they always had the quilt basted with a large piece of muslin onto the frame. I did it when I used my q-frame.

I have Red Snappers and I love them. When I get near the bottom of the quilt, I advance far enough to have the bottom edge of the quilt top laying flat and run a line of long straight pins (I use corsage) about 1" - 1 1/2" up from the bottom edge and spaced about every 4" - 6". I then remove the Red Snappers from the quilt top and baste the side and bottom edges of the quilt and remove the pins.

Also, my Gammill doesn't have a dead bar below the take up roller and I had a problem with the Red Snappers getting in the way if they ended up in the down or back position when I advanced. This was especially frustrating when doing a pantograph that was close to the maximum size I could quilt on my 18" machine because it reduced the quilting area. I removed the Red Snappers from that leader and now just pin the backing to the take up roller. However, having the Red Snappers on 2 of the 3 leaders is still worth the investment in my book.

I hope they can I just purchased a pair.

Who is Betty? Trying to work out what you are talking about.in UK I can't find anything definately not red snappers.could I have done it cheaper?

I just started using Red Snappers after using the zipper system for years. I love them! and yes you can cut the sections to smaller pieces. They are a bit stiff at first, but I think that depends on how heavy of fabric/canvas your leaders are. There is a tutorial on youtube by Tammy Murphy that shows how she uses her table while she loads her quilts on with Red Snappers. I'm going to try it her way on my next one. I also use Grip Lite Clamps by Quilter's Paradise and love them for the side tension. Becky

Thanks, everyone, for your responses. I may try Betty's way since I didn't know about that, but if that doesn't work out, it's Red Snappers for Christmas!

My red snappers are in the post. Please no stricks in the next week USA or UK. So excited I have a number of tops to do as I have been making tops in the hot weather and plan to quilt in the cooler autumn.
So excited like waiting for a new baby.

I will let you all know how my "home made" system works - just have to get to it - lol.

I do have one concern that laurlync brought up. My frame is a Hinterberg with a Voyager 17. Its take up lies flat on the bed of the machine. I am wondering if it will be in the way when I roll up the quilt to advance it if it is in the "down" position. These are not particularly flat or thin. Just thinking outloud here.

I'll be interested too - the Hinterberg frame and Voyager is what I have!