I have been practicing free motion. Even bought a large sewing machine table extension made of plastic but the quilt catches on the rounded corners. My problem is the quilt just will not slide easy enough so will not quilt smoothly.
Does anyone have advice on how to move a quilt smoothly? I tried gloves, no luck. Has anyone tried that slip piece that fits on top of the table and has a hole for the needle?

I tried to tape my teflon pressing to the machine and quilt like that. It was a disaster! I guess I had not secured it very well, and it slipped and I sewed right through the pressing sheet.

All I can suggest is what works for me. I move my sewing table into the dining room and push it right up against the dining table. Then I set up the card table to the left of the machine to help support the quilt. Without the support of the dining table and card table I don't think I'd be able to get any quilting done. (My machine is in a cabinet that puts it flush with table level.)

I pull the ironing board up to my left side and adjust it to hold the weight of the quilt while the rest of the quilt goes up against the wall behind the back of my machine. This helps a ton.

I also cannot for the life of me do anything with gloves, so I usea product called "quilt sew easy discs". They are just what the say, discs that you put your finger tips on and move the quilt with them. I've also heard that the rubber fingers that you can get at office supply stores work well- haven't tried that.

I've also been told that you can wax the surface of your machine to help the fabric slide...haven't tried that either. I've found that keeping the weight of the quilt supported and finding something I like to use with my hands to move the quilt made all the difference in the world.

Good Luck!

I use the white quilting gloves so my skin can breath...no sweating with them.....and they do help me a lot.....
You do need all this extra space to acomodate your quilt around so you won't need to fight with all the weight of it....
You may also try the clippers so you actually roll the long fabric ...(I use slices of pvc tubes sometimes....)
Sit comfortably.....relax....and remember to acomodate your quilt a bit from time to time....
You will get there...its just a matter of time..... :lol:
Good luck

Someone else, can't remember who, suggested using paste wax on the bed of the macine to make it slicker. Just make sure you buff it real well.

I have a teflon slider sheet that lays over the bed of my machine, it's great! It's magnetic so it doesn't move when moving the quilt around. I also use quilters gloves. :)

I have used both a clear shoe polish, which I buff and buff until my hand just glides over the surface and also the teflon sheet, which involves no labor at all. I love both methods and the one I use depends on my mood.

I'm at work right now, so can't look up the brand, but at the Houston International Quilt Show I found the most wonderful gloves for free motion quilting that are very lightweight and tight-fitting so they are like your second skin. They have only three fingertips that are "rubberized" and the ring finger and little finger have no tips. You can actually feel the fabric and still grip the quilt. IF I CAN REMEMBER I'll check for more info tonight and post tomorrow.

Judith

funny you should post this today. i happened to drop off my machine for routine maintenance yesterday. i always take it to the shop where i bought it. so of course i was looking around at all the new toys.
they have a new accessory called INSPIRA FAB U MOTION. it even has a stitch regulator to purchase separately. they had it set up in the store and it looked like it would make free motion much easier. course it cost around $1100 with the stitch reg. it is by pfaff. i think you can use it with another brand of maching. it moves so smoothly i couldn't believe it. i have tried to post a link. if it doesn't take you there, go to the pfaff web site.
very interesting stuff they are coming up with. also pretty pricey.

http://www.pfaffusa.com/8574.html

I just knew you would all have great ideas and boy did you.
Thanks so much for all the tips.

Where do you buy a teflon slider???? In quilting shoops?

Has anyone used John Flynn's multframe for quilting? It looks like it would make quilting a lot easier on a regular machine.
Jo

Shadow...the magnets on the teflon slider won't effect a computerized machine?

The underside of the slider sheet sticks to the machine bed, but it's not a true magnet so it doesn't affect computerized machines. I've used this one for everything I've quilted on both my computerized sewing machines without a problem. :)

I have a Flynn frame. It is small for a reason. You cant handle it any larger, in fact it is hard to handle small. You need to get larger pcp pipe to roll the frame on which in turn requires a large table. Then they fall off if you are not paying attention. I dont like it at all, a waste of money. So it sits in a corner gathering dust. If you enlarge it with pcp pipe you have this long thing that you guide thru your maching which requires a room even longer than a regular quilting table requires. The large pcp has to be the width to fit the heigth of your sewing machine. This is used to roll the frame on the table for support. He makes it look easy but it is not and you can only do a narrow row at a time because you have the depth of your machine and the roller the fabric is on to contend with.

regarding the john flynn frame...I have the cd and some of his templates and the pattern to make the frame your self. I have it on my husband's "to do list" but haven't got it completed yet. Want to see if it actually does work but got to wait for hubby


will try anything to make free motion easier

Where did you get the pattern? The video is available on line. I think I could make the frame myself, I'm quite handy with power tools.
Jo

here is the page where I got the info from for the pattern . Then I just got the measurements off the tubes and stuff that he uses. Check out his page for more info to help when building it from scratch

http://www.flynnquilt.com/frames2.htm

Thanks for the link :D

hey if it turns out pretty good, and it actually works like the purchased one ...let me know

you might get it done before my hubby does

michigantears

Thanks, I'm going to Home Depot today (for another project) and will look for the parts while I'm there.

We'll see who gets done first. I'll let you know if it works ok, you let me know how it comes out if your hubby finishes before me.
Jo

oh not a prob...but i think you will win

keep me posted


ps...I would like to do it myself but he is funny about someone else doing his projects for my things I want made .......he is a big time procrastinator

hi rose i have one it,s called a sew slip and it works wonderful, just put it on top of your sewing machine put the little hole where bobbin thread comes up . sticky side down on table and slippy side on top of your table works good because when you put your fabric glides smoother nellie

Thanks, I have been wondering about the slip. Guiss thats my next purchase.
I spend way to much money on quilting, but it is so addictive.

your wecome rose i glad to help you ,i also sent alot on quilting hobby and still spending money right now im top quilting my quilt with a sew slip and like i said it,s alot of help,the most expencive one that i invested for far has been my bernina sewing machine i paid over 6,000.00 on it but worth every penny and you just keep going from there i just pray that the good lord gives us enough time to make our quilts best of luck in your quilt making best regards nellie your new quilt friend

some of my students use those white gloves and now swear by them... I might have to look into them myself and see what all the hype is about

:D
The white gloves are great your hands don't sweat, easy to take off and you don't have to worry about "right" or "left"..they fit both hands...
The only thing I am not sure about is how to wash them.....