Is there an easier way?
 

I've been trying to learn how to control my new longarm from the front of the machine. Man, it is tougher than it looks. I am having a difficult time trying to follow a simple pattern? I loaded up a cheaters print sampler and I'm just trying to go around the design without getting over the lines! Yikes!!! Will I ever be able to control where I want to go? Is there an easy way? Is this something that you would use the stitch regulator on or off? I've tried both. I think I am more comfortable with it on. Any advice for a novice?

what machine do you have? someone who has the same..may be able to help you. Also, have you taken any classes?

What machine? You could have your sandwich way too loose or your take up bar is not down on the quilt enough. Maybe you need to create some drag by using cans or rice bags. I always use my SR. It takes time, lots of time. Put some muslin on the machine and just go crazy before trying to follow a pattern or sample cheater. Check out youtube for demos and more.

I have a Nolting 24" PRO.

It is much harder to follow lines on the fabric than to do free motion, ruler work, or a pantograph. Why start with the hardest thing? I always use the SR. For detailed work I use my micro handles.

What machine do you have?

I started by using the regulator at 10 stitches per inch. Slow enough for control and a good stitch length. slow it down even more but watch how fast you move the machine. If you move to fast at a slow stitch speed you could break a needle.

When I first started I loaded solid fabric for top and back, used a contrasting thread so I could see it. A simple panto with gentle curves and a few points gave me lots of pracice, just repeating the motion over and over.

At first you don't even have to thread the machine. Just turn the laser light on and follow the panto pattern without sewing, repeatedly, put on some good music and get into a groove. You can do this with any pattern you want to follow, even a cheater fabric. Just follow the pattern many times without sewing before you actually start. practice, practice, practice.

Do you have a platform to attach to the machine for using rulers? This gadget makes straight line work and angles much easier and rulers with curves are helpful also.

@ Sandyquilts: I also have a pro 24. So simple to use. Nothing fancy but does beautiful work.

practice, practice, practice!
slow down the machine
and practice some more- as with learning to play the piano- it takes practice...but with time & practice you will certainly be able to. some people spend years --- some get the hang of it sooner- it takes, relaxing- slowing down (sometimes you have to slow down in order to speed up) and practice. for me if i put on some good music that i can get into a flow with that helps.

Exactly what they said. Practice, loosen up. Breath instead of following the lines make some simple designs between.Like if your cheater is wedding ring. put some swags along the blocks. Make some flowers. echo some light hands don't grip

I agree with every one above, I only do free hand before I start I get out my dry erace board and draw the patern I want to use over, and over, and over again, it trains the mind and hand to work together, try laying a clear peace of plastic, the thick kind you can get at Joann's in there yardage plastic area, tape your panel down to a table or counter, cover with plastic, using a dry erase marker trace it as if you were standing at your machine. Do this several times if you make a mistake just wipe it off and try again. Hope this helps. Don't give up keep trying, good luck

I would suppose it is like sewing on a regular machine. You have to practice alot, relax, breathe and don't get stressed. I just do FMQ, a large stipple, nothing fancy. I love to do it and I love the look.

I think a lot depends on the frame and carriage you have. Mine is a wooden Gracie frame. I would never buy that frame again. My carriage does not glide along smoothly, so all I do is FMQ. I tried a Tin Lizzie on a much better frame at the Texas State Fair last week. I could be a great LongArmer on that machine. It was so much easier to glide that machine and do small detail work. I have a Queen Quilter 18 machine which is pretty good, but the frame is not.

I have been quilting on a frame since 2005. In that time, I have changed machines twice (on the same frame) and then upgraded to a true long arm. Each time I changed something, I had to work my way back to a panto. With the long arm, it was at least 6 months before I felt like I had good enough control to do it decently. Other people said it looked ok to them..but my eye said YUCK! Hang in there!

I wish I had a LAM

Is your frame level at both ends and in the middle going both directions? I was taught to keep your eyes focused ahead of where the needle is stitching. I keep mine an inch or even 2 inches ahead depending on how close the pattern is. Also, don't grip the handles hard. Lightly hold them. Sometimes I use only thumb and first finger. And of course, relax. In my class, the teacher brought in bottles of wine for everyone to sip in the afternoon when we were getting tense about finishing on time. What a help that was!
With a pantograph, you do not see on the quilt where your pattern lines were, just the outcome and that helps alot. Starting with gentle curves as someone mentioned before is good. And stitch regulation at first.
Draw lines across your practice quilt 2 or 3 inches apart. Then practice cursive c's and capital s's across over and over again. Keep them within the lines, but filling the space. Then try printing u's with 90 degree corners all the way across.
It does take a long time, but you will be so happy when you see improvement. I was.

Now that is a very clever idea!!!

I have a Gammill that my husband purchased for me last summer - I am finally getting to the point that someone paid me to do their quilt! I had never done any quilting - always sent mine out to be done. I always use my stitch regulator - just too scared not to - lol. I love doing meandering - both with and without loops - learned how to add hearts/stars too. I can do pantographs - have done some, but they seem harder than freehand from the front of the machine. I was told to always look ahead in the panto and not to worry about staying exactly on the lines, just close and not to jerk back into line if I went off. For me, the hardest part of the panto is getting each new line set up.

I just finished a quilt (trip around the world pattern) recently that was made from polyester and had a sheet for the backing - the quilt shop owner that sent it to me said I did a great job and that the quilt was even square! We had agreed on just doing a loose meandering on this quilt and another longarmer told me to be careful going over all the seams - not too fast, not too slow - great advice - but scared the daylights out of me. I ended up laying a piece of freezer paper over the width of the quilt and took a sharpie to draw a meandering line across the entire quilt - it took several tries to get one I liked - then I used it like a pantograph on the back of the machine. Using it like a panto took my eyes off the front of the quilt so I kept my speed even even over the bulky seams.

I also started out with a sandwich of muslin - drew some grid lines on it and tried something new in each box - time to do it again - now that I have done some I want to try some new ideas and perfect the ones I am already doing.

I got my machine used and it came with a lot of bobbins that were already wound so I use them when I am doing practice stitching - I love the idea of stitching without thread - but, when you use different color threads you can stitch the same design over and over in the same area and see your improvement easily.

Hope this all makes sense - to me it really boils down to practice, practice, practice. I was able to practice on almost 30 charity quilts this year!