Unrolling a pantogragh
 

I have been LA quilting for several years maybe about 5 quilts per year. I am just to start one and as I was setting up the pantogragh I had a brain freeze!! Do I unroll (the side that says it's name) to the right...or to the left. I know that it flows easier one way...

Anyway I have been placing the "name" to the right of the table and hang the excess over the left side of the table. Is this how you do it?

wow! think that brain freeze is contagious! If there are any written words, they go to the bottom of the table so you can read them--that way you can work right to left when quilting.

Mama grandee, I do as you do...sometimes it has been questionable if there is no name, as I have a few like that...and I have put it down and then decided to flip it.??? I just felt better the other way??? So I just look at the design and see if it is feels easier to quilt one way ...I always quilt from right to left on a panto even if there's two rows per advance but I know some go left right on second row...

Hmmm...is there a right way to unroll a panto? I actually don't know! I have always looked at the photo and whichever direction the pattern is going in the photo either on the end of the panto or the catalog to which I purchased it from...that is the way I would unroll the panto. I have been known to flip a panto upside down if it fits the quilt better! Sometimes just because of the odd dimensions of the quilt or a panto that cuts off the end of a quilt in a funny way I'll flip it to make it easier to stitch out.

Since we quilt from right to left when using a pantograph, I put the loose edge of the roll on the right side of the table as I face it (standing in the back), as you do. The small amount which is still rolled up ends up under the plastic shield at the far left side of the table, where I usually park my machine. Recently I re-rolled an entire panto to start from the other end because it was directional (it looked like blowing smoke) and the smoke wouldn't have been blowing the right way for me the way it was.

There's a reason for quilting in a particular direction. Longarm machines have a rotary hook (bobbin) system. When the machine is running, the hook rotates clockwise. The needle picks up from the hook best when you go in the same direction as the hook rotates. So from the front of the machine, we work from left to right. And on the back of the machine, we work from right to left.

Oh, Quiltedsunshine, I'm so glad to read this. My husband and I argue a little about going back [right to left] and I tell him no,no. Now I'm correct.LOL I sure hope I haven't ruined my machine. I will certainly remember this. Thank you so much for explaining. barmy

I think you folks are a bit misinformed. I don't do pantos, only freehand. I work in all directions. This is the way longarms are designed. Going only right to left or left to right makes no difference. Stop & think about what your doing for a minute. When following a panto, you're going in multiple directions while following the line. The machine does it's thing of laying down thread where you say to. It doesn't care what direction you're going. The hook assembly has nothing to do with it either. All it is is an oversized sewing machine.

I always unroll my pantos from the left. I go left to right from the back of the machine and never had a problem.