What do you use to keep your quilt rolled up when sewing on a domestic machine?
 

I have a domestic machine so have to roll up my quilts to fit in the throat. And they unroll easily...too easily.

I used velcro straps to keep them rolled up when not being sewed but any ideas on how to keep them rolled up when actually sewing them?

Do you use safety pins or plastic headbands or some specialty product...?

I need to figure out something here before I start inventing (more) cusswords. Lol

Thank you.

I use quilt clips. Here’s the link for the ones I use:

https://www.amazon.com/Quilt-Clip-Pa...s%2C154&sr=8-6

Rob

I didn't even know these existed. Thank you

I accordian fold the part of the quilt that is on my right. It stays flat and doesn’t roll. The rest is puddled like Tartan said.

Rolling did not work for me. I spent more time rolling than quilting. I discovered puddling which seems to work better for me,. I do still have the quilt clips

I don't roll my entire quilt in the throat either but you can also use big binder clips to hold it closed if you want. I would recommend removing them when you stop for the day because they're pretty tight.

I also quilt on a domestic and when I'm quilting the middle, I only roll a section of the quilt and then accordion fold the rest because like Tartan, I found rolling the whole thing too cumbersome to move. It's like trying to move an entire log! So I basically make a fold about 10-12in away from my machine in all directions (except inside the throat, obviously) to make a little "frame" for myself and make it easier to move the fabric in any direction.

I also do the puddling method. That is where a larger throat space is important. It still can be a little struggle especially when FMQ a large quilt, but it is doable.

The throat in my Juki is 9 inches so need to roll it up and keep it rolled up somehow. I can see puddling it on the left of the machine though. Thanks for all the input.

I still use my Janome 7318 with a 6.5in throat quite a lot and having quilted several King and Queen quilts on it, you are absolutely right that you have to roll some of it. However, I would definitely recommend unrolling and doing at least 1 accordion fold to make your life a little easier :) Please try it and see what you think!

I used the puddling method when quilting on a DSM. For large quilts, I also quilted in sections.

Another puddler!!!

Keep in mind,
there comes a time when no matter what you do, it is impossible to quilt on a DSM.

IOW, the quilt is too big for the throat size.
If you want to keep on DIY, then it's time for a new DSM with a bigger throat.
Or look to the alternatives ....

Yes, try 'puddling' it instead. It's much easier to quilt around soft folds than a stiff roll.

Sounds like many good suggestions and ideas. I tried using the rolled method and just couldn't get used to the bulky roll. I found just puddling and pushing worked best for me, given the size of the throat, and quilt.

When I first started I used bicycle clips to hold the roll, but have now gone to puddling as well. The bike clips are meant to hold your pants out of the chain, not even sure if they still make them, but they were metal and I still have them in my bike bag.

I use bicycle clips, I bought them years ago before they started making quilting clips. They cost less too.

I'm a "puddler" too. This is the largest quilt I made on my little Singer 15-91 - it's 120" square and quilting the middle was a bear. It takes constant shifting and rearranging to get a "clear" square foot of quilting space around the needle. There are only 7" between the needle and the pillar and sometimes my right hand was under a big wad of quilt, trying to keep the quilting area clear *and* move it around under the needle.

I learned about "puddling" on this board, if I recall and I don't even try the clips any more.

I don't roll my quilt, I puddle it and work on small section defined by my hands and then I reposition. Rolling the quilt takes up way too much quilting room and is more awkward for me to move.

Ok, so the general concensus is puddling when using a smaller throated domestic machine.

Guess I'll puddle along.

I was really hoping there was a magical answer out there...

I puddle on my domestic machines when quilting, but roll when putting the binding on and that's what I use the quilt clips for on the domestics. Interestingly, I have found rolling (and folding the rolled parts up to avoid drag) works really well on my Sweet Sixteen for quilting and is actually easier on my shoulders than puddling.

Rob

Thanks Rob...everyone is saying they puddle so I'm thinking I should continue to do that and then you come along and tell me rolling is better.

LOL! You guys are supposed to be helping me here. You know, not making me have to try both ways to figure out what's best for me. What's wrong with you? LOL! https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/biggrin.png

All kidding aside, I've tried what _I've_ been calling 'squashing the quilt around' (that is apparently called 'puddling') and was hoping someone would have an easier solution I could try. I can see the merits of both. So, I will try rolling next time to see if I prefer it to squashing / puddling.

mcadwell, I wish I still had my quilt clips, I would gladly send them to you - I'm always sorry after I do a major purge! :(

That said, I *do* sometimes roll up the quilt to put on borders or binding. I don't use anything to hold it, I just throw the roll over my shoulder and let it feed onto the big table behind my machine. I cover the table with a plastic shower curtain so it will just slide along.

The bulk of the quilt is to the left of the needle and you only need a quarter inch of space to the right of it. ;) No struggling at all with edge work.:)

Thepolyparrot - that is so kind of you! I appreciate the thought of the quilt clips.

Organization purges are horrid! As soon as sewing people do a purge it becomes this:“Oh, I have fabric that would be PERFECT for that project!” Goes hunting for said fabric, doesn’t find it, looks all over for it again (including places in their stash areas they’ve already looked for it twice), starts to get aggravated because they just KNOW they have the perfect fabric and it’s here somewhere…

…only to realize they just got rid of it.

ARGHHH!!! Death to organizational purges!

And promptly goes online to hunt for another perfect fabric because they must do that project.

(Don’t ask me how I know this.)

We are kindred spirits, for sure. :D I have done that with books and magazines, too. I'll vaguely remember a certain pattern in one of my books and turn my shelves upside down looking for it... and then I realize that it was probably in the last box I took to a charity shop or gave away.

At least with this last purge of the bookshelves, I looked through each one and put a post-it note in the top of any that I might like to do and the rest could go safely off to their new homes. I was surprised at how few actually contained patterns that interest me, any more. Out of a couple hundred magazines, I think I may have kept 12, at the most. Strange, huh?

I don't find it strange at all. Tastes change. And what you thought was interesting when you first got the magazine was probably a new technigue or pattern that you've since done so you now knowr agout it and don't feel the need to keep the magazine.

I do the same thing with online free patterns. I accumulate them and purge them on occasion because what I used to think was hard and intriguing wasn't so hard and I've done it so no longer need that pattern anymore because I've advanced. Same for doing new techniques or I no longer like the fabric, etc.

So, not strange at all.

like Tartan and several others, I puddle.

Ryder- I just ordered the clips from Amazon. Do you not use them when actually doing the quilting?

What does “puddle” mean? Ever heard that term before.

It's the act of pushing and adjusting the quilt so the section you're sewing lays flat under the needle area but is bunched up everywhere else.

In a previous post in this conversation I called it 'squashing the quilt around' because, being newer to quilting, I didn't know 'puddling' was the term used for this but instantly recognized it for what it was when I read it.

After going back and reading everyone’s replies, I have figured out what puddling means. Think I may give it a try. I was thinking about using the clips to roll the quilt then place it under the throat plate, but that may turn out to be too much trouble. Will give it a try and see what happens.

I'm also in the huddle of puddlers.https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/thumbup.png

I find puddling works best for me. I have quilted many quilts of different sizws.

I do not use them when quilting on my domestics. On my domestics I use them for when I’m sewing the binding on a large quilt.

However, when I am quilting a large quilt on my Sweet Sixteen I do use them because it helps me keeep them from sliding off the ends of my table. What I do in that case is roll the part in back of the needle and put a quilt clip on toward either end. Then I roll the part in front of the needle and put a quilt clip toward either end. Then when I’m working at one end of the quilt, I can fold the other end up and keep it from hanging off the edge of my table. I can easily quilt a very large quilt this way without stressing my shoulders and for me it’s quicker than puddling since I don’t have to stop and adjust the quilt constantly. It wouldn’t work on a domestic because the harp space isn’t big enough to both roll and fold at the same time

Rob

I like to roll mine but have trouble keeping the whole length rolled. I had read somewhere about rolling them on to a pool noodle so I bought a couple today to try. Wish me luck!

Before I bought my Bailey, I had tried the quilt in sections, puddling, wrapping with the clips(which are in the yard sale things to sell), cutting the batting in thirds and only quilting the middle, then adding one of the other thirds, etc., and quilt as you go, none of them worked particularly well for me, but there IS one thing I didn't see mentioned here and that a "suspension" system, which is what I'm rigging up for my Bailey. I don't have any links to a pic but it should be easy to find on the 'net.

I'm going to go look up suspension systems. Would having one be helpful when quilting on a machine that has a 9" harp space?

mcadwell, I think the suspension system would certainly help on any size harp.

I've rigged up several suspension systems over the years, they definitely help, but I'm finding that more and more I like rolling and flopping my quilts when quilting a large quilt on the Sweet Sixteen.

Rob

I agree with Tartan.

Well heck, I was hoping for a magic answer. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/biggrin.png