Wisdom from longarmers?
 

I'm getting my first long arm machine soon, a Juki, and hoped some of you with experience could share some of your best "getting started" bits of wisdom. Thanks in advance!

How much do you know now? Have you taken a basic class or gotten instruction from your dealer on how to load a sandwich and basic operation of the machine? That would be the first thing I would recommend.

After that, what I did was just dive in and go for it. Do not be afraid of your machine. Do not be afraid of "ruining" something. Fear paralyzes you and keeps you from reaching your full potential in anything but especially in longarming. Also I drew a LOT. I wanted to master feathers so I spent evenings with a big pad of cheap newsprint and pen and drew feathers going in all directions. You can also use a white board.

For me, drawing translated well to longraming and drawing gave me muscle memory as well as thread path memory. I can now quilt feathers as easily as signing my name.

If you get the opportunity try and take classes at the big expos that offer hands on work with longarms. Pick and choose the classes carefully as most run over $100 a pop for a big name teacher. I took one with Karen McTavish about 9 months after I got my longarm at MQX. Money well spent IMHO.

I am a book junkie and I have several books by longarmers like Gina Perkes, Judi Madsen, Angela Walters and Karen McTavish. I also subscribe to Machine Quilting Unlimited. Great publication for both longarmers and DM quilters.

I hope with your purchase are some basic classes from the dealer.

Yes, by all means, take any classes you can. If your dealer offers basic classes (especially maintainance classes) take them. There are a ton of instructional videos on Youtube. My favorites are from APQS, Whirlsnswirlsquilting and Green Fairy. And then just go for it. Your longarm is just a big sewing machine and the more you use it, the better you will get at it.

I agree just jump in and play don't worry about messing something up just have fun

To help with muscle memory, do get a good sized dry erase board and markers.

I found it very helpful to do practice pieces - a couple of yards of top and bottom with batting(width of fabric) to practice patterns(cheapest fabric and batting you can find). I think building memory does help but the practice pieces really helped the most. I made several before I found I could follow a pattern without sewing to learn pattern before stitching.

1. I use a lighter weight thread in the bobbin than what I use on top.
2. When I received my new LA (a couple of months ago), I made me a 'practice' quilt sandwich with a DARK sheet cut in half with my preferred batting. This enabled me to get familiar with my machine (loading, basting, etc) and... the dark color provided a great view of the stiches. You will be free to try a myriad of things w/o the risk of ruining a "real" quilt sandwich. Also, you can play and not have to worry about ripping out.

Have fun!!!

I wasn't a believer in practice drawing, until I took a class from Jamie Wallen. And after that I was a firm believer. He doesn't recommend drawing on a white board or other erasable surface, because he says you need to save your drawings to see how you are progressing. Start by drawing your motifs small, even though you may eventually want to make them larger. My theory is that you aren't really training muscle memory - you are training your brain so that the twists and turns in the design will become natural to you.

I agree with the practice drawing. I read somewhere that one of the biggest issues many folks had with longarm quilting was 'where to go next'. I first drew squares, triangles, basic shapes found in quilts. Then I filled them in with whatever design I was practicing. This helped me figure out how not to get stuck in a corner, and if I did, how to get myself out.
I also started practicing on a piece of fabric, but then made some scrap quilts with actual blocks. You can also check your LQS to see if they have any 'cheater' cloth.

Everyone has given you great advice. So much is practice, practice, practice. Definitely take a maintenance class as you'll need it at some point. Lots of good books and YouTube out there and take any class you can. I've been fortunate over the years to take from Sally Terry, Pat Barry, Jamie Wallen, Dusty Farrell, Angela Walters and Kris Viera--learned something every time. Also, if there is a long arm or machine quilters guild in your area--join! The one I belong to only meets quarterly but each meeting has a great program and I've learned so much in them it's well worth the membership and time--plus it connects me with other long arm quilters who I can ask for advice.

Make sure you get the height of the frame adjusted correctly. Otherwise you live with a lot of shoulder and back pain. Oh and you might consider doing yoga after each session.
Seriously. Haha!
It gets easier and as you RELAX, less stressful

Practice, Practice, Practice. I also took a class from Jamie Wallen and drawing helps. I free motion most of the time. I call it doodling. Start out by doing e's and L's, then do circles, squares, stars, anything doodling. Like others have said don't be afraid.

Nothing beats lots of practice. How to get a lot as quickly as possible: contact local quilt guilds and groups and donate your quilting for their charity projects. These are utility quilts and whatever you do will be appreciated. This way you get the practice and the charity quilt is finished.

I became a YouTube junkie when I bought my machine. The one that got me started on the right track was How to Use a Longarm quilting Machine by Sparrow Studioz. It is a wonderful video. After that I searched YouTube and watched videos on Pantographs and rulers. Handi quilter has a wonderful library of very helpful videos that are all free on You Tube. I don't own a Handi quilter but still learned so much, especially about ruler work, watching their video and, of course, then purchasing their rulers! If you want to do ruler work http://www.terylloy.com/Quilting-Videos.html has some good advice,too. I have had my machine about nine months and love it!