Your thoughts / comments
 

Have any of you ever used, Halo Rings or FMQ rings of any kind / brand?
I'd like your thoughts and comments please.

I have 'ruined' myself renting a long arm to quilt with versus trying to FMQ on my home machine.
I like the handles on the log arm and moving the machine versus moving my fabric.

Any one with some thoughts??? I greatly look forward to hearing from you.
Thank in advance for the help.
LaQuita

I have looked at the rings but I think that the constant repositioning would be a pain. I seem to spend a lot of time just repositioning the quilt and my hands, so think I'll just stick with that:) I would guess that trying to go back to FMQ on your domestic machine after getting used to a long arm would be hard. Of course, there is a learning curve with any method of quilting.

I use the Martelli gripper ring. It's wonderful. I have arthritic hands and cannot spread my fingers or apply pressure without dire consequences. The ring has two knobs equidistant on the top. Your hands can be completely relaxed and the ring does all the work. It's hefty and it really grips. It's truly a blessing. Thank goodness for innovative people!

I should add, I have a Sweet 16, so there is considerable area in which to move the ring around. The continual re-positioning of the ring doesn't bother me; it gives me time to contemplate where I'm heading next. It also holds the quilt wonderfully flat in the quilting area.

I had the ones Sharon Shambler sold. I gave them away. I used the gloves made for quilting...Machingers or something like that.

I do all of my quilts by hand. My hand writes a check. I really like my technique. :) Sorry, I can't help you.

I just use garden gloves with rubber nubs for FMGing.

Years ago I bought the halo ones in two different sizes... no matter what I did, I could not get the hang of them.... I had to reposition my hands all the time.... Not that I'm great at FMQ but at least all I have to do is move my hands not the halos too. I gave them to a quilting friend, but I have never seen her use them....off to quilting lala land I guess.

I tried using a ruler once on my DSM (video had been posted) and I found it hard to keep the ruler in place. If I ever rented one, I would probably just do a simple stipple. You can't get to practice on it to improve your skills.

I have a set that I got when I purchased my HQ sweet sixteen sitdown (sews like a domestic vs a long arm) and have never used them honestly. But by that point I had already done quite a bit of FMQ on my domestic, so I was used to the motion and feel/pressure of moving the fabric with my hands. I am exactly the opposite of you. A long arm scares the bejeebers out of me because I am so used to moving the fabric rather than the machine.

Sharon, a member of the TreadleOn Group, posted this today.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/770306...7651673123830/

I bought the Martelli rings in both sizes. Keep in mind that I am the lblessed owner of a Gammill Longarm. I have MS so there are days when sit down quilting is a must. The Martelli rings are helpful when your design fits inside the circle! You can continuous line quilt that way but like stated earlier, a total pain to reposition but no more so than without it. I say whatever tool makes it easier and smoother for you is a winner!

I bought the Martinelli set of 2. I don't use them that much

I keep seeing references to people using kitchen green scrubbys to hold onto the quilt for hand quilting. My be worht a tey....

I used to use the halo thing. It was kind of helpful at first because I was new to FMQ and I was going slow. Soon, though, I found it too restrictive/too small of an area to be quilted. I now use the quilting gripper gloves. These work well, making it easy to control where to quilt.

I like the Halo for small design quilting. It's not made for big quilting designs.

For small quilting designs, yeah, I can say the ring helped but I feel I wasted money 'cause I seldom use it. Restricts me too much, but I guess it's just what ever you feel comfortable with or get used to. My teacher has a sit-down mid-arm machine and that's where I used it a few times. Now the halo lives in a drawer in my sewing desk :(