Red Snapper questions for LA's

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08-18-2013, 02:11 PM

#11

Pat M.

Senior Member

Join Date: Sep 2010

Location: NM

Posts: 989

Yes, with a pair of old scissors.

08-18-2013, 03:19 PM

#12

Charming

Super Member

Join Date: Jan 2011

Location: Riverside, CA

Posts: 1,634

Yes for both questions too here. I love having them and wouldn't do without!!!

08-18-2013, 03:59 PM

#13

cindi

Senior Member

Thread Starter

Join Date: May 2011

Location: Central Ohio

Posts: 988

Quote:

Originally Posted by eparys

I am actually getting ready to make my own snap on system.

I had purchased some Leader Grip side tension grips a while back at MQX East and was using some pieced flannel for my backing. I managed to break the snap on piece on the sewn seam and needed to replace/fix what I broke.

I decided that some smart person had to re-purpose an already made item to create these, SO ... I went in search of what they were - and found on another quilting forum that for the Leader Grip - the snap on pieces they were nothing more than a Rope Lighting Track!! These are sold by Amazon and like sites for $2.40 for a 4 ft length. I just ordered 6 of these and am off to a Home Depot to purchase some tubing that will fit them. It is identical what the Leader grips used and for a fraction of the cost.

Wow - I would be eternally grateful if you could share the instructions on how to do this - I'd rather try this and see how I like it before investing a lot of money for something I may not use! I've never seen the system in person, so I'm not sure how it all works. I understand where the tracking would be used, but am not sure what the tubing is for

08-19-2013, 06:17 AM

#14

eparys

Super Member

Join Date: Sep 2008

Location: New England, USA

Posts: 2,951

I was just going to bring the piece that I bought to the hardware store and see what semi flexible tubing that I could find that would fit inside of it. The rope lighting track that I bought is 3/8. I will let you all know when I figure it out.

08-20-2013, 04:29 AM

#15

pumpkinpatchquilter

Super Member

Join Date: Jan 2011

Location: NE Ohio

Posts: 1,384

I thought about red snappers but then I saw Sharon Schambers' method. She has a video of it on YouTube. She makes sort of, secondary leaders that she attaches a strip of velcro to the bottom of and then stitches a strip of velcro to the leaders on her long arm. She actually stitches the backing fabric to the secondary leaders, then she can just velcro the whole lot to the regular leaders and adjust as needed. I'm really thinking of doing this!

08-21-2013, 07:47 AM

#16

soccertxi

Super Member

Join Date: May 2010

Posts: 1,659

Quote:

Originally Posted by katkat1946

I also have red snappers. I haven't figured out how to use them for the quilt top along the 'belly' bar ; if I snap it on then I can't get any where near the edge for quilting. They work fine on the backing because it's larger anyway. And, yes, they do seem to get easier to use. They were very tight at first and I struggled with them. Pat

I float my top so my Snappers are not an issue for me, but I still have to DO something with that last bit of quilt that won't fit under my magnet (that is how I hold the top down. PM of you would like a picture...) I have 2 ideas for a solution. One is to baste a piece of muslin or other waste fabric on the end. Snapper that to the leader and that would give you some breathing room. What I do is just baste the bottom and edges of the quilt, then roll back to where I stopped quilting. I would love to know what works for you when you find 'your happy place'!

08-23-2013, 06:50 AM

#17

btiny36

Super Member

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: Somewhere in the Heart of grain field

Posts: 1,826

Oh please do let us know how you make out making your own ebarys...

08-23-2013, 07:02 AM

#18

barny

Super Member

Join Date: Oct 2011

Location: dallas tx.

Posts: 5,172

Back in the old days.ha. when people hand quilted on wooden frames, they always had the quilt basted with a large piece of muslin onto the frame. I did it when I used my q-frame.

08-23-2013, 08:00 AM

#19

laurlync

Senior Member

Join Date: May 2010

Location: Atlanta, Texas

Posts: 623

Quote:

Originally Posted by katkat1946

OH MY GOSH, Betty! Now I'll have to check this out. It sounds like you bought the same side grips my friend and I did - and I do love them, by the way. I also have red snappers. I haven't figured out how to use them for the quilt top along the 'belly' bar ; if I snap it on then I can't get any where near the edge for quilting. They work fine on the backing because it's larger anyway. And, yes, they do seem to get easier to use. They were very tight at first and I struggled with them. Pat

I have Red Snappers and I love them. When I get near the bottom of the quilt, I advance far enough to have the bottom edge of the quilt top laying flat and run a line of long straight pins (I use corsage) about 1" - 1 1/2" up from the bottom edge and spaced about every 4" - 6". I then remove the Red Snappers from the quilt top and baste the side and bottom edges of the quilt and remove the pins.

Also, my Gammill doesn't have a dead bar below the take up roller and I had a problem with the Red Snappers getting in the way if they ended up in the down or back position when I advanced. This was especially frustrating when doing a pantograph that was close to the maximum size I could quilt on my 18" machine because it reduced the quilting area. I removed the Red Snappers from that leader and now just pin the backing to the take up roller. However, having the Red Snappers on 2 of the 3 leaders is still worth the investment in my book.