c2cd2008

OK here is the process where I have loaded the frame and am getting ready to quilt. These instructions start at loading the topper.

Step #1 I found the center of the quilt top and marked it with a pin.
This is the center on the LONG SIDE. I like to load my toppers on the long side because I am limited for space on my machine. As I advance I loose valuble realestate with this set up. By loading it on the long side I loose less space as I advance.
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../Justin167.jpg[/IMG]
Step #2 Next I started at the center mark on the topper and match it to the center marker on the leader. I start pinning at the center and pin at the green markers. I pin one on the left side of the center, then the right side and work back and forth until I have it completly pinned.
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../Justin168.jpg[/IMG]
Step #3 Next I find the center of the backing nad match it to the center of the leader for the backing rail and repeat the same steps of pinning that I used to pin the topper to its leader.
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../Justin175.jpg[/IMG]
Step #4 Next I bring the backing to the take up leader and pin from the center using the same steps as before.
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../Justin177.jpg[/IMG]
Step #5 After the topper is pinned I then bring the batting up and the topper up and pin them to the backing cloth.
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../Justin177.jpg[/IMG]
Now the quilt is on the frame and ready to be quilted.
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../Justin176.jpg[/IMG]

user3587

I just loaded my first quilt (on frame, not contructing) on the Gracie ll frame. At this point of the project I have to say I don't like it. c2cd2008 than you so much for your pictures. Couldn't have done it without you. I never received a video with my frame. I put the top on wrong first. Had to repin. Stuck myslef too many time to count. Frustration set in. This is a XL baby quilt. It is finally loaded.

I don't how I'm going to handle a queen. I have 2 ready to quilt. One is what I call XL queen. What have I got myself into?!!!!!!!!!!! The one thing that I can't figure out yet is quitling the borders. I can see how you would do a continuous on the top and bottom but what about the sides. Do you just do what you can on one border, quilt the main, change to the other border, stop roll your quilt up do more border, main , then border, working right to left, then left to right, or do you stop, move your machine back to the right and so forth. I sure hope this makes sense. I'm not going to go back and profread or check spelling I'm too tired to type correctly, I just hope you can read between the lines. I'm still getting the frustration to calm down.

omak

Oh, did you get the Quilt Cad program with it? I sure have enjoyed using it to figure out my designs to quilt the tops. A little tricky at first, but it prints out the templets nice.[/quote]

I haven't been able to get my Quilt Cad program to work on my computer ... any special little tricks?
I hope we can keep this thread alive ... I have the Grace Pinnacle, and you are helping to think things through a bit differently than I have been working currently. I especially appreciate the pictures. As one of our other readers ... I definitely do better with pictures <g>.

omak

I have done that operation! You quilt from the top to the bottom, doing your top border quilting as you start, your bottom as you want ... then, you unpin your quilt, turn it sideways, pin on the take up pole and on the top rail ... and do your quilting on your borders. It really works out slick ... I would use more pins ... as in every five or six inches because you can really get to reefing on those tension ... the more pins, the more stable your grain will stay in line.
I have even had daughter give me a quilt that was already sandwiched and basted together. Pinned it on to the take up rail, and the top rail (where the backing usually goes) and it didn't turn out too bad, either!

BlueChicken

I have plain cloth leaders on my frame, even though they have horizontal stripes I still have trouble attaching a quilt squarely.

I saw somewhere (I think on this messageboard) that someone had attached zips to the leaders, and would baste the other half of the zip onto the quilt top, and one onto the backing, etc, so rather than pinning they just zipped on the quilt pieces.

Has anyone here had any experience with zips? I'm quite keen to try this method.

user3587

I don't know if I should have started a new topic but it is so related to this I thought I would stay put. I'm using the yellow flower pins for pinning to the leaders, does anyone have a better pin they use. The ones I have don't go through the quilt fabric and then the canvas leaders without a lot of effort on my part. I think that is part of the reason I keep sticking myself other than not getting my fingers out of the way. I guess I can't push hard and get out of the way at the same time! I finally found some very sharp pins for other uses but they would never work on this task, the heads are too small. I would love to find a very sharp pin with a nice size head. I bought some quilting pins made by Clover and they weren't much better than what I had just more expensive.

omak

My quilt shop sold me "T-pins" ... they are almost two inches long, and quite sturdy ... I use fabric leaders. It seems that the longer pin allows me to manipulate the pin through the layers without pinning myself in the process.
I think I read somewhere that if you are doing hand quilting, the longer the needle, the shorter the stitch you can take. I am thinking that is the process here ...
*disclaimer* I could be remembering something wrong <g>

c2cd2008

I stick myself all the time when pinning and un-pinning.
If I make it through a quilt qithout bleeding its a miracle.
I just use the yellw flower pins. I have tried to use some of my other ones that have round tops on them, but I do not like the way they roll when I do the take up.