I'm really new to machine quilting. My mother-in-law made each of my 5 boys a pieced quilt top before she died. I promised them I would quilt them after they got married. My baby is 32 now and I've only gotten 2 quilts finished.

:oops:

I finally bought a used machine and frame but have no directions. I don't even know how to load the 3 layers. I have a Tin Lizzie 18. Could someone please give me details on how to load it? I've searched the internet but couldn't find a frame with 3 bars like mine has. I only have one leader also. How many do I need? I've had this for 2 weeks now and I'm dying to try it out. Please help. Thanks in advance. June :roll:

Hi, welcome to the world of fun and joy with fabric.

If you go to Tin Lizzie webpage I would bet there is a link to a manual or an email address that you could get direction from the manufacturer.

Hope you get it quick!

Sharon

Hello and welcome from Southern California. Can't help you on loading your longarm. I dream of having one of those one of these days!!!

Welcome. I can only dream of having a frame and the Tin Lizzie. When you find out how to make it work send us some pictures. We would love to see them.

I bought the setup from the guy who works for the TinLizzie company. He does the setting up of the frame and machine. His grandmother died and he needed to sell her setup. He's engaged to the owners daughter and says he would be in trouble if the boss found out he sold this. (I wouldn't have bought one from the store anyway. I would have kept looking until I found a used one, no matter the manufacturer.) The DVD he game me doesn't work but he says they will have a new one out soon. They are starting from scratch on the DVD because of upgrades, etc., so it may take a while.

I've searched the Internet for hours and can't find any help, yet. I'm going to keep searching. Maybe in all my reading I'll be able to figure it out. I just thought I would ask if there was anyone out there with first-hand information. Thanks for your rely. I'm looking forward to becoming an "expert" in long arm quilting. June :D

There is videos at allpeoplequilt.com about quilting with a frame. But, I am thinking that if you visit a local quilt store they will teach you for a price. I know all four of our quilt stores here offer that as a class or individually.

Try joining the homequiltingsystems group at http://groups.yahoo.com . Be sure to read the files before you post. I'm sure someone on that group has the setup you have purchased and will be able to help you. There may be YouTube and other videos online that demonstrate how to load the quilt. Also, I think there are different ways of doing this. Partial and full "floats" are popular.

I found a step by step (unfortunately without pictures) instruction that may help:
http://kathyquilts.com/quilting_tips...ace_Frame.html

and here's a thread with pictures:
http://www.synthcom.com/~val/Quilts/Tutorials/LoadingQuiltOnFrame.html

Hope either can help.

I would believe that with three bars, one is going to be the take up bar and one will hold the top and your backing and batting are combined on one roller.

Try asking here http://mqresource.com/forum/index.php?act=idx it's a very active long arm board and you should get all the help you need.

5 boys?!? Dude, that must have kept you busy! :-)

My quilting frame has three bars. One holds the patchwork top, one holds the backing, and the third (at the front) is the "take up" bar that holds all three layers. The batting just "floats" under the top bar and over the backing bar, and gets attached to the take up bar with the top and back.