http://quiltingandsewing.com
Here is a site that shows what an extension for your sewing machine looks like.
I was given a beautiful solid oak sofa table from my aunt's estate which has to be over 80 years old. It sat behind my couch for 6 years until I went to Houston and took a class from Colleen "The Cluttergutter" girl at Quilt Festival. She was in a booth with another company "Quilt Sew Easy Discs". The booth was set up with 6 machines which all had a different height and some had extension tables, then you got to try eveything on the market for your hands doing machine quilting and FMQ.
So the bunch of us gave it a go. So as not to bore you we went away KNOWING how to do this.
1. My oak table got cut down to 22" from the floor. I remember my Auntie even more really using the table for my SM to sit on.
Here's how: Sit in the chair YOU will be using. Put your feet FLAT on the floor and put your fore arms parelell to the floor keeping your elbows at your sides.
2. That height (where your hands are) is how high the bed (from the floor) of your SM needs to be. Adjust your table that your SM sits on accordingly. I am 5'4 just as a reference.
Once I had my table cut down and my shoulders were not up around my chin :lol: , the neck ache and tiredness in my arms instantly went away!
3. The chair. It was worth the time spent to find one that was low enough to go under the table with me in it!!
4. The extension table made all the difference in the world it totally took all the drag off the fabric/project. and I use it for any and all sewing, besides it doubles my space because I can see through it. Thats where my stuff, clutter threads M&M's etc. go.
5. The best part.... Back at the booth, when we got to the 6th machine set up for FMQ that is when we tried the discs. Well ofcourse after using the finger tips, I could not think how anything would be any better. Well, sister and brother friends I am here to tell you I was in hog heaven!. 'Didn't have to take on and off the gloves or fingers, and the discs DO NOT SLIDE on the fabric. Easy to do little close quilting and move the quilt around just as easy. In my guild it is what I give to all new members..
6. Loosen your top tension depending on the thread you may like to tighten the tension. I play with the tension all the time and my machine is just fine. I like the difference using all the multitude of threads.
7. The needle must be sharp so change the needles frequently. A new needle is just as smooth as a sharpened knife. I prefer Microtex Needle size 18. If I use thick threads like a Jeans thread then try the 110 size. Just like butter. You do not need a big needle, you need the needle with a bigger eye, that is why jeans needles are not a good choice.
All this stuff really helped me. I dove in and did it, messed up some stuff and in a few weeks of practicing I get better everytime I do it.
8. If the project is hanging off the table it will pull (drag) and regardless of the tension set on your machine it will not look good. Roll up the quilt, fold it use bike clips or pin it. But keep all the project/quilt supported evenly.
Moral of the story..........if your table height is not correct neither is the FMQ.
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