rccooper4

I'm new to using my LA. I was wondering what I'm doing wrong. In between the rows of design it looks alittle puffy. Am I not tighening it up enough when I advance the quilt? I always feel like it's kinda tight, or too tight even. Please help.

Tartan

Welcome from Ontario, Canada. We have lots of great long armers on QB to give advice. I don't have a long arm but I do know that some like the Red Snapper clips that go on the sides of the longarm for extra tension.

ckcowl

each time you advance take the time to smooth everything, making sure the backing is smooth & taut (look underneath & make sure- then make sure your batting is smooth- then the top- fasten your clamps, check again to make sure you do not have any 'puffy' areas- then start at the 'bottom' of your previous stitching so any fullness will move 'down' toward open areas. (like starting in the center & working your way out to the edges when quilting by hand, or on domestic machine) you don't mention what kind of batting you are using- but the *loftier* the batting the more "puffiness issues' you will have. stop once in a while & check things out- I keep a 12" mirror tile on my quilting table, I can stop stitching & go look under the whole thing with my mirror. it is easier to catch an error early & take it out than to try to fix anything after the whole quilt is done. and remember- there is a learning curve & it all takes Practice, Practice, Practice. there are many factors that you will learn as you go along. batting plays a big part, so does quilting design, density of quilting, the quilt top- design/style/technique/workmanship. good luck & keep practicing- it will get better.

JustAbitCrazy

It's also possible that you have too much space between your rows. It's sometimes hard to learn how to accurately advance a row of stitching, as in a pantograph. Don't be tempted to try to correct this by tightening your quilt sandwich drum tight. That's not the problem, and over tightening the quilt sandwich will only cause bad stitches which look like thread tension issues (but are really a too tight quilt). The quilt sandwich should have all the layers smooth and flat, but the entire sandwich needs to be a bit loose in the frame, so the fabric can flex while the needle moves in all directions through it. Sewing machines are designed to stay still and sew in a straight line, so when we longarm, and have it moving and sewing in all directions, something has to give. Now the needle can't give (flex), so the fabric must. Or you have horrible stitches. I always push a finger up from underneath the quilt sandwich, and make sure my other hand can grab the end of that finger, quilt and all. Then I know it's loose enough.

lfletcher

As someone else mentioned, push your finger up from underneath the quilt. You should be able to grab the tip with your other hand. I think beginner longarmers usually tighten the quilt too much. You will get a better stitch a little looser. I agree that it is either the batting you're using or perhaps how you are advancing if you are using a panto.

mighty

So hard to answer without seeing what you are doing. All advise given is great, just keep at it practice, practice . Check out you tube, there is a lot of good things there that have helped me alot. Every quilt has gotten better, just keep at it.

DebraK

great tip about the finger. I had to go check the quilt I had loaded. I guess I'm doing it right ;-)