Quilters Clips

[swakins]

I have a small machine, Bernina Activa 145, and really have to wrestle to get a quilt in there for quilting. I tried using binder clips to hold the fabric in a roll, but it was really hard to get enough fabric into the clip to make it stay. I bought one brand of clips but they were too big to fit into the throat area of my machine.
I have seen something called alligator clips in the quilt store as well as bicycle clips. What do you reccomend using? I mostly do wall hangings so have not really had to deal with this, but would like to make a full size quilt and don't think I could get it wrestled around in there without something to hold the roll in place.
Sue

[CoyoteQuilts]

Sue, I just did a very large king on my Pfaff 7570. I did free motion in the body of the quilt and straight stitching on the border. I did something different this time. I sat facing the needle end of the machine, fed the quilt into the throat from top to bottom of quilt. I did not roll the quilt. I have rolled the quilts many, many times and I found that this way was much easier. I was pushing the fabric into the machine not side to side with a pile of quilt and hands in a small space. Here is a pic of the quilt I did this way.



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PM me if you want with any specific questions.

Sharon V.

[sewbug]

Paula Reid, the quilt teacher with the very different hair cut, has a good way to manipulate a large quilt through a regular size machine. She calls it Fluff and Stuff.

[institcheswithrosie]

One of the LQS owners is a firm believer in using those big, toothed hair thingies that hold hair back kinda like a ponytail but longer.
Is this making sense? It looks like 2 combs that mesh together with a spring loaded grip to open and close. Some of them are really big and work on wall hangings. If someone can figure out what I mean, please post a pic.

Rosie

[sewbug]

My DDs call them hair clippies.

[swakins]

Coyote, what a great quilt. I am guessing that you mean you sort of sat with the needle part in front of the wheel part, perpendicular to the way a machine usually sets. And I think that sounds like a great idea, but didn't you still have to do some stuffing when you were at the middle. I can really see how sitting that way would help and will give that try.
We used to call the clips Banana Clips, but I can't figure out how you get the quilt in there since both ends are closed when it is in use.
Sue

[CoyoteQuilts]

When 'stuffing' the quilt into the throat of the machine with it facing you the 'correct' way you also have your hand in there to keep everything flat under the needle. When you sit at the end of the machine you are 'pushing' the quilt that is already quilted into the throat of the machine. More room for folded/pushed/scrunched quilt in that space without your hand. It was much easier on my back, arms and hands also. Another thing doing it this way, you are not pushing 1/2 or 1/3 of the width or length of your quilt through the throat of your machine when you are doing the middle section.

Sharon V.

[CaroleJ]

Sharon...a bit brain dead this morning and having trouble visualizing this...

So you sat at the needle end of the sewing machine with the long length of the machine set at a 90 degree angle to your chest? I think this is what you mean, but if you can clarify, I'd appreciate it!

I am intrigued! I am new to MQing and feel like I need all the help I can get!

[Grammy2]

I'm going to try this, I have a twin quilt to do. Great idea