Quilt in a Day Forums

I must say that after we all asked Andy to start this machine quilting forum, that I am disappointed that there isn't much activity on it. Either there aren't many machine quilters here or we've run out of topics already. How about it, ladies - can we come up with more things to discuss here? For instance - threads, gadgets & rulers, favorite patterns, tips & hints, how to handle problem tops, etc?

QC - I'm very interested but don't have much to say yet. I've only quilted one quilt and I don't have a "real" quilting machine. I have a B-Line frame w/a Juki machine on it. I will be using it very shortly and I'm sure I will have questions then. I do have one question now: I load my backing, batting, then the quilt top and then I use the straps and grabbers and grab onto all three (backing, batting, top). Is this correct? My instructions say to do this but I read in another post where someone doesn't grab the quilt top, just the batting and backing.

Cindy, I have a Gammill and I'm sure the setup is not the same as yours, but I only grab the backing with the clamps. The guy that gave me the training said to grab the backing & batting but it made holes in the sides of the batting so now I just do the back. NEVER the top because it stretches it out and then you sew distortion into it. In fact, when you baste the sides you don't put the clamp on anything till after you have basted down as far as you need to because of the possibility of distortion. Sometimes after I have basted I actually forget to put the clamps on, esp. when doing custom quilting from the front of the machine, and it hasn't made any difference. Be sure, too, that you don't stretch everything out tight as a drum because that can cause problems with your stitch and also can break needles. And, if you grab the top, how will you sew on the portion where the clamps are?

I am completely clueless. What is a B line frame. Maybe I need one.

Brenda

How do you go about basting the sides? I guess I'm real lucky my first quilt didn't turn out cattywompus. It came out straight as can be. I guess I didn't pull in it very tightly. You have to remember I only have a small throat on the machine so I would quilt all the way across and back and then I'd roll it up about 4" and regrab the sides and go at it again. I had no idea I was suppose to baste the sides.

Cindy - maybe you don't baste the sides of the quilt when using your type of machine. I have no clue what the "rules" are for the setup like you have. I just know that on the Gammill you have to baste the left side (standing in front of the machine) down as far as one row of your pattern will cover before you sew the row in). I also baste the other side, even though I was told not to. They told me to leave it loose so as to work out any fullness that may occur as you are going across the quilt. I found that it helps me at the end of the row as I might go off the edge and then come back on and fold the fabric over and sew it down, if it wasn't basted. With your small space that you can cover at each pass, maybe you don't need to baste the sides; I don't know. You'll have to ask someone else on this one.
You said that you quilt all the way across and then back? On the Gammill, you always start on the right side and go left (opposite of how you would read). Finish one row, roll if necessary (sometimes there are 2 rows to a pattern) but you always start on the right (now you're at the back of your machine) and sew to the left.

Beccasmom - a B-line frame is similar to a Little Gracie frame. You can use your home sewing machine with it and it kind of works like a long arm but the arm isn't long. Is that clear as mud??? LOL Anyway, I got the "portable" B-line frame so that I can break it down and store it when it's not in use. I don't have the room for a "real" quilting machine like a Gammil.

cindyg

CATTYWOMPUS Does this mean Skew whiff or Wokky??

I'm with Beccasmom. . .Where can we see a picture of the B-line frame?

Also, I want to free stitch a Christmas tree pattern but have a question. Do you stitch down to the tip/branch then with needle down turn and do the under branch line?

I haven't done this before but after hearing all of you speak free motion, I want to try to do it.

DH has told me I can have a quilting machine for our anniversary next month. I've been thinking of the HQ16 with stitch regulator mainly due to being able to easily fold the table up and store it when it's not in use, and it has the stitch regulator and other things I want. But, I just got a quilting magazine today that had an ad for the Gammill Premier Plus with stitch regulator that's in my price range. I don't think the metal table for that will break down for storage, though. I need help trying to make this choice. Any advice is welcome.