Tip For Quilting on Machine

[Mamafitz62]

Most of us do not have the luxury of having a frame to machine quilt on but still want to quilt on our machine. I am fairly new to quilting and was struggling with my large quilt trying maneuver it through my machine. It was hard keeping it rolled up. Then I hit on the idea of flexible plastic tubes to wrap the quilt around and clamp down with round clamps. I purchased two 7 foot long plastic tubes used in pool wands. I attached extra cloth to the sides of my quilt and pinned it around the tubes then wrapping and clamping. It works beautifully, enabling me to stitch in specific areas. The tubes give me handholds to maneuver and yet they are flexible and will fall off the edge of my sewing table. I have a Baby Lock Espire, put it on autostitch, with freestyle and sew away. It has to be the pool wand as it is small in diameter and very flexible.

[Joannequilts]

Mamafitz62 thank you for posting! I, too, just have a conventional, domestic sewing machine and just gave up tring to "roll" the quilt...so I just "puddle" the quilt. This sounds like a good idea.
What is the diameter of the tube?? Are they expensive???

Joanne:0)

[Mamafitz62]

Joanne, the tubes are about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. I purchased mine at Home Depot. They have to be pool wand tubes and were $2 a foot. The clips I used are the bycycle clips and my husband put shrink wrap tubing on them so they wouldn't slip. However, you can purchase the clips with non-slip rubber already on them. Enjoy. What makes this so great is by rolling it like this it makes it easy to maneuver through a small throat, even with a large quilt. Mine was a king.

[northbound]

Absolutely ingenious!

Are the tubes flexible enough to make accordian folds into your lap or do you just let them cascade to your lap and past the knees without folds? I've never quilted anything larger than 2x3 feet but have a king size YBR in mind to start soon.

BTW--love the idea of getting quilting supplies from a building supply.

Sharon C.

[Mamafitz62]

Actually I can stand at my machine as I maneuver it through or sit. My husband got me a chair used at drafting tables so I can go high with my legs almost off the floor or lower like at a desk. Believe me when I say these flexible tubes really, really work. If you want just get small sections and work with a small piece. It allows you to keep the quilt sections fairly tight as you put them in the machine.

[sewcarolyn]

can you post a photo?

[CaroleJ]

I'll have to try this one of these days...sounds like a great idea!

[beccasmom]

I still can't picture it. I guess I just don't know what the tube looks like but it sure sounds like something I want to try. I am working on a king size quilt right now and it is a bear.

Brenda

[CoyoteQuilts]

Mama, I quilted for a long time with the 'roll' what a pain...... I then started to 'scrunch' the quilt in the opening & that worked much better. Also, I rearranged myself so that I sat at the 'end' of the machine. Instead of sitting facing the machine with the needle on the left and the buttons on the right, I moved my chair 45 degrees to the left. I was looking at the end of the machine at the needle. It was easier to 'push' the quilt 'into' the 'throat' from that angle instead of pushing it to the right. It also helps that the right hand is not taking up space in the throat of the machine. Also, it is a lot easier to quilt when the machine in flat with the table. You will have more control of the quilt that way.

Good luck and happy quilting!!!

Sharon V.

[macdor]

Thanks for the information. It looks like useing the tubs would make is easier to do machine quilting. Most of the time I send my big quilts to a long arm quilter. I only have a tiptronic 6270 machine, it has a small open plate. I have a small quilt that I'm going to try this on.