Short arm anyone?

Hello

I have an old Kenmore sewing machine that l have mounted on a table top frame called the Handquilter11. This frame was very popular when it came out a little less than a decade ago and many used it as a stepping stone to a longarm. Well my stepping stone is going to be settling for a long time!

I am not sure I will quilt forever or if I may stop tomorrow so I am sticking with my frame. I have had it for a year and got quite proficient, I started with creating my own pantographs right off the bat. Well I ended up learning a lot and then decided I needed to progress, so the patterns got larger, the advancing and reversing of the quilt on the frame so that I could incorporate the larger pattern was not so hard. I have only turned one quilt on the frame as I decided to leave the borders and quilt them in the end. Well it was a skill! I did it and no problems but I thought quilting the entire quilt from left to right was easier than taking off and reapplying the quilt. The quilt also lay better when I turned the quilt I found the borders had a little wave to them. OK so now I have to think a little more and incorporate the border pattern into the overall pattern, It can be done just a little forethought the first 4" and I am ready to go.I don't have a stitch regulator it is me and I don't seem to have too much problem with that


But I don't want to get bored so I am trying more and more things out. I don't have anyone near me that has a short or mid arm on a frame so it is all trial and error.
If you have a short or mid arm and have tricks to share I would love that.
I have taken everything out of the library that is available and read everything that I can find online.

I am also up to experimentation and the next thing is that I want to add sippers to my leaders to make the application of quilts so much faster and kinder to my old back. I tried C clamps but they just did not give me any tension on the quilt so I quickly took them off, I guess I should try them with a baby quilt and see if I can get the hang of it!


So yes my quilts are a work of art and so am I!

I would love to see a picture of your set up.

Gee, I have had my 18" Tin Lizzie for a little over 4 years. But I don't think I can give you any advice, thinking about asking for some though. I mean, you just jumped right in and went for it. With excellent results. If you have any specific question, just ask. There are several LA gals on here and they are always good about helping.

[quote="Calico_Chris"I would love to see a picture of your set up.[/quote]

Posed it is a poor man's set up . Reduce reuse and recycle right??

TxMaryQuilts wrote:

Gee, I have had my 18" Tin Lizzie for a little over 4 years. But I don't think I can give you any advice, thinking about asking for some though. I mean, you just jumped right in and went for it. With excellent results. If you have any specific question, just ask. There are several LA gals on here and they are always good about helping.

I am looking at a larger set up , but not the cost of a new car. It is not that I want to burst anyone's bubble but who knows what tomorrow will bring. I also think it is important to build friendships at my age as I could easily be retired and go unnoticed in that quilting room, just too comfy!!

SO I was thinking about the Bailey machine, it is affordable and would fit into my present set up. which is an easy teardown if needed. I am not sure if it would be conducive to Qbot of other computerized programs. However I have gotten so used to drawing out my old pantographs I am tending to think I might just go with a basic machine and larger throat.

SO any ideas? or suggestions? A used longarm in my neck of the woods would be $8K and hardly an accessory with it SO that is why I am reluctant. Or just too cheap. HAHA

I think Janome has a straight stitch only machine with a 16" throat for about $1,000.

Anita M. wrote:

I think Janome has a straight stitch only machine with a 16" throat for about $1,000.

That would be perfect, now the hunt is on
Thanks for the advice I really appreciate your time!

Jane

I also think it is important to build friendships at my age as I could easily be retired and go unnoticed in that quilting room, just too comfy!!


dont worry, we'd know you were there, just take your computer, camera and a bar fridge for supplies, you wont go unnoticed

Gimpy Cat wrote:

I also think it is important to build friendships at my age as I could easily be retired and go unnoticed in that quilting room, just too comfy!!


dont worry, we'd know you were there, just take your computer, camera and a bar fridge for supplies, you wont go unnoticed

Hubby would notice if I did not appear for meals, He is the main cook in this house!

Ahhh that could be a worry though, if he doesnt rely on you for food he might just start feeding himself

Is he a good cook? Any specialties?

Gimpy Cat wrote:

Ahhh that could be a worry though, if he doesnt rely on you for food he might just start feeding himself

Is he a good cook? Any specialties?

Wonder in the kitchen and he does laundry too!
He make a nice chicken stirfry tonight
He fired me from cooking after he figured that by the time I worked 12 hours and drove an hour to get home he would starve. He makes the dinner I do deserts!

sounds like a good plan and a man who's stomach led him to a common sense idea to do the cooking. Do you still work 12hrs a day, what kind of work? Cooking is another popular topic around here LOL

DH's idea of fixing a meal for himself is heating a frozen chicken pot pie. I have been buying "those corn things" (frozen tamales) to give him another option when I am out or asleep.

DH made me a frame, then I didn't have a place for it. I guess I am stuck with regular quilting on my Janome and sometimes getting a quilty friend to do my larger pieces, not that I haven't done lots of queen and king sized quilts on my machines. Doc thinks that's why my left shoulder went bad on me.

Gimpy Cat wrote:

sounds like a good plan and a man who's stomach led him to a common sense idea to do the cooking. Do you still work 12hrs a day, what kind of work? Cooking is another popular topic around here LOL

I was an oncology nurse for 18 years, then obtained my occupational health designation and worked another 10 years. I decided to retire at 48 after hubby was home alone for 3 years.

I can cook, but my hubby prefers to, I like to do yard work and keep the house spotless so his chore of cooking he loves and he doesn't love hauling around the wheebarrow and lawn mower. SO it works out well

I washed a large quilt on Monday, It almost dried and then the rain came so I moved it indoors and spread out to dry , it is muggy and raining so the quilt is still stretched out in the solarium, Well it is not drying any too quick!

I have a friend with a Qbot and I went over to see it. I was not impressed.

But let me clarify.... It does work. It does everything it says it will but....you still have to be there to keep an eye on your thread, your thread tension etc. You have to be very careful that your backing and top are square and load them straight or it will be obvious that your pattern is running at an angle. The stitching was very small and I kept thinking what a nightmare it would be if you had to frog stitch that quilt. You have to measure and start the next row precisely so that your rows don't overlap. It was a lot to remember.

I kept thinking that if I have to stand there and make sure nothing goes wrong, why not do the quilting myself. The Qbot is very precise but doesn't move very fast. I can follow a panto much faster. When you are sure everything is working good you can do something else but it will stop when it gets to the end of the row and if you get involved doing something else and forget to go reset it, it would take a while to get your quilt done.

It definitely can do more intricate quilting than I can but I enjoy quilting. A little music and you get in the groove of meandering or following a panto...I find it relaxing. And Qbots cost almost as much as a LA. There is a refurbished one on EBay for $2700 right now. New ones are $5000 or so.

My TinLizzie does have a stitch regulator. For me it is a must. I never could get the hang of quilting without it. My stitches were just too uneven. Machines without it are cheaper but like I said, for me, I had to have it.

I just looked at the Bailey and it is a good price. Looks like a pretty good machine. I also saw that it does have a stitch regulator available that you can add at any time. One thing I just remembered: when you do decide to buy a bigger machine keep the weight in mind. Your carraige will only hold up to so many pounds. You would need to research and find out what the weight limit is and make sure your new machine doesn't exceed that.

I have a Handiquilter 16 (meaning it has a 16" throat, but of course you don't have that much actual quilting space with the quilt rolled on - maybe about 11-12"). I got it over six years ago, and it seems the price has really gone up on them. Just a few months ago I invested in a much better (and pricey, of course) frame. I know I'm lucky to have such a great set up, but you know what? I'm not a great quilter and the great set up isn't going to make me one. I kind of compare it to how some people can draw a person that looks like a person, and others (like me) can draw a stick man!

Your quilting, LJane, is like that of the person who can draw a person!!! In my opinion, you don't need and wouldn't be happy with the QBot. It would take away your artistry and creativity, and there'd you'd be just standing guard over the thing. Again, just my opinion, but I do think you'd be happy with more quilting space. . . a machine with a larger throat. I don't know your frame. Maybe you'd also need a different frame to allow for the more quilting space?

I do lots of internet "research" to find out what's available.

I was wondering about those QBots. I have looked at them online but never really seen one up close and personal. If you weren't impressed, TM, I probably wouldn't be either. I just need to knuckle down and practice. (ooo I hate the "P" word!)

TxMaryQuilts wrote:

I have a friend with a Qbot and I went over to see it. I was not impressed.

But let me clarify.... It does work. It does everything it says it will but....you still have to be there to keep an eye on your thread, your thread tension etc. You have to be very careful that your backing and top are square and load them straight or it will be obvious that your pattern is running at an angle. The stitching was very small and I kept thinking what a nightmare it would be if you had to frog stitch that quilt. You have to measure and start the next row precisely so that your rows don't overlap. It was a lot to remember.

I kept thinking that if I have to stand there and make sure nothing goes wrong, why not do the quilting myself. The Qbot is very precise but doesn't move very fast. I can follow a panto much faster. When you are sure everything is working good you can do something else but it will stop when it gets to the end of the row and if you get involved doing something else and forget to go reset it, it would take a while to get your quilt done.

It definitely can do more intricate quilting than I can but I enjoy quilting. A little music and you get in the groove of meandering or following a panto...I find it relaxing. And Qbots cost almost as much as a LA. There is a refurbished one on EBay for $2700 right now. New ones are $5000 or so.

Look at the $ I save with your advice, I am beginning to think that the Qbot and me are doing the same thing.. Who would have thought?

Your welcome.

If you get a chance to see one at a quilt show, take a look. Just remember it is not quite as easy as they make it seem. They usually demo little blocks or something. Quite different doing a whole quilt.

TxMaryQuilts wrote:

Your welcome.

If you get a chance to see one at a quilt show, take a look. Just remember it is not quite as easy as they make it seem. They usually demo little blocks or something. Quite different doing a whole quilt.

I think hubby calls them and tells them not to let me play or I would hog their machine! HAHA

TxMaryQuilts wrote:

My TinLizzie does have a stitch regulator. For me it is a must. I never could get the hang of quilting without it. My stitches were just too uneven. Machines without it are cheaper but like I said, for me, I had to have it.

I just looked at the Bailey and it is a good price. Looks like a pretty good machine. I also saw that it does have a stitch regulator available that you can add at any time. One thing I just remembered: when you do decide to buy a bigger machine keep the weight in mind. Your carraige will only hold up to so many pounds. You would need to research and find out what the weight limit is and make sure your new machine doesn't exceed that.

You are absolutely correct and I have no idea what that weight is, at present my old DSM is 15 pounds. I thought of experimenting with a few bricks to see if the added weigh would hold up?? I need to add another 10 pounds for my experiment

OK so as I am getting closer to looking and thinking I am still partial to the Bailey BUT here is the thing - I am so used to my cheap version of a quilting machine I may not perform as well!! HAHA

Now here is another question ( or two or three) for all you gals, I have a nagging voice in my head. It says you have to excel and to do that you have to do a whole cloth quilt. You know one of the white quilts where every inch has a spectacular design . Well I priced them and that is not going to fly I am too fugal, besides if you color outside of their lines then you see where you should have gone and not where you have been.


Just remember it is me and my DSM no LA only in my mind!

SO here is my plan- for next spring of course!! I was thinking of drawing up a design on tissue paper and then putting it on the fabric so that I could just sew on it, rather than nesting pantographs etc. Good idea or not?

Second plan-Glad stick and peel- using washable kiddies markers mark on my pattern and then stick it on the quilt? Good or Bad??

If I draw on the top I have to wash it and I usually don't do that, I like to live with them for awhile.

If I use tissue paper I am not sure if it will peel away so well, I figure it must because it is so thin... I guess I could use a ( New) toothbrush to get out the bits

SO what do you think. And yes I am a short arm quilter who thinks she can play with the big kids ( the LA quilters).

Thanks for any tips

QBee - Mary Ann wrote:

I have a Handiquilter 16 (meaning it has a 16" throat, but of course you don't have that much actual quilting space with the quilt rolled on - maybe about 11-12"). I got it over six years ago, and it seems the price has really gone up on them. Just a few months ago I invested in a much better (and pricey, of course) frame. I know I'm lucky to have such a great set up, but you know what? I'm not a great quilter and the great set up isn't going to make me one. I kind of compare it to how some people can draw a person that looks like a person, and others (like me) can draw a stick man!

Your quilting, LJane, is like that of the person who can draw a person!!! In my opinion, you don't need and wouldn't be happy with the QBot. It would take away your artistry and creativity, and there'd you'd be just standing guard over the thing. Again, just my opinion, but I do think you'd be happy with more quilting space. . . a machine with a larger throat. I don't know your frame. Maybe you'd also need a different frame to allow for the more quilting space?

I do lots of internet "research" to find out what's available.

Thank you for such kind words about my quilting

There are few machines that will fit my present frame and the Bailey seems to be one, it is a simple machine with a 15" harp for under $2000. I am going to try one out in person when I am south, I don't want to buy site unseen and then have it in Canada and problems when I should have tried it out.

I always thought I was a sloppy sewer and quilter but in my old age I am improving.

I laughed about your comment about me being able to draw a person- there is a story to that. My mother was an artist and sculptor and my brother followed her footsteps and is a big wig architect in Rome Italy. Not having their talent and no room at the easel I took up sewing. Never learned to draw ... then maybe it is a good thing because when I paint I get me, the wall and floor colored too!

lowjane wrote:

Second plan-Glad stick and peel- using washable kiddies markers mark on my pattern and then stick it on the quilt? Good or Bad??

If I draw on the top I have to wash it and I usually don't do that, I like to live with them for awhile.
Thanks for any tips

Check out the Frixion pens. They disappear with ironing. Bad news they come back if the clothe gets really cold. But with heat the marks disappear again. I'm told that they will wash out completely too, but I haven't tried that yet.

http://www.pineneedlequiltshop.com/Notion-8-pack-Frixion-Erasable-Gel-Pens-Assorted-Colors-from-Pilot/productinfo/N-FRIX8/

Also you might want to check out how Leah Day marks her quilts
http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com/ You'll have to search a bit for it, but it is a great site for free motion quilting that I think adapts easily to LA quilting.