A Few Inches More: The Benefits of a Longarm Quilting ...
A Few Inches More: The Benefits of a Longarm Quilting ...
&#;Am I even a quilter if I don&#;t enjoy the quilting?&#;
For more information, please visit our website.
I remember asking myself this question a few months into my exploration of my latest hobby. I&#;d spent many weeks creating a king-sized Christmas quilt with my mother. It was full of appliquéd shapes and embroidered details and, as it was only the second quilt I&#;d ever made, I was immensely proud of it.
When the time came to quilt the project, I spent a whole afternoon painstakingly basting the layers together with safety pins. It was this method that had been suggested to me in the many quilting books I&#;d read. Reassured by the words of those who knew better than me, I excitedly took the quilt to my machine and began stitching straight lines with my walking foot, trying my best to wrestle the swathes of fabric under the throat. I became so enthralled in the process that I didn&#;t stop to check the back, figuring that my efforts at basting would hold up. After several hours, I was done.
The contentment I felt at finishing was short lived however once I looked at the back of the quilt. There were pleats everywhere. In some places along the edge of the quilt, the backing fabric had been caught and stitched into a fold. The quilt looked terrible. Not wanting to look at it, it was quickly boxed away out of sight. It was then that I realised I hated quilting!
Ok, so hate is perhaps too strong a word, but I know there are many of you reading this who have been in a similar situation. I speak to so many quilters who are quick to profess their love of patchwork, yet abhor the very idea of quilting the tops they make. Wrestling large amounts of fabric and wadding under a small sewing machine is no easy feat, and whilst there are things we can do to make the process a little easier (ensuring the quilt is well-basted being one tip) there is no denying the appeal of a dedicated quilting machine to help tackle those larger projects.
For many quilters, the word &#;longarm&#; conjures up an image of a frame machine. When quilting with one of these specialised pieces of kit, the quilt top, wadding and backing are attached to leaders and rolled together simultaneously, ensuring that the quilt sandwich is kept flat and taut. The machine head is moved by the use of handles and runs along a metal track, allowing the quilter to stich from one edge of the quilt to the other. Once the visible section of fabric has been quilted, the quilt sandwich is advanced onto a take-up roller, exposing the next part of the quilt. The speed and ease with which a quilt can be quilted by using frame machine has led to a rise in the demand for longarm quilting services, with many people taking on both simple edge-to-edge and detailed custom quilting.
For many quilters a longarm machine is an appealing option. Yet some believe the physical size and cost of such equipment makes owning one an unrealistic option. In recent times however, the addition of more &#;user-friendly&#; versions has made the benefits of a specialist quilting machine accessible to more and more quilters.
Compact, more lightweight frame systems have been developed to accommodate smaller spaces. Bernina&#;s newest addition to their longarm line up, the Studio Frame, comes in at a much-more-manageable 5-foot, with the convenient option of adding a 5-foot extension should more space become available at a later date.
- Bernina Studio Frame
- Bernina Q16 Folding Table
As well as frame machines, many manufacturers now offer sit-down longarms. These are used in much the same way as when quilting on a domestic sewing machine. Unlike frame models, which are used by moving the machine, sit-down longarms require the fabric to be moved, therefore providing a more familiar experience to the user. What is more convenient with this type of machine is the larger throat space and additional support offered by the table the machine is set into. Various table options exist to suit all budgets, from simple foldable versions that can be pushed up again a wall, to fully height adjustable models with hydraulic lift and storage drawers. Just like the tables they are set into, the machines available vary, with the most common difference being the size of the throat space. For those with the smallest amount of room, Bernina&#;s new Q16 is an appealing option.
Since making my Christmas quilt some nine years ago, I&#;ve discovered the wonder of temporary basting spray and quilting larger quilts on my sewing machine is no longer the arduous task it once was, yet as someone who is quite impatient, there can be no denying the attractiveness of a longarm quilting machine. As quilters discover that owning one may not be the unattainable dream they thought, we may see many more learning to love this part of the process.
Nick Ball
Bernina UK
Share this:
Like
Loading...
Related
Long Arm, Mid Arm, Domestic Machine Quilting-Pros and ...
Good Morning, Quilters!
I&#;ve been quilting for more than twenty years!
Most of my free motion quilting has been done on a variety of (BERNINA) domestic sewing machines: B830, B150QE, B770QE.
In , I purchased the BERNINA Q20, a sit-down (stationary) quilting machine and early this year, I purchased a BERNINA Q24 long arm with quilting frame.
Each machine type and way of quilting has advantages and disadvantages.
Domestic, Mid Arm, Long Arm
Before we compare, let&#;s make sure we understand a few terms.
Domestic Sewing Machine:
Throat space: Less than 9 inches.
Most of us begin quilting on our sewing machines-the machines we use for every day sewing and piecing. The term domestic machine is used to distinguish these machines from commercial sewing machines used in the garment industry. Domestic sewing machines can perform many sewing tasks and usually have a throat space (the distance between the needle and the vertical side of sewing machine) less than 9 inches. Because the domestic sewing machine is so versatile, it is a great machine to learn free motion quilting. The major disadvantage is the small throat space makes quilting large quilts challenging.
Mid Arm Quilting Machine
Throat space: 12-17 inches.
A Mid-arm quilting machine is different from a domestic sewing machine in two ways: It has a larger throat space (12-17 inches) and it is a quilting-only machine. Most mid-arm machines do not have feed dogs and therefore can not perform typical sewing functions.
Mid-arm quilting machines are often set in a cabinet though some are set on a quilt frame. Cabinet style machines require much less space requirements than the frame-based counterparts.
Some mid-arm machines are positioned like a domestic sewing machine, while others are oriented perpendicular.
Mid arm quilting machines make quilting easier with more room for maneuverability. Compared to domestic machines, mid-arm machines usually offer large bobbins and stitch regulators in a moderate price range.
Long Arm Quilting Machine
Throat Space: 20-24 inches
Long arm quilting machines add more throat space. Like the mid-arm quilting machines, long arm machines do not have feed dogs and therefore are quilt-only. Long arm quilting machines are usually positioned perpendicular to sewing machine position which leaves the right and left sides open.
Long arm machines may be in a set in cabinet &#;the quilt moves not the machine&#;or on a quilt frame. When the quilt is stretched on the frame, the quilt is stationary and the machine moves.
Glory Tang Machinery Product Page
Long Arm Quilting: Stationary or Movable
When looking to upgrade from quilting on a domestic sewing machine, the biggest decision is whether you want the quilt in a frame (with a movable machine) or you want to move the quilt and have a stationary machine.
Quilt Moves/Stationary Machine Advantages
Similar to FMQ on Domestic Machine-If you&#;ve been free motion quilting on a domestic sewing machine, the transition to a stationary mid or long arm machine is a delight. Everything is the same-only there&#;s much more room to move and usually a bigger bobbin to boot! Most quilting machines offer easy built-in stitch regulators.
Sit down quilting-One of the biggest advantages of a stationary machine in a set-in cabinet is it allows you to sit comfortably while quilting. At the end of a long day, you can relax at your machine and quilt away!
Less Expensive-Usually a cabinet is less expensive than the cost of a frame, especially if you need hydraulics on the frame.
Requires A lot Less Space-The space requirements for a cabinet based machine are considerably less than a quilting frame.
Design Review-I often like to quilt a little and then hang or lay out my quilt to evaluate. This is much easier on a stationary machine. When the quilt is rolled on a frame, you can only see a section of the quilt at a time and never get the &#;big picture&#;.
Quilt on Frame/Movable Machine Pros/Cons
Stand up quilting-While it is possible to quilt sitting down, most long arm quilting with a movable machine requires the quilter to be standing. I know this sounds like I&#;m a lazy quilter-but it is a serious consideration.
More Expensive-Long arm quilting machines and the frame are significantly more expensive than other options.
Requires Large Space-A large, dedicated space is required to accommodate a quilt frame.
Faster-Moving the quilting machine over the quilt is much faster than moving the quilt under the needle. I would estimate &#;4-5x as fast.
No Basting-Instead of spray or pin basting, the quilt is attached to a frame. This set-up only takes 20-30 minutes compared to basting 2 hours?
Computer controlled options-Quilting designs can be automated (with significant babysitting) when the quilt is on a frame.
What about YOU?
Do YOU quilt on a domestic, mid-arm or long arm?
What brand/model do you use?
Are YOU considering an upgrade?
What is the biggest factor in your decision?
We&#;d LOVE to hear!
YOUR Lucky Multi-machine Owner!
Lori
Read more:
Why I bought a Q20
BERNINA Q20 Review One Year Later HERE
Check out all of my books on Etsy: LoriKennedyShop!
Like this:
Like
Loading...
Related
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Continuous Quilting Machine.