march 8, 2012 the basics of longarm quilting · pdf filethe basics of longarm quilting ......

Welcome to the Handi Quilter Education Webinar

March 8, 2012

The Basics of Longarm Quilting

While you’re waiting for the Webinar to begin, make

sure your computer speakers are on, so you will be able to hear us.

Your presenter today is Mindy Powell

Handi Quilter Studio Educator

Assisting her is Vicki Hoth

Handi Quilter

Education Coordinator

Adjusting the Table Height “Having the table set to the correct height for your body helps to prevent fatigue and body aches.” Stand in front of the table and bend your arms at a 90 degree angle. Your hands should be able to easily grasp the machine handles. Determine how much you need to raise or lower the table by standing with your arms at a 90 degree angle by the backing or ”belly” pole. There should be approximately 3 inches from your elbow to the pole.

Adjusting the Table Height

HQ Adjustable Table With a partner lifting one end of the table (to take the weight off the table feet), kneel beside the table legs and squeeze the adjustment knobs together to loosen the table feet. Raise or lower to desired height and release knobs. Partner gently lowers table to floor. Repeat for other end.


HQ Adjustable Table Raise or lower to desired height and release knobs. Partner gently lowers table to floor. Repeat for other end.


HQ QuilTable When first putting this table together, place the table top on the floor with legs pointing up. Make the adjustments to the legs by setting the lower leg insert at the desired height and bolting into place.


HQ Studio Frame To raise the frame, put your foot on the bar at the bottom and lift up. It’s a one-person job. To lower the frame, have someone help you by releasing the latches while you slowly lower it to the desired height. Important! When lowering the table, adjust

the center supports first and then the outer legs. When raising the table, do the outer legs first, then the center supports.

Leveling the Table “If it’s not level, you’ll be fighting and chasing your machine the whole time.” 1. Place the machine on the frame. It is the best leveling tool you own.

2. Slide the machine back and forth. Let go of the machine to see if it moves forward

or back or to one side or the other.

Leveling the Table: HQ Adjustable Table

3. Slightly lift one end of the table and turn the leveling feet to adjust up or down. HINT: You can do this by yourself if you use your foot to “gently rotate” the leveler. Turn clockwise to raise and counter-clockwise to lower.

Leveling the Table: HQ QuilTable

Use the wrenches that came with your table to adjust the leveling feet. If you no longer have these wrenches close by, a pair of channel lock pliers will work as well.

Leveling the Table: HQ Studio Frame

Use the provided wrench when adjusting the leveling feet on the HQ Studio Frame.

Leading the Way

HQ Leaders are made from firmly woven, sturdy twill cotton fabric with extra-wide Velcro® tape attached for use with all HQ frame systems.

Advantages 1. They can be removed so you

can pin or machine baste to the quilt while sitting.

2. Marked for easy centering and positioning.

Attaching the Leaders

1. Mark pole centers and leader centers with permanent marker and align marks when placing leaders.

2. As you place leaders on the backing pole and the quilt top pole have the leaders “waterfall” to the center.

Attaching the Leaders

3. Place final leader on take-up pole with the markings facing the back of the frame.

Available Leader Sizes

HQ Three-Piece Leader Sets 9 ½-foot HQ Leader Set Fits Adjustable Table and QuilTable 11-foot HQ Leader Set Fits HQ Studio Frame HQ Super Leader (one leader only in

package) Fits all HQ Frames We offer an optional 27” x 11’ super-sized

leader for the take-up pole. No bending over or going to the back of the frame to load the backing fabric.

Pinning to the Leaders

Use HQ Longarm Pins 2 inches in length with pearl heads that are easy on the fingers. These pins are very strong and not susceptible to bending. Each box contains 144 pins. We encourage you to purchase two boxes. They are great for other projects. You can also baste the quilt sandwich to the leaders instead of pinning.

Loading the Quilt Sandwich Traditional Loading Method 1. Attach backing fabric to leader close to your body.

2. Place pins end-to-point, end-to-point.

3. Take “big bites” with the pins EXCEPT….

4. The pins on the end should be “woven” into the leader to provide more stability.

Loading the Quilt Sandwich Traditional Loading Method 5. Roll the fabric completely

onto the pole, making sure it rolls straight (avoiding “hour-glassing” by smoothing the fabric as you roll it).

6. Make sure that your ratchets are in the down position, assuring that you can only roll it the right way.

Loading the Quilt Sandwich Traditional Loading Method 6. Attach quilt top fabric to

next leader.

7. Roll fabric onto pole as before, remembering to engage the latches on the sidearm.

Loading the Quilt Sandwich Traditional Loading Method 7. Attach other end of backing fabric to take-up leader.

Can you tell what is wrong with this photo?

(SHHH, we forgot to load the top fabric before we took this photo.)

Loading the Quilt Sandwich Traditional Loading Method 8. Place batting between the backing and quilt top poles and move to top of backing fabric. Photo taken before loading batting.

Loading the Quilt Sandwich Traditional Loading Method

Photo taken after loading batting.

Loading the Quilt Sandwich Traditional Loading Method 9. Use two channel locks to hold machine in place for basting a horizontal line across the top of the batting. Note: You can place the channel locks on the two side wheels or the two front wheels. It’s a personal preference.

Basting the Quilt Sandwich

1. Position top of fabric parallel

to the basting line on the batting.

2. Run a line of basting across the top of the quilt top, parallel to the batting basting line and the take-up leader.

Starting the Line of Quilting

1. Move the machine needle to the starting point.


2. Press needle down and then up, holding onto the top thread.


3. Holding the top thread, move the machine aside. By doing this, it will pull up the bobbin thread, so it’s available to grab.


4. Grab the bobbin thread together with the top thread.


5. Move the machine back to the beginning and take small tacking stitches to lock threads.


6. Quilt as desired.

1. Stop quilting and take small tacking stitches.

Ending the Line of Quilting


2. Move machine to the side, five to six inches.


3. Grab the top thread and loop the thread around a finger. Move machine needle back to the ending stitching point.


4. Press needle down and up, while holding onto the loop.


5. While holding onto the loop, move the machine aside, to pull up the bobbin thread.


6. Clip threads at surface of fabric.

Manual vs. Regulated Stitching Modes

When quilting in MANUAL mode, the quilter is in complete control of her stitch length. 1.Set the machine speed or percentage.

2.Move the machine.

3.The faster the machine is moved, the longer the stitches.

HQ Sixteen Screen

Manual vs. Regulated Stitching Modes

HQ18 Avanté Screen

Manual vs. Regulated Stitching Modes When quilting in REGULATED mode, the quilter SETS THE DESIRED STITCH LENGTH ON THE SCREEN, moves the machine and the machine regulates the stitch length. 1. Set the stitch length. 2. Choose the stitch-regulation

mode. (Cruise or Precision, not applicable for HQ Sixteen, which has just Regulated Mode.)

Two Modes of Stitch Regulation: Precision and Cruise (For HQ18 Avanté & HQ24 Fusion)

Cruise Stitch Regulation When the quilter turns on the machine, the needle starts to cycle up and down at the cruise speed set by the quilter. The lower the cruise speed number, the slower the needle cycles. As the quilter moves the machine, the stitch regulation regulates the stitches, keeping them at the same length. When the quilter stops moving the machine, the needle continues to cycle until the machine is turned off.

Two Modes of Stitch Regulation: Precision and Cruise

Precision Stitch Regulation When the quilter turns on the machine, the needle does not cycle until she moves the machine. As the quilter moves the machine, the stitch regulation regulates the stitches, keeping them at the same length. When the quilter stops moving the machine, the needle stops at whatever point in its up-and-down cycle it happens to be.

When Does a Quilter Want to Use Precision?

1. When using rulers or templates.

2. When doing edge-to-edge quilting (such as pantographs or groovy boards).

When Does a Quilter Want to Use Cruise?

1. When doing Micro-Quilting

2. For over-stitching (such as feathers)

3. Any type of quilting (edge-to-edge, groovy boards) very versatile.

4. Even with rulers (set cruise percentage between 3%-5%.)

What Factors Should I Consider When Setting my Stitch Length in Stitch Regulation? 1. The Size of the Design

• The smaller the design, the shorter the stitches in order to get the desired detail.

• If the stitches are too long, curves will not be smooth

2. The thickness of the thread • Use longer stitches with heavier threads

3. Are you basting or quilting?

• Basting stitch length: 4 stitches-per-inch (SPI)

4. Stitch-in-the-ditch? • Shorter stitches bury better in the ditch (12-14 SPI)

Is it Possible to Outrun the Stitch Regulation? Quick Answer: YES, on any machine

Why? If you move the machine faster than the top speed that your machine can provide, the stitches will become longer. This is true of ALL machines, regardless of brand.

What Advice do HQ Studio Educators Give to their Retreat Students, Over and Over Again?

SLOW DOWN!

1. Keep yourself in control of both design and stitch length. 2. This is not a race. You’re already quilting much faster than you can

by hand, even at the slowest machine speed. 3. Stitching slower keeps you calmer.

What is the Stitching Capacity of MY HQ Machine?

HQ Sixteen 1500 stitches-per-minute in manual mode. 4-15 stitches-per-inch in regulated mode.


HQ18 Avanté 1800 stitches-per-minute in manual mode. 4-18 stitches-per-inch in regulated mode.


HQ24 Fusion 2200 stitches-per-minute in manual mode. 4-24 stitches-per-inch in regulated mode.


HQ Sweet Sixteen 1500 stitches-per-minute

HQ Sixteen Sit-Down 1500 stitches-per-minute

HQ Micro Handles

Handi Quilter has HQ Micro-Handles for the HQ Sixteen, HQ18 Avanté and for the HQ24 Fusion. They differ from all other micro-handles in that they were specifically designed for the Handi Quilter machines. They have integrated finger-touch controls and extra LED lights that shine on the needle area.

How Do You Use HQ Micro Handles Ergonomically?

It’s best if you sit, while using micro-handles. Set your stool at the appropriate height to avoid shoulder strain. Rest your elbows on the poles.

Adjusting HQ Micro Handles

HQ Micro Handles can be adjusted forward and backwards by loosening the hex screw in the bracket.

HQ Micro Handles can be adjusted up and down by loosening the star knob.


Sometimes it’s good to set the handles close to the needle.


Sometimes it’s good to set the handles farther from the needle.


It can be helpful to swing the HQ Micro-Handles up high enough to clear the front poles when quilting close to the front of the frame.


HQ Micro Handles are Recommended for:

1. Micro-Stippling 2. Other tiny fill

patterns 3. If you can draw it

BIG, you can quilt it SMALL

4. Some quilters prefer using these handles for all of their quilting.

Some Examples of Micro-Fill Patterns

What Kind of Thread is Recommended for Micro-Quilting?

Think Skinny! 50 wt. - #100 Bottom Line So Fine Metallic Glitter Monofilament Silk

Why Should I Take the Time to do Micro-Quilting?

1. It makes motifs POP!

Why Should I Take the Time to do Micro-Quilting?

2. It can be used to sub-divide and add definition to a quilting design (Not So Plain Jane by Lisa Calle quilt. Part of the Handi Quilter Collection)

Where Can I Learn More about Micro-Quilting? We’re so glad you asked!

And by the way… We’ve got more Educational DVDs on HandiQuilter.com. Check them out!

Would you like to learn more? Come to Handi Quilter University in the HQ Studio in Salt Lake City, Utah. Go to HandiQuilter.com/retreats to see the schedule and to register.

Thanks for joining us today. The next HQ Educational Webinar will be April 12 at 11:00 a.m.

Topic: Marking the Quilt See you then.

march 8, 2012 the basics of longarm quilting · pdf filethe basics of longarm quilting ......

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