There’s nothing like a few new tools for a new year in your quilting studio. And Handi Quilter has you covered at the start of 2020! We have some great new accessories to make your quilting better, easier, more accurate, and more fun.

HQ Pinpoint Needle Laser

First up is the Handi Quilter Pinpoint Needle Laser. Owners of the next generation machines (Infinity, Forte and Amara) have been enjoying this feature on their machines and now, owners of the Fusion, Avante, Simply Sixteen, Sweet Sixteen and Capri and other machines, even domestic sewing machines, can enjoy the same benefits.

Handi Feet Micro Foot

We have a new foot added to our line-up of useful feet that is great for any time you need to really see the needle. The Micro Foot is ideally designed for micro quilting, stippling, and thread painting. The Micro Foot also provides precise access to the quilting area when working with embellishments. The base of the foot will allow a clear view of the stitching path in every direction. Your machine needs to be fitted with a Handi Feet mount that works with the interchangeable Handi Feet. NOTE: To use the Micro Foot, the machine must have been purchased after November 2014, OR you first need to install the Handi Feet Conversion Kit.

Pro-Stitcher Designer

Pro-Stitcher Designer needs a blog post all its own, so stay tuned! In the mean time think about getting those new tools for a new year.

by Mary Beth Krapil

As the year draws to an end, our thoughts go to our New Year’s resolutions. Do you make them? Did you keep the ones you made in 2019? How did that work out for you?

Here’s some help that will make those resolutions for 2020 a no-brainer.

We all know quilting is fun with the side benefit of creating beautiful things. But did you know that quilting is good for your health? There’s actual scientific evidence that this is true!

Prevent memory loss

Studies that show that hobbies like quilting or photography can cut the risk of dementia. A recent study by Dr Yonas Geda, a neuropsychiatrist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota shows that participation in crafts and other activities which exercise the brain, can have a protective effect and help prevent memory loss. Those who kept mentally active in their middle age, through reading, arts and crafts and other pursuits, were about 40 percent less likely to develop memory loss than those who did not. The scientists found that those who kept mentally active in later years cut their chance of developing memory loss by between 30 and 50 per cent. I like those statistics!

Feel better

In another study researchers at the University of Glasgow published their findings in the peer-reviewed Journal of Public Health after conducting qualitative research using a local quilting group as their source. The results show “Quilting seemed to possess some distinct properties for enhancing well-being that would not be replicable through outdoor/physical activity.” Certainly don’t trade in your walking shoes, physical activity has its own set of benefits, but don’t feel guilty when you head to your sewing room for a little quilty time. It’s just as good for you and way more fun!

Lower Stress

Quilting also lowers stress levels. According to Kelly Lambert, PhD, “quilters feel a sense of accomplishment that increases your ‘reward chemicals’ and decreases the chemicals related to stress or anxiety.” Lower stress levels gives way to a myriad of benefits against many health risks. And the bonus…you have a beautiful quilt.

Lower risk of heart disease

In yet another study a clinical psychologist published research in the Journal of the American Medical Association showing evidence that quilting leads to decreased blood pressure, heart rate and respiration. Sounds like relaxation to me.

Ready to resolve to be more healthy?

With all that scientific evidence, maybe your New Year’s resolutions should drop  “eat less sugar”  and add “quilt daily”? All in the name of better health!

From all of us at Handi Quilter!

by Mary Beth Krapil

I needed a little stitchin’ time so I rooted through my stash and found this super cute place mat fabric. “Christmas Cheer” by Patric Lose is what it said on the selvedge. I’m not sure how long this was waiting to be finished but it seemed the perfect holiday project for 2019.

I wrote about making placemats on the longarm frame a couple of years ago. If you missed it you can read it here. I used the same method of loading the batting as if it were a backing. This is my favorite way to make place mats because it eliminates the need for sewing on binding to finish the edges. So glad I remembered to use fusible batting. It makes the place mats look nice and crisp and keeps the backing from getting all bunchy and wrinkled when they are washed.

Free-motion quilting with white Magnifico thread by Superior was a lot of fun. For the background quilting I did some ruler work and some cropping with Pro-Stitcher. Each one was different.

Next stitch the backing fabric right side down on top of what you have already quilted. To do this, I opened the circle design from the Pro-Stitcher library, resized, and changed the start point so there would be an opening to turn the place mats right side out.

I positioned the design to fit over Santa before I placed the fabric right side down and with a few pins to hold the fabric in place, I stitched the modified circle.

As you can see, it is possible to see the place mat through the backing fabric. If you are not a Pro-Stitcher quilter, you could easily accomplish this with an arc ruler.

Once they were all stitched I removed them from the frame and trimmed leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Finishing up

After clipping the curved edges, I turned them right side out and pressed. Turn opening under and press, then hand stitch closed.

All ready for some fun meals with the grandies!

There’s nothing like a fun holiday project to get you in the festive spirit. What are you finishing for the holidays?

by Mary Beth Krapil

Besides being a time to reflect on thoughts of gratitude, Thanksgiving is a time to let your family know just how much you love them and are thankful they are part of your life. All of our Handi Quilter owners are our family. When someone purchases a Handi Quilter machine we love to say, “Welcome to the family!” We like to think we are creating a community of quilters who will share inspiration and help each other in finishing quilts, just like families share and help each other.

Thanksgiving is a time to gather together. We offer lots of opportunities for quilters to gather together for sharing and learning at our local Handi Quilter education events,

at our Handi Quilter University retreats,

and at our Handi Quilter Academy.

We have a Facebook group page which is a gathering place for quilters to interact with one another, ask questions and share inspiration. Join in on the fun!

Take some time and get to know your family.

You’ll be enriched beyond measure. One way to start is to watch the And I Quilt videos. We put a call out for our family members to tell us about themselves. Quilters come from all walks of life and we found the stories fascinating.  We are proud of our family and like to brag so we decided to share some of those stories with the world. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you’ll be notified when each new personality’s video premiers.

As we celebrate this Thanksgiving holiday, we want you, our Handi Quilter family, to know how much we love and appreciate you and all you do to bring beauty, warmth, and comfort to the world by making and finishing quilts. And we are grateful to be a part of your creative lives. Happy Thanksgiving!

by Mary Beth Krapil

Syndicated from the HQ Stitch Blog, with some edits – Written by Diane Harris, HQ Stitch Brand Ambassador

I am so excited for you to meet the next featured quilter in our And I Quilt campaign. She has a fascinating story and an interesting life.

This is Dorian Keusseyan from Arlington, Massachusetts. She’s an ice hockey player!

Watch an intro video to learn more, and don’t miss the special offer on the HQ Tool Tray 2!

If you asked Santa for a longarm quilting machine this year, you’d better start getting prepared. You know Santa always comes through! To help you, I’m sharing my quilter’s essential toolbox so you’ll have everything you need to get started finishing all those quilt tops that are waiting. Note : the items with an * are included with your machine, all others are optional.

This is an aerial view of my Handi Quilter tool tray. It sits on a shelf that is right next to my HQ Gallery frame. Since I’ve been quilting for a LONG time, it is the old style of tool tray with fixed compartments. The new HQ Tool Tray 2 has customizable compartments that you can arrange to fit your favorite tools. Maybe I should write to Santa and ask for one of those?

I keep the things I use most, while quilting, in this tray so that they are right there at hand.

Zinger and Scissors

My zinger with small scissors is clipped to the end of the tray. I clip it to my shirt while quilting so I can easily trim threads as I go. The little sock on the scissor point is a tool borrowed from the knitting world. It is meant to go on the point of a knitting needle to keep your stitches from falling off. On my scissors, it keeps the point from poking me.

Measuring tapes, USB, and tools

I have two kinds of tape measure, a metal carpenter’s tape measure and a cloth retractable tape measure. They are used to measure my tops and backing before loading. I also need to measure and cut the proper size batting. Another tape measure I use is a quilter’s zero center measuring tape mounted with command strips on my leveler bar. More about that in another blog post. Stay tuned!

The USB stick holds my Pro-Stitcher designs.

There is a small jewelers screw driver* for adjusting bobbin tension. Also a small pink flat head screwdriver for removing the sole plate when cleaning. The black handled tool is a 2.5mm hex wrench* for changing needles and feet. If you look closely you can see an old fashioned wire needle threader. I seldom use this, but it’s there just in case.

Seam ripper and Versa tool

Sadly, everyone needs a seam ripper. Nothing else needs to be said.

The Versa Tool is a great go-to template/ruler for those times when you just need a bit of a straight line or a nice smooth curve. It has 4 pieces of Handi Grip on the back to prevent slipping. I have a bunch more rulers and keep them in a couple of different places. The ones I use most are in a slotted wooden holder that my sweet hubby made for me. It sits on a low shelf at the other end of my frame. The rest are in plastic storage containers.

Marking tools, Oil, and batting squares

I keep a few marking tools close at hand. A water soluble pen, a Panda pencil, a white ceramic mechanical pencil, a piece of school chalk and a FriXion pen. Each of these gets used in different situations. I’ll write a post on marking tools soon. In the meantime, just remember: follow the manufacturer’s instructions and TEST to make sure the marks will come out.

There’s my oil – one drop on the bobbin race, after cleaning the lint, with each bobbin change. And some squares of batting to clean tracks and wheels before I start a new project.

Sure foot and Glide foot

These are the two feet I use the most. The Sure foot is a foot with an extra high side profile that offers extra insurance when using rulers. I never want to hit a ruler with my needle! My Sure foot combined with keeping good control of my ruler as I quilt will prevent that from happening.

The Glide foot is a curved bowl-like foot that will glide over open seams, extra thick seam allowances and never flip the edge of my quilt if I stitch off the edge and then back on again. It is perfect for pantograph work or stitching with Pro-Stitcher. I love using all the other accessory feet too. The Couching feet, the Echo feet, the Square feet, the open toe foot* are all great and have special uses. Check out my HQ Live presentation for more ideas about the optional feet.  I keep my other feet in a drawer next to my frame.

Batting scissors and a ruler

My HQ batting scissors are my go-to for cutting batting off the roll. I also trim excess batting away and square up my quilt backs using the batting scissors. The off-set handles are perfect for these tasks.

I keep a 12 inch ruler handy for measuring and marking guidelines. It helps keep my designs evenly spaced and perfectly aligned. It’s more handy to grab than my measuring tapes for smaller jobs.

Brushes and carriage tool

I like to use small inexpensive paint brushes for cleaning lint from the bobbin area. Since I have an Infinity, there are wires and such in the area, so I want to be precise and careful in my cleaning. I purchase in big sets at the dollar store and when they get yucky, I throw them away.

That funny looking black tool is used to manually release the carriage from Pro-Stitcher if needed in situations like a power outage. I have never used it in 5 years. Maybe I can stash that in a drawer?

Needles and bobbins and spare bobbin case

I have an assortment of needle* sizes since I use all kinds of different threads and you should always use the correct size needle for the thread you are using. “A new needle for every quilt” is my motto. The white container is for used needles. When it gets full, I tape it shut and toss it; then start a new one.

I have a few pre-wound bobbins and some empty metal bobbins* at the ready. My pre-wound of choice is Super Bobs from Superior Threads. They contain a ton of Bottom Line #60 polyester thread, so much thread, they last a long time! The rest of my bobbins are stored in HQ Bobbin Boxes. We have a new bobbin storage tool that was introduced at Houston, the HQ bobbin tree. I think I need to add one of those to my letter to Santa!

Everyone needs a spare bobbin case. If the bobbin case gets damaged, dropped, out of round, loses the backlash spring, you can no longer quilt. I never want to be up against a deadline and find myself needing a new bobbin case.  So I have a spare. It’s a great insurance policy.

Towa Guage

Speaking of bobbins, I check each and every bobbin for proper tension with a TOWA bobbin tension gauge. This is not a necessity, but it sure takes the guesswork out of adjusting bobbin tension. I bought mine from Superior Threads, they have a great price!

Mirror, magnifying glass, lint brush and flashlight

The mirror and flashlight lets me see the stitches on the back of the quilt without crawling on the floor. I go to the back of the frame, hold the mirror slightly under the quilt, shine the light on the mirror which reflects up onto the back of the quilt, and I can check on the stitches.

The magnifying glass helps me check my stitches when I’m adjusting tension. It is especially helpful if I am quilting with white thread on white fabric or black on black. I can really see what is happening with the stitches. Sometimes the flashlight gets put into play for this as well.

Quilting is a dirty business. Lint and threads everywhere! and can be cleaned up with a swipe of this handy lint brush. I can also remove chalk efficiently with this brush.

Machine cover and super clamps

You may have noticed the long white things next to my tool tray. These are super clamps. I can quickly attach or take off a practice piece using these clamps. Originally designed for the Littlefoot frame, they fit around the poles of my frame and hold a quilt sandwich in place. I always like to have a practice piece on my frame when I am not quilting a quilt so that I can perfect new designs or just get in a little stitching time whenever I want. They are available in 2 sizes for the Studio(2) frame and the Gallery(2) frame. These are a must have for a beginner. Practice is the way you will become a good quilter. Practice every day!

And folded on my frame at the end, is my machine cover. I made a cover to go over my machine when it’s not in use. I travel and teach quite a bit so my machine stays cozy and dust free while I’m gone.

One thing that I don’t have in my tool tray is channel locks. I use the channel locks built in on my Pro-Stitcher. If you are not a Pro-Stitcher quilter, you will want a set of channel locks to be able to quilt perfect straight lines, e.g. the plumb line stitched across backing and batting to line up your quilt top perfectly straight.

So there you have it. My quilter’s essential toolbox kept all neat and right at hand in my tool tray. I hope this gives you some idea of the tools that are used by longarm quilters so you can be ready when Santa shows up to set up your new machine. Happy Holidays!

Hey, experienced longarm quilters! What are your favorite tools? Please share in the comments.

by Mary Beth Krapil

We’ve been having so much fun filming the And I Quilt stories! We chose a group of 15 quilters from all walks of life who love their Handi Quilter machines and we are traveling to their homes to film so we can share their unique talents, passions, and inspiration with everyone.

You can see the videos we have made so far here.  Sign up here for a FREE Handi Quilter cutting mat and get notified when new videos are released.

Recently our team went to Village of Warfield, British Columbia to visit with Cathy Aitken.  She’s a photographer, a retiree, and she quilts.

I thought you might enjoy some behind the scenes photos of our shoot.

Cathy had a lovely chat with Vicki Hoth.

She shared her passion for photography.

And we got to see her studio and some of her quilts!

I can’t wait to see the finished video.  Besides the inspiration and fun of getting to know a fellow quilter, we also offer a special discount on a Handi Quilter product when the video premiers.

Share YOUR And I Quilt story on social media with the hashtag #AndIQuilt.

by Mary Beth Krapil

We are back from Houston Market and Festival! It was both exciting and exhausting all rolled into one. We had a great time seeing old friends and making new ones. We also loved introducing the new Handi Quilter accessories and the new HQ Capri 18-inch stationary machine with the HQ InSight™ table. Quilters all love new “stuff,” especially if it makes our quilting faster, easier and more fun.

If you “LIKE” our Handi Quilter Facebook page you might have seen Ashlee Rudert, HQ Show Coordinator, on Facebook Live talking about our new gadgets. If you missed it, you can see it here.

I’ll share here as well so you won’t suffer from FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out).

HQ Bungee Grabbers

Bungee Grabbers™ are compatible with HQ Gallery 2™, HQ Studio™ 1 & 2 and HQ Fusion™ Frames. Special cam cleats lock the bungee cords in place after a quilt sandwich is secured in the side clamps. They work much easier than the original bungee clamp and can be operated with one hand.

HQ Black Light

Remember the 70’s?  Remember black lights and how they made your white socks glow purple? Then you know exactly how useful the HQ Black Light will be when you want to mark your quilting designs or guidelines for quilting on light-colored or white fabrics. I like to use white marking products that I know will not hurt the fabric and will remove easily. Seeing those marks on light colored fabrics can be challenging. HQ Black Light to the rescue! The UV Lamp will show the white color thread, pen, or pencil, on white fabric. The thread or markings will show in purple for better contrast under the UV light. Now I can see my markings without any worry of those marks remaining on the quilt!

HQ Sweet Spots and HQ Paddles

If you are a stationary machine quilter (you move the fabric) whether on a domestic machine or longarm, you will love these helpers.

HQ Bobbin Tree

Keep your bobbins organized and at the ready. The Bobbin Tree holds 30 M-class bobbins and of course it’s in Handi Quilter purple! It will also hold domestic machine L-class bobbins. No more messy jumble of thread and bobbins!

Original photo by Kathryn Robinson

Have you ever used a photo as inspiration for a quilt? I was lucky enough to see “The Dirty Dozen: Provence to Paris”, a special exhibit at the AQS QuiltWeek in Charleston, SC. This was a photo challenge of the Dirty Dozen Fiber Artists, an eclectic group of fiber artists in Melbourne, FL.  The challenge, “Welcome to Provence”, was based on a photo by member, Kathryn Robinson, of the courtyard of a 700 year-old farmhouse in Provence, France. Kathryn selected the photo for the array of elements it contained that could be used as inspiration. Members were not required to literally reproduce the photo but were free to use the shapes, colors, themes, or moods conveyed by the photo and to take off in whatever direction that inspired them. And take off they did!

I took photos of the quilts to share with you. I am amazed at what part of the photo inspired each of these artists and the creative ways they interpreted that inspiration. Some are very literal and others are very much not so. Each one is delightful.

The Quilts

Red Window by Becky Stack

Becky found intrigue in the red window on the wall; she wondered what was on the other side. She used raw edge fused applique and free motion quilting.

Steps, Windows and Doors by Jill Brown

When Jill saw the inspiration photo, what struck her were the steps, windows and doors. Using the colors and the shapes of those elements in the photo as inspiration, she created this fun piece. She used commercial fabrics woven together to make steps and her own fused glass to show the windows in the door at the top of the steps.

Welcome by Terri Drake

Terri picked up on the mood of the photo as inspiration. She thought the burst of color and fragrance of flowers would be a wonderful welcome home if you lived here. She used fabric painting, thread painting and applique.

The Pink Chair
by Gabriele DiTota

The stone wall is painted and the elements of the tree and the chair are created separately with paints inks and dyes, then appliqued in place.

Resonance of the Leaf Divine by Elizabeth King

The aging stone wall inspired Elizabeth. She used a variety of media to express her vision, including shells and crystals.

Fragrant Climb
by Ellen Lindner

The scents and sights from the photo inspired Ellen, which she says brings back memories of a special time and place. She used a raw edge collage technique with fabrics, thread, batting, fusible web, and ink.

Enter Into the Magic
by Dij Pacarro

Dij loves the feeling of the home tucked away off the main street, so she highlighted the stairs and doorway leading to a hideaway. Made with fused raw edge collage with free motion quilting.

May in Provence
by Ruth Anne Parker

Raw edge applique with free motion quilting using hand dyed cheese cloth created the ambiance of this lovely quilt.

Welcome to Provence
by Kathryn Robinson

This soft and sweet quilt zeroed in on the portion of the steps with potted flowers and a vine growing over the edge. The background is cotton painted with ink and the rest of the image is fused layers of silk organza with free motion stitching.

Waiting by Laura Ruiz

Laura is waiting in this peaceful quilt to climb the stairs and see what lies beyond the red door. Maybe it’s a quilting studio complete with a Handi Quilter! Drawn and painted with Inktense pencils.

Are you ready to try your hand at using a photo as inspiration for your next quilt? I am!

There comes a time in every quilter’s life when some stitches land in unintended places. That’s when the seam ripper has to come out. Erasing quilting stitches is never fun. It’s boring, time consuming, and frustrating. All we can think about is how those stitches got there, where they don’t belong. <Sigh>

I’ve had a fair amount of experience with this situation, so I thought I would share the quickest and easiest method I have found for erasing quilting stitches. The trick is to tease out a top thread long enough to get hold of. Pull back on that top thread toward the stitches you are removing. The top thread will pull the bobbin thread to the top where you can cut it with your seam ripper.

When you pull back on the top thread again you will remove 3-6 more stitches. Cut bobbin, pull top, cut bobbin, pull top, etc.

Once all your errant stitches are erased, you’ll have to remove small bits of thread from the quilt, both top and back. The best tool for this is a sticky lint roller. I found this pretty one at the Dollar Store.

Roll the back. Just reach under with the lint roller. Feel the back with your hand to make sure you got it all.

Then roll the top.

Hopefully during the process you figured out the error of your ways and devised a way to NEVER LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN.

by Mary Beth Krapil, Handi Quilter National Educator