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When you start your longarm quilting journey you’ll likely get some lessons in the operation of your machine. You’ll learn things like how to thread the machine, how to wind a bobbin, how to adjust tension, how to load a quilt. All good information and essential to finishing that first quilt. But there are a few things that quilters, in their excitement to quilt that first quilt, might have to learn the hard way. I’m going to tell you things beginners need to know for successful longarm quilting. This list is not a complete list. There are many more things you’ll learn along the way. But these will maybe help to avoid some tears and/or un-ladylike words.
1. Get Everything Smooth When Loading
Don’t take any shortcuts when loading the 3 layers of your quilt. Making sure the 3 pieces, top, backing and batting, are smooth and wrinkle free, is very important to getting good results in the end.
Backing
Press the fabric well. This is not as easy as it sounds because often you are dealing with a HUGE piece of fabric. A large ironing surface helps tremendously. Just like everything else, you’ll get better at this with practice.
Once the fabric is pressed, take the time to square the backing. By this I mean the top and bottom edges must be straight and parallel with each other.
The side edges can be a little off, just make sure you have extra fabric on both sides of the quilt top. 4-5 inches on each side is ideal. (you’ll want that on the top and bottom as well.) I use a laser level to achieve this. It gives me perfectly straight lines of light that intersect at 90 degree angles. I’ll write about the process I use in a future post. Here are 2 that I have:
My favorite is the tall one. It was made by the 3M Company. I tried to find it online but was not able to locate it. I’ve had it for many years. They might not make this particular one anymore. Just be sure to get one that locks the 2 beams at a 90 degree angle.
I pin to my leaders. Whatever method you use to attach your backing to the leaders, be sure to do it straight and evenly.
Roll carefully and try not to stretch the fabric when smoothing along the way. When you have the backing loaded, It should form a nice flat table top with no puckers, wrinkles, or sags. If you squared the fabric well, you’ll have no issues. If you have wrinkles or sags, try rolling the fabric all the way onto the take-up pole. And then all the way back onto the belly-bar. You can do it again if needed. It is miraculous how doing that rolling fixes things right up!
Quilt Top
When it come to things beginners need to know about loading the quilt top, my best advice is to attach it to the leader. It is tempting to float. Floating is when you simply lay the quilt top on the batting and baste the top edge in place. The bottom edge floats freely, not attached to anything. You cannot control the movement of the fabric as you stitch if the top is floated.
The second-best advice I have is to examine the quilt top and measure, measure, measure, before you load it. That way, you’ll know what you are dealing with. One side might be longer than the other, you might have wavy borders, you might have extra fabric in some of the blocks. Use painter’s tape to mark the issues. That way as you advance through the quilt and you come to a piece of painter’s tape, you’ll know there is an issue and you can deal with it right then and there.
Just like the backing, roll carefully, smoothing as you go. Watch the seam lines as they go across the pole, massage the fabric to keep those horizontal seams lining up with the pole. (the laser level can help with this as well)
Batting
If you use batting off a roll, there is usually only one fold or crease you have to deal with. When you use packaged batting that has been folded up and trapped in that tight plastic bag for a long time, there are plenty of creases and wrinkles. Take the time to get your batting smooth. My favorite method is to invite the ironing fairies to do the work. I’m not sure what they look like, but they must be beautiful. They are so helpful!
To send this invitation, I drape my batting over the longarm frame and mist it with water. Then I go to bed and when I wake up in the morning all the wrinkles are gone! If you are in a hurry, you can use a steamer or hover a steam iron over the wrinkles to steam them out. Be super careful to NOT stretch your batting.
The batting should match the size of your backing for best results. If your batting is narrower than your backing, as you advance and the finished quilt accumulates on the take-up pole, the backing fabric will get saggy at the sides. This can result in tucks or pleats in the back if you are not careful.
Stay tuned for more things beginners need to know!
Quilt Every Day
by Mary Beth Krapil
Thank you for posting this helpful information. I had my Amara installed about 4 weeks ago. I have been using it everyday. I have been watching HQ video’s to learn how to do load the frame. My dealer uses Red Snappers so it’s been a challenge. You have made some great points and I will try them. Thanks, I am looking forward to some more tips.
I have a Sweet Sixteen and so making a quilt sandwich and basting (or spray basting it) is my only option. If you have tips or tricks which apply to these mid arm machines I would love to read them. I’ve used my Sweet Sixteen for 5-6 years and only recently found I had quilted a crease into a quilt I was still working on. GRRRR! Anyone who had has to rip out a lot of quilting will know how it feels!
Great tips for beginners! Thank you for sharing. I’ve had my Amara for a year or so and still learn something with every quilt and Handiquilter video. Now learning from you too! Many thanks.
I have a hq sweet 16
What is the best method and easiest for a short person to load
Every little bit of information is greatly appreciated.
I have had my 2nd hand Fusion machine for just over a year, and I’m finding I learn something new every time I use it.
Thank you for the helpful tips! I can’t wait to go to Beginner PS retreat in August ‘23!
Thank you for starting this series. I have never developed full confidence using my HQ Avante. I would love tips on what and how to practice to gain confidence and skills
Awesome info for ALL of us quilters. I have found I learn something in everything I read!
Where are those ironing fairies? I need them for backing fabrics that people bring that they don’t iron because they do not have an ironing board as big as the quilt backing!
Thank you for sharing your wealth of precise information. I am not a beginner. Maybe an advanced beginner. Some of the things you shared were so helpful. I have had several backings sag. Didn’t know why or how to solve.