Floating a Quilt Top - what IS that? And why would you want to?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ก.พ. 2025
- Some quilters do it….some don’t.
I’ll chat about my reasons, and you can decide for yourself!
#longarmquilting #machinequilting #quiltingtips
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Keep missing the lives but i really enjoy watching later
I always float my tops now too. When I first started I didn't, and it didn't work for me. Thanks for all your great tips!
I look forward to your myth busting class!
So glad your video popped up for me. I just loaded my second quilt onto my longarm. It's a king-size one and I did not want the length sitting on the floor so I rolled the top onto the bottom bar. I floated my first quilt but did not know to use metal bars or clamps. It turned out just fine - thankfully. Now I know to watch for batting bunching on this quilt.
Good! It does seem to increase the larger the quilt. But it's very manageable once you know to watch for it.
I use a yardstick to drag excess fabric to belly bar.
Lol! 😂🤣😅Tension headache! I love it! Hahahaha! 😆🤣😂
I am new to long arm quilting on a frame. I started with a Bernina Q20 in a table. I recently moved it to a classic frame. Then I found you on TH-cam. I’ve learned so much from you. I much prefer your method of floating the top and batting and using the magnetic bars. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I’m looking forward to ‘myth busting’ class.
When you are facing Stella which roller do you roll the backing onto? is it the one that you can lift up n down?
I'm learning to use a long arm, and used your video to confirm ! Loaded correctly.
Marilyn from Iowa. .earn so much from your videos
I am new to quilting haven't done a quilt yet but I do have a long arm Amara 20 inch long arm and I watched you last night for the first time and I am amazed I'm from Choctaw Oklahoma
Welcome to my little corner of the internet!
I have tried rolling my top as my dealer recommended. Got puckers and a frown at the bottom. Tried “ Loading Lori’s way” which is floating and basting the entire quilt to start. This has worked well. I did buy the magnets to give this method a try so I can eliminate basting and removing several times across my quilts. Thanks for sharing your experiences and what has worked for you.
I hope you love the magnets - they're so easy and quick!
Where do you get these magnets?@@StitchedBySusan
I am grateful for your channel. You help me so much. Decided to purchase a longarm machine. This year.
Wonderful! How exciting!
I enjoy floating my tops and I use the C-tubes to secure my top. On the basting I was taught and found it works for me, across the top, then bottom to top on each side. Just finding that there are times getting that last row basted correctly. Great to catch the reply today!
I had that issue with my first quilt - how do we quilt the bottom of the quilt when there is nothing to keep tension on the bottom? Pin?
I float my quilts as well. I am intrigued by loading the backing on the top roller bar. How do you finish? The leaders are only so wide and seems like you wouldn't be able to quilt all the way to the end of the backing. I need to watch more of your videos to get that answer admittedly. But maybe you can give a quick answer here. Incidentally, I don't piece - that's what my wife loves to do. I speak machine fluently and enjoy the process of quilting - especially machine driven designs. Thanks for all you do! -John.
This is a question I hear quite a lot😁Today’s episode is a Q and A, so first up I’ll be at my machine showing how I arrange my leaders and use the bars. 9am Pacific Time.
I love that you’re the quilter in the family - sounds like a great partnership😁
The quilt on your frame in this episode is JUST GORGEOUS!!!
Is that Anne of Green Gables fabric? 😊
I have some of that and haven’t figured out what to make out of it, yet (10” layer cake & panel). Will you share the pattern name and designer? Pretty please? 😁
Also, fantastic idea with the magnet bars. So much less expensive than the quilting kind.
Q: Are the brackets attached to the ends and do they have any sharp spots that you have to be careful of? Thx for this!
I haven't got a clue what the fabric is - I literally bought this top at a garage sale. My plan is to quilt is and sell the quilt as the top cost me very little compared to buying new fabric. So.....if you really wanted it.....😄
hello from NC. I use a sit down midarm machine, but still pick up tips to use. Thank you.
Love your videos. I have learned so much. I normally watch you on TV, and for sure wish all your videos were landscape.
I’m trying to do that with all these daily ones, but many days my phone says it’s locked into portrait. I’m sure it’s me….I’ll keep trying to figure it out😁
@StitchedBySusan Thanks so much, many of us understand the tech frustrations.
Good afternoon from Hogansville, GA
I can’t get the hang of floating. But thanks to you my quilt back is straight! Thank you.
Would you consist talking about bobbin winding and threads. I have some Glide thread, but my bobbin winder will not pick it up.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience. I LOVE THE LIVE VIDS. ❤️
Sure will talk about bobbins! Someone gave me a great tip for slippery threads👍🏻
Hello from New Hampshire
Such a great way and those magnets are amazing :) That quilt top is amazing.. When I advance I pull the top up and check the batting seems to work great :) choices :)
Choices. You’re exactly right 👍🏻
Thank you for the great tips !! Where can I find the magnetic bars you show ?
I wanted to use those magnets and found that my long arm doesn't seem to like that method. I sure like that idea!!
Good morning from British Columbia
Do you usually start in the middle of the quilt
Eva from Michigan I like this idea but a little afraid of it. I always worry about the wrinkles in the middle or in the backing. I like my quilt a little tight😮
My LIVE chat today was on this very topic! You might find more details there - it feels impossible to cover ALL the eventualities in any one conversation 😂
Just FYI, the HQ quick clamps, the "C" shaped, the larger size fits on my Gammill. They work great.
Yes, I've seen other quilters use them. Whatever works for you is great!
I am new at this floating and I do not understand it if this is right, you’re leaving the bottom part of your quilt loose. I hope I’m right on this and you’re only using clamps on the top of the quilt I worry about getting backing scrunched up
Making sure the terminology is clear - I'm still loading the BACKING at both top and bottom ends, and rolling it up smoothly. That's essential. Then I lay the batting over top, and place the quilt TOP over that. I secure all 4 sides of the working area, and it's the unquilted TOP that is hanging down the front loosely.
Also, is a set of four 18” magnets enough for a 12’ frame?
For a lap quilt, for sure. For a king, no, although you can space them a bit apart too.
Skipped stitches .Garland Maine
If you load the backing to the lower bar, is your backing still straight across or is it at a slight angle?
It's straight across.
What was the size of the recent king size quilt you quilted? Did it fit comfortably on your 12’ frame?
108 x 108. Length isn’t a problem, but I couldn’t have done more than about 2 more inches width and leave room to park the longarm head while I load the quilt.
RheaAnn in Wyoming ❤
I do both depending on the broject.
The larger the quilt (twin and up) I find that floating ends up requiring more 'futzing' and adjusting with each advance so I don't float them. It's faster for me to roll the quilt top in those cases. I also prefer to roll the top when it's wonky to lock everything in place.
I do however like to float the smaller projects as long as they aren't wonky.
It seems each quilter finds THEIR way. I’m glad you’ve found yours👍🏻
Do you load both backing & batting together (or just backing) onto your lower bar, then float quilt top w magnetic bars?
Backing only. The batting floats too.
Q: Just wondering do you baste each time you advance your quilt??
On the left and right edges, yes.
I’ve done both floating and rolling. Every time I float, I struggle with the roller side rolling tighter than the other side. Any suggestions on how to prevent that from happening?
Is your frame level? Seems like there must be a reason why it’s doing that. For sure I would assess and even things out with every advance, and baste in place.
I have searched the local hardware stores with no luck. I found a strip that hold tools when mounted on the wall, but it’s not strong enough to hold through the 3 layers. Do you have a name of the product you use? Or a website? TIA
Not sure where you are located but in the US Harbor Freight has them. They are called Magnetic Tool Holders. They are 18 inches in length. They cost about 5 bucks each.
@@marciahowe9555are the Harbor freight magnet strips strong enough? Have you actually tried them? Bc that’s even less expensive than Amazon. 😊
I float my tops BUT it seems EVERY quilt I do, I get fluttering or sagging on the last two rows and border...what am I doing wrong?
Are you basting the sides and stabilizing the front edge in some way? I use magnets, or it could be clips, or even a line of basting along the front rail. That way each pass is squared up as you go.
On my longarm I’m unable to put magnets to hold the unabasted end of the quilt down because it rests on the backing bar. Any suggestions?
Would any of the c-shaped grips mentioned here work?
I think we might have the same problem because I can't use magnets either. It might be because the backing should go on the bottom bar and then so the "belly" bar could have batting and quilt top laying over it. Then the magnets would have strength to hold. I saw Susan talk in one of her videos and this is what she does. She also said she didn't have a leader on the "belly" bar so there's less bulk there for magnets to adhere.
@@jennystrahley927IDK if I’m doing this right or wrong bc I’m kind of a newbie; but I float my batting in between the backing bar (bottom) and the top bar; I don’t have it over the top bar. I have a batting hammock to keep the rest of it off the floor. So that wd give you less thickness on your top roller bar, too. 😊
Newbie here, how do you start and stop your quilting where you are doing special designs that aren't connected to the entire quilted space, not using travel stitches
So custom quilting in different areas? You “break thread”, so either do a few close lock stitches, pull up the bobbin thread and clip both threads; or cut them long, tie a knot, and bury the knot. Just depends on how invisible you want it to be.
Stella
Hi Stella!
Should we have a quilt sandwich prepared for the workshop?
You don’t need to prepare anything. We won’t be quilting, just talking and seeing a LOT of photos.
Hi
I absolutely can not get the “Advancing The Quilt” I have…tried…tried…tried.
Do you mean can’t get the process? Or can’t get a download? I can’t tell what you’re “not getting”😉
@@StitchedBySusan the process….but I finally got it 🤯 mind blowing simple. Thanks for the tutorial