quilting frames

Anne, I think our Kate T has a frame maybe like what you're thinking of. She's probably busy enjoying hers just now but I asked her to share her thoughts with you when she can. Polly

Hey Anne:

Polly contacted me about your query. I have the Hinterberg Machine Quilting frame. I did research for about 4 years before I bought mine. There are several machine quilting frames on the market so I am not going to favor one manufacturer over another. Hinterberg was just my choice for what I wanted to do.

One thing I will tell you the table top models are not as sturdy as the floor models. I've seen them at quilt shows. If you were only doing a baby quilt or two a year then a table top would work. Some people prefer them, personally I don't but this is my opinion and mine alone.

The MQF's have a learning curve. Getting your brain to adjust to moving the SM instead of the quilt is a challange in itself, well at least for me.

I have the original Hinterberg and a Brother 1500S SM. With my set up I can do queen size quilts. I do meanders or pantographs at no more than 3 inches in width because I want to keep the quilting evenly spaced down the quilt.

There are several Yahoo groups dedicated to machine quilting frames. These ladies and gents are extremely helpful when you want to ask questions.

One warning about the Yahoo groups. Don't go into the Photos file. We don't want to hear that you were taken to the hospital mumbling about beautiful quilts and just got to get a frame and drooling uncontrollably.

I would advise not to jump at the first frame you see. Take you time with your research. Try to check each frame out if you can. I did that at a quilt show. I went to Houston in November one year. Some quilt shops are now carrying these frames and will demo them for you or you can rent them by the hour.

As for lessons, most manufacturers won't give them so I would recommend buying the DVD's that are available to show you how to do various things with the frame. I bought a couple DVD's from Mindy Casperson. Very educational. I have my own personal teacher at 3 in the morning if I need a refresher course in what I am doing.

I did not buy my SM at the same time I bought my frame. I used a DSM for about a year and did only baby quilts and I practiced quite a bit before I spent the money for the 1500S.

So if you are a mind to, jump in the waters with the rest of us and have some fun.

Kate T.

thanks so much for the information, it was the Hinterberg that had got me thinking about the idea, I doubt it would be something I would get this year, though it wouldn't be impossible, the cost is about what my relatives tend to give me for my birthday and christmas (and they do give it as cash with no strings attached). I suspect a sewing machine is going to be higher on my wish list as mine is fairly low end, though I might feel differently once I finally get it serviced! Thanks for spending the time to give me the detail, Anne

Hey Anne:

I used a low end DSM for over a year before I bought my larger SM. I couldn't do anything larger than a baby quilt but I was learning. Cleaning and oiling the SM more often than usual because of the constant speed while on the frame. Lint accumulates quickly. Constant cleaning around the bobbin area is a must. I also put a drop of oil in the bobbin area with every bobbin fill.

I learned a lot about tension. Its not the same as when sewing two pieces of fabric together.

As I said there is a learning curve with Machine quilting, but isn't that what we are doing everytime we make a quilt, learning. The first few practice quilts will look like you will never learn this process of BUT with time and persistance everything will come together and you will wonder why you didn't try this way of quilting earlier.

Kate T.