Hello My Quilting Friends! Learn how to quilt your own quilts with your sewing machine or longarm.
Welcome to Leah Day Quilting, a channel dedicated to machine quilting on all styles of machines! I began sharing videos in 2009 when I started the Free Motion Quilting Project. Since then, I've shared over 2000 quilting tutorials on every step of the quilting process including piecing, basting, free motion quilting, walking foot quilting, longarm quilting, ruler quilting, and binding
No matter where you are in your quilting journey, or what type of quilting machine you're using, you're sure to find helpful, inspiring machine quilting videos here!
Free Quilt Pattern Blog - leahday.com/blogs/free
Begin Longarm Quilting - leahday.com/blogs/quilt/longarm-quilting
I’ve just about finished my second quilting project on my new rebel.first, the harp is fantastic. Second, I got the cutie frame, but haven’t try that yet. My complaints: the presser foot only lifts a tiny bit; I’m having to coerce the layered edge under the foot. The plastic lift handle is VERY stiff; I imagine it to be my first future repair. Last: it is picky about whether it wants to go over multiple seams, bunching up stitches, the popping over and doing regular stitches. I debate returning it. It REALLY needs a walking foot!
i bought and used the 4 hangers, on a large quilt the clamps don't clamp hard enough to hold the quilt in place, this is fine for a 60 x60 inch quilt not larger as there isn't too much weight. really disappointed with my purchase.
Practice is the key with any quilting tool. Keep in mind that a big quilt has a lot more weight, so where you position the clamps and how often you move them is important. I encourage you to keep playing with them to get the hang of where to position the clamps in relation to a larger quilt.
Thank you so much for all of your tutorials! You have helped me with a huge assortment of questions whose answers may seem obvious to some but not to me. I had a different brand of longarm prior to purchasing the Qnique 21X Elite. I didn’t have automation until now so details matter. If it weren’t for you and Janet George I don’t know how I could do this. You are a lifesaver 😊
This works but see the easier, quicker, best method ever at Notches Sewing video named “Sewing Tricks and Tips - Joining Ends of Binding”. You’ll never do it another way!
Thank you for sharing! You're right - that works great for a single strip of fabric. I'm going to have to try it to see if it also works for double fold bias binding too.
@@LeahDay Thank you so much - I was awfully nervous about saying that to such a great quilter/teacher. Yes, I was sad she didn’t show two versions - the second with the binding already folded. But it is easy to figure out and looks exactly like the longer measure, mark, measure, cut, twist, sew methods we always see. Isn’t it funny you can do something for years and years and one day out of the blue up pops a simpler way?!
The corners being cut frays that fabric first which then limits the fray on the long edges. It’s not perfect, but a significant improvement over not clipping
It’s at Lowe’s or Home Depot. It’s a very common building supply and lots of different brands so not one single good one to pick. Look for boards at least 1 inch thick so they will support themselves against the wall.
LEAH....I have been watching you since you were in QUILTED DIAPERS....this is unbelievable you taught me so MUCH WAY WAY WAY BACK IN THE PAST....when did you start making video....I KNOW IT HAS BEEN DECADES CORRECT?
Maybe… I would play with it with a test 12 inch square and see if it works. Because you can’t press Minky to get it to a crisp fold, it might end up fighting you every step of the way. Another idea would be to piece the top 2 inches wider and longer and use this technique with the top fabric instead of the back… something to play with for sure!!!
I have a question and i hope my timing is good! I am trying to confirm that the longer throat you have means you wont have to roll your quilt that often? My domestic's throat is not quite 8" so i am thinking i would only have a couple of inches of up and down motion so would basically be limited to a very small area to quilt in?
Yes, your understanding is correct. Generally with a home sewing machine, you can subtract 4 inches and that will be your vertical quilting space. So from an 8 inch throat, you'll likely only have 4 inches x the length of the frame - probably 4 x 36 on this frame. It is a place to start... but very few quilters are satisfied with this small amount of space for very long.
A steam iron will work too. You could also do a full block by soaking the quilt in water, squeezing out the excess, then spreading it flat and pinning on polystyrene boards. Let it dry this way with fans and it will hang super straight!
Do you mean the bungee clamps? You can find them here - leahday.com/products/bungee-clamps If you have a Cutie Breeze Frame, this frame doesn't have elastic straps, but very nice back coil clamps instead!
I haven't gone anywhere 😂... well, I did have a baby in 2021, but I've tried to be consistent with videos at least weekly. Make sure to bookmark the channel as sometimes it doesn't show up in recommended feeds.
Slow down how fast you are moving the longarm and increase your top tension slightly. You can still get speed / movement issues on a longarm on a frame if you are moving too fast or erradically.
Is this a frame that allows you to use your existing sewing machine? And if that’s the case, isn’t moving the arm/ sewing machine around to quilt heavy? Because my brother innovis weights a ton. Also I think it’s mentioned that you can set this frame on a smaller table, I’m confused, how does that look? Is part of the frame not on the small table? What are the actual dimensions of the frame? And do you have to use these long arm pins, coz they look like they can stab you if not careful, or can you replace them with quilting safety pins or even a temporary glue spray? Sorry for all these questions, it’s because this set up looks really interesting , I’ve never seen anything like this
Great questions Rebecca! Yes, you can use your current sewing machine. No, the machine isn't heavy to move because it's on wheels. An Innovis is quite different from a home machine or even a Qnique 16X longarm and will feel different to push around. Getting used to the feel of moving the machine is part of the learning process. The minimum table size is 24 x 54 for the Cutie Breeze Frame. I've cut a project board from Lowes down to this dimension and then put my Cutie Breeze on top of a Dingo cabinet and a folding table. Both worked great! leahday.com/products/craft-storage-cabinet You can find the full dimensions of this frame here - leahday.com/products/cutie-quilting-frame Yes, sticking yourself with pins does hurt. Yes, you could use safety pins. Most quilters get used to the pins and learn to avoid them. If they all face the same direction, it's pretty easy to avoid them and after the first row across the quilt, the pins are rolled up in the quilt itself.
Instead of rulers over it, why not use very large clappers? A lady at my quilt guild had her husband make some large ones. They are great for something like this, perhaps even just some hardwood planks. They would help absorb some of the moisture and you wouldn't hurt your ruler.
That could work, but may be expensive. This won't damage acrylic rulers - they can get a little wet and then dry out. I'd be more worried about the moisture damaging an expensive clapper and causing the wood to go fuzzy or check.
QCT 6 was made for the Little Rebel so you just need to add the usual hardware to your frame - the motor plate, drive belts, and tablet bracket are all included with QCT 6 - leahday.com/products/quilters-creative-touch The only thing you need in addition is a compatible Windows based tablet and I include my recommendation on the page linked above.
This is such a game changer for quilters, especially for those of us who are challenged when it comes to marking lines on quilts and following them. I make my own stencil designs and cut them using mylar. On extremely patterned quilts, it's a real challenge to follow the lines. I've also tried using repositionable vinyl which I created on my quilts but kept sewing into the vinyl - which resulted in a bit of a sticky needle and harder to remove templates. I never thought of using paper stencils. Love your videos, love your creativity. Thank you :)
FYI, LEAH: In the Description Box there your links need to be hyperlinks, or no one can get there unless they write the links down. Copying doesn't work from Description Box or in comments. Great tip, thanks!!!
Here’s the weird thing - they are set to hyperlink (have ) but are for some reason not hyperlinking today. Grrr! Something to research and sort out tomorrow! Thanks for letting me know. Up until today, this has been working fine…
Most likely, yes, so long as you’re using a QCT compatible frame and longarm. Shoot us an email at LeahDay.com/contact with your machine and frame names and I’ll look them up to double check!
I’d first change needles and see if that helps. Then try backing up and think about anything else you’ve changed recently. Did you drop your bobbin case or change thread? If it’s only happening in a specific angle, that makes me think it’s a needle issue, but it could also be thread, bobbin, or the height of your quilt on the frame.
You'll probably hate me for this answer, but practice! Consistent stitch length comes with time and more quilting. Free motion quilting is hard because we're so used to the machine doing all the work. With this technique, it's not! The more you quilt and work to balance your machine speed and hand movement, the easier it will get, I promise!
where do I find the serial number- there was only the tiny box with the pink/coral label I would really like to get it registered I am designing my own paper pantographs on my lap top that is what I bought it for
