Quilting Harlington by Doug Leko of Antler Quilt designs using an overall paisley pattern, all done free hand on my hand guided Gammill Classic Plus. I used an Omni-V thread on the top and a Sulky 30 weight blendable in the bobbin.
I don’t use pins to mark my front line, in fact I don’t pin anything. I use a stapler for the backing and just run a line of very large basting across the belly bar area. It marks the furthest stitching line AND keeps the center of the quilt from drawing in further than the edges. I’ve actually moved the bar down by your knees up higher on the frame and bolted it there since I never attach the quilt top, and I wanted to be able to sit down at the machine occasionally. Another possible cause for the thumping noise is that your takeup roller might be too high. You want it just so that you can slip your fingers in between the rolled up quilt and your machine, but not down so far that it drags. Your paisleys are beautiful. 😊
Thank you so much for the comment about the takeup roller being too high. I hadn't even considered that. I knew to watch it when the quilt started getting thick, and had raised it for a large quilt that I quilted last summer. I took an unplanned extended break from the machine after that and never even thought about the bar still being set higher. I lowered it some and will see how the next quilt goes! Always something to learn as I embark on this new adventure!
