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groovy boards
Posted: May 5, 2007, 1:47 PM
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| I am a beginner to longarm quilting and my machine is not technically a longarm. It is a "short" longarm, specifically and HV Mega Quilter. My frame is the Superquilter Proflex. My question is this: can I use these handy dandy groovy boards with this set-up? |
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groovy boards
Posted: May 16, 2007, 12:10 PM
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| I am a very new machine quilter. Am very curious how these Groovy boards work. Do you use them like a pantograh? thanks |
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groovy boards
Posted: June 28, 2007, 6:50 PM
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| The groovy boards are great! The stylus rides along in the groove and you just push the machine along. It is really hard to make a mistake. The hard part comes when you roll the quilt up to the next starting point. You have to line it up like you do on a pantograph, but with some practice and measuring it works good. I use the regulator at 10 stitches to the inch and it looks great. It is so easy, my daughter who has Down Syndrome can do it too. I line it up for her and she can follow the pattern by leading the machine along. She is so proud of her accomplishments. |
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groovy boards
Posted: July 6, 2007, 10:05 AM
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I just discovered this log and will be on it,since I am new. will be asking a lot of questions. I just got the groovy boards and and will start usingthem after it is connected to the machine. Wish me luck./ Right now all I do is meander. I was getting tired of that although it does look good too if I do say so myself. |
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groovy boards
Posted: July 10, 2007, 4:18 PM
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I have just ordered the HQ 16w/quiltable and plan to purchase the Groovy Board starter set. Does anyone have any suggestions as to which design/s would be the best to start out with? and it suggests to buy 2 of the same design to place side-by-side, is this necessary? ...would appreciate some input from some of you pro's!!! |
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groovy boards
Posted: July 10, 2007, 7:15 PM
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| I'm no pro, but I have two boards of the clam shells, swirls, and two others. It is nice to have some distance to go before stopping and moving the board down. I "leap frog" them down the table and they are always in the right position. I was told, and I agree, only one of the boards like the feather wreaths or squares is needed because they're more "self contained." |
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groovy boards
Posted: July 12, 2007, 10:03 AM
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| I always by 3 boards of a pattern, that way it will cover the quilt and I don't have to stop and move them. I tried buying 2 and then moving the first one to the end, but it was bothersome to have to stop and do this all the time. If you do king or queen size, get 4 boards. I know they're pretty expensive, but I'd rather do that than have the hassle. Also, I found that when I kept changing the board back and forth, it would shift and not line up next time. I like to use the fan pattern, the scallops, feather and the stars. That covers about everything I do. I made a spider's web quilt and quilted it with the fan pattern. The fan curved around half of the web and I'm pleased with the effect. I wish they would make a stippling pattern groovy board. The clouds pattern is close, but not really the same thing. |
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groovy boards
Posted: July 12, 2007, 5:01 PM
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| Thank you ladies, you have both been a great help. I can't wait until my machine comes in so I can get to work! |
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groovy boards
Posted: July 15, 2007, 10:00 AM
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| I am using the star groovy board and I'm having a problem with the stylus slipping. Maybe I'm pushing down to hard or what...any pointers? |
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groovy boards
Posted: July 15, 2007, 10:52 AM
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I don't think you are suppose to be pushing down on the stylus as you are working. You get the stylus lined up in the groove on the board and then you guide the machine. That is how it was demonstrated to me. You put the end of the stylus in the groove on the board, then guide the machine. You will "feel" the stylus in the board this way. Hope this helps. |
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groovy boards
Posted: July 16, 2007, 4:29 PM
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| Okay, I am probably going to show my ignorance by asking these questions...oh well, here goes. Say you were quilting the border of a quilt using the feather groovy boards. I can see how you quilt the corners with the corner groovy board, but how do you quilt the sides? Will the groovy boards lay vertically on the table, or do you have to turn the quilt? Please bear with me, I don't have my machine yet! |
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groovy boards
Posted: July 17, 2007, 8:17 AM
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Hi bugg, You would have to turn your quilt. I don't know about anyone else, but I don't like to turn the quilt. If you can finish the border as you work each section across, you are less likely to get a crease. Since you don't have your machine yet, why not wait to get your groovy boards and practice free hand quilting from the front of the machine. Feathers are really fun and easy. While you are waiting for your machine, practice drawing on paper and when you get your machine, put on a practice quilt of muslin and batting. I only work from the front of my machine (over a year now and 100 quilts) and do flowers, hearts, stars, leaves, curly circles, butterflies, sailboats, feathers ets. It's great fun to echo your designs too. Take the time to play with your machine - you will love it. |
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groovy boards
Posted: July 19, 2007, 7:44 AM
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| Another new quilter: if you buy several different brands of grooved boards, do you have to buy the sylus for each brand or will one stylus work on all of them? I have been looking around on the internet and the sylus's are pretty pricey. |
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groovy boards
Posted: Aug. 12, 2007, 8:52 AM
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| Has anyone made (or had spouse make) your own groovy boards using a router or other power tool? My husband is pretty handy and my son makes hand-turned wood products professionally as a hobby (he's made me cofee table/end table, a wall quilt hanging board w shelf, and a floor standing quilting rack with tine vines etched throughout the ends of the rack. |
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groovy boards
Posted: Aug. 12, 2007, 10:26 AM
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| I think you have a great idea. You could draw the design and have your son or husband route out the design. That's how the groovy boards are made and your's could be made longer so that you wouldn't have to move them down the table. You would have to buy the stylus for the machine but think of the money you would save. I'm thinking that this might be just the thing for my husband to try since he just retired as of August 1 and he will need a hobby. He's not that good with the router but certainly give him something to do. Good luck with your idea. Please keep us posted. (I will let you know if my husband goes for the idea. Ha Ha). |
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groovy boards
Posted: Sept. 18, 2007, 8:30 AM
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Somewhere on here I said I hadn't ordered a groovy board from QuiltEZ.com or whatever it is. Well, I did. Haven't used it yet, but did take it out of the box and it looks EXACTLY like the boards from Handiquilter. Same color, same material, same grooves. Hope to get some hands on soon. This forum is great. I'm considering the DVDs so I can take it up a notch. I know several of you think they're great. |
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groovy boards
Posted: Nov. 2, 2007, 8:33 AM
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Those of you who have used groovy boards...are you doing it from the front or back of the machine. I haven't seen them demo-ed and there were no directions included with the boards. There is a woman on an HQ message board who's DH made her "groovy boards" from wood using a router. |
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groovy boards
Posted: Nov. 2, 2007, 8:42 AM
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| You use the groovy boards from the back of the machine. You will need to get a stylus and adapter to use them. You can find those under gadgets on this website. |
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groovy boards
Posted: Nov. 2, 2007, 9:58 AM
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| I found baysidequilting.com to have the best prices and they carry ALL of the boards available. The have the best prices on King Tut thread, too. I also have some from suzyqquilter.com she has her husband's computerized router do all of the work. The grooves in her boards are bigger so I had to modify my stylus. |
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groovy boards
Posted: Dec. 14, 2007, 10:12 AM
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| i have some of the groovy boards i am finding it is hard to start the new row i don't know how to line it up i guess i need help please joyce |
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groovy boards
Posted: Dec. 14, 2007, 10:33 AM
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| That's a good question. I have the boards, stylus, etc but haven't had a chance to try them....so how do you line up the next row? |
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groovy boards
Posted: Dec. 23, 2007, 10:07 PM
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Alignment is a difficult thing to put into words. I'll try to write down what I do. I finish a row and then advance the quilt as far as I can. I put the needle down where I want the design to be at the closest point to the finished row. Then I set the stylus in the groove that is farthest away from the needle (closest to me as I'm working from the back of the machine). I put a couple of pieces of blue painters tape on the board to keep it in place and also put a piece on the table where I want the edge of the board to be. Sometimes, I put a yardstick or ruler between the board and the track to keep the distance constant--assuming the yardstick or ruler are the proper width. Then I repeat the process after I've finished the pass with the machine. I use two groovy boards and leap frog them down the table. I hope this makes some kind of sense. jl |
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groovy boards
Posted: Dec. 31, 2007, 10:55 AM
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I tried the star boards this weekend and am very unhappy with the results. Could it be my stylis? It is from EZ Quilt, not HQ as I had it for my DM but nevr used it. I did add the adapter plate for the HQ. the lines of the stars are all wobbly instead of straight as i thought they would be. I put tape around the stylis and tighteden the screw as much as possiable to eliminate some of the wiggle that seems to be present in the stylis. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Happy New Year to all of you! Ann |
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groovy boards
Posted: Jan. 1, 2008, 10:17 PM
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My first thought was how did you keep the groovy board from moving around? I just did two rows of the rose board from EZ Quilt and once I got it in place--center of the board in the center of the block, I put three pieces of blue painters tape on the edge of the board to keep it from slipping around. I got this tip from HQ headquarters. I also used a plastic 1/4 inch ruler to make a space between the board and the track when I needed it. I remember reading somewhere on this forum about keeping the stylus to the outside on curves. I realize the stars are straight lines, but maybe keeping the stylus to the outside on the lines would eliminate the wiggle. I also found on this board, as it was the first time I used it, that some of the points had a little extra width that kept the stylus from moving smoothly around the corner. I just took an exacto knife and shaved off the extra in the groove and it smoothed right up. Jean |
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groovy boards
Posted: Jan. 2, 2008, 11:41 AM
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Jean, thank you for your suggestions. I have rubber mat under the boards, and one was also taped down. the boards themselves did not seem to move, and I tried both the inside and outside edge, also slowing way down and speading up. it seems to me that the groove is to large allowing for the wiggle room. I bought a third board and have another quilt I wanted to this pattern on. I think the first one looks like such a mess I am hoping some solution before I go on the second quilt. thank you ann |
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groovy boards
Posted: Feb. 5, 2008, 12:09 PM
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| A question for those of you who installed the stylus for the groovy boards...are the screws that you need to remove phillips head screws? They are so far in I see. |
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groovy boards
Posted: Sept. 5, 2008, 11:30 AM
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| Does anyone know if the HQ stylus can be used with the groovy boards that "rns design" sells? I would like to try them, but am just wondering if I also have to buy their stylus. Thanks for any help they I can receive. |
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groovy boards
Posted: Sept. 8, 2008, 9:50 AM
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| yes, HQ's stylus can be used w/ RNS design boards. =) |
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groovy boards
Posted: Sept. 8, 2008, 11:28 AM
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| Thank you Monkeymomquilts. That is what I was hoping to hear. I just wasn't sure. |
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