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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: June 24, 2007, 3:04 PM
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| I am having a hard time learning to use pantograph designs. My free motion is pretty good, but my attempts at pantograph look choppy. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get good at this? Thanks. |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: June 24, 2007, 7:42 PM
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| I think your only avenue is to practice practice practice. I have found that if I turn off the stitch regulator I do a bit better on the pantographs. |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: June 28, 2007, 1:02 PM
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It is easier to say then to do... you have to relax when you do pantos. Loosen your grip on the handles a little, breath.... and it will come. I started with a a A1 shortarm years ago so all I was able to do was pantos. I am blown away by the intricate, beautiful pantos available now. However, after quilting for years from the back of the machine I mostly work from the front. Deb |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: July 1, 2007, 7:22 PM
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debk How do you do panto's from the front. I am so used to working from the front, that pantos in the back seem very clumsey for me. |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: July 2, 2007, 1:55 PM
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ChaZ, I guess that was a bit confusing. I do pantos from the back. I spent so many years doing pantos that I now prefer freehand, which I do from the front. Sometimes though a panto is just what is needed, and I am amazed at the amount there are to choose from now. |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: July 2, 2007, 7:21 PM
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| Most people talk about pantos being so much easier and quicker but I prefer to work from the front and do free motion/custom. I think a person could get a lot of $ socked into pantos. They worry me to death making sure everything is lined up from one pass to another. Free motion is much faster for me. |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: July 6, 2007, 11:54 AM
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| what is the formula for pantographs. distance from top and bottom and inbetween. thanks dale |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: July 9, 2007, 5:13 PM
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I don't use a formula for pantographs but I do mark the very top and bottom of the pattern and figure out how far away I want the next row. Before I start to sew, I move across the pantograph withthe laser light making sure when the laser is at the top points or bottom points (depending on how you look at it), the needle is equal distance from the edge of the quilt. When I move to the next row, I use the laser light to point at the top or bottom points and check the distance the needle is from the previous row. I hope this makes sense--it is hard to describe. I also purchased clear plastic (like tablecloth plastic) and taped it on the table so it covers the pantograph. You can mark on it with either tape or erasable markers to show you where the rows begin and end. |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: July 11, 2007, 1:30 PM
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Ila, Great idea about the clear plastic tablecloth. Thanks -- off to the store I go. Cathie |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: Aug. 12, 2007, 12:52 PM
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I purchased a few pantographs and did one from the back side of the machine using the laser, but had a little trouble with the laser hitting my quilt instead of staying on the pattern. I was going to try just placing the pantograph on top of the quilt and quilt from the front of the machine instead. ( I'm not at all confident enough to freehand from the front) Can any of you experienced quilters please give me any tips as to whether I should keep trying the laser from the back, or put the paper right on the quilt, from the front? I cant tell where I'm at on the quilt , all the time, when I'm quilting from the back and trying to follow the pattern with the laser( I have purchased several "baby panels" for charity quilts to practice on, but I still want them to look good when I'm done.) I also purchased the feather groovy board( 2 plus the corner) but can't get myself to try it out since I had trouble from the back side with the laser. I don't think I'll ever use the groovy boards, they seem too hard to try to figure out where it all needs to be so it's quilting where you want it to be on the quilt. Maybe I'm just being WAY too timid but I could really use some advice. I want to use good methods from the beginning and enjoy the process, not stress over it! THANKS FOR ANY GOOD ADVICE! I'm also wondering where some good websites for the pantograph patterns are.( So far I've seen Golden Threads, Patternman, and lequilters, but I'm sure there are more out there.) |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: Aug. 12, 2007, 1:44 PM
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Just found the alternate place to put the laser! I'm going to try again from the back of the machine. My dealer actually set up my machine and until now I didn't realize, and never asked them about an alternate spot for the laser.Guess it just takes the old trial and error ha? So glad to have this forum to go to for questions and frustrations! |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: Aug. 13, 2007, 8:37 AM
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Hi Wendy, I've never tried groovy boards but don't you have to use a stylus in the back of the machine that goes in the grooves? Every time I go to the store that sells HG16s, I think about the groovy boards but don't know if I'd like to be that stiff with my quilting. They certainly have nice designs. I've always done things freeform from the front of the machine. There's something about seeing what I'm quilting while I'm quilting. Also about pantograms, I've gotten a few at quilt shows. They are always priced well and of course you don't have to pay shipping. I'm going to try one, one of these days. Look up Donita Reeve. Her web site sells many pantograms. Good luck with those groovy boards. Keep us posted. |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: Aug. 14, 2007, 5:34 PM
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| debrageissler.com has a lot of pantographs and so does baysidequilting.com |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: Aug. 19, 2007, 2:52 PM
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Hi Donna and ChaZ, It was nice to get some feed back! I've been too busy with all the weddings in our area to have found the time to quilt again. Donna, yes, the groovy boards work the way you thought they did. I think I will be exchanging them for something else. I, too, think the quilting will be too stiff and I think it would be harder to quilt exactly where you want to on the quilt.So far I'm liking the pantographs until I get brave enough to free hand. I will also look up Donita Reeve and see what is available,Thanks. ChaZ, thank you for the pantograph websites, I will look them up as soon as I get done here! Thanks for your help ladies, it gives me a little more confidence to know there are others out there to get info. and help from, you're great! I'm so glad I found the alternate place for the laser, it is far enough away from the quilt I don't have to worry about the laser hitting the quilt instead of staying on the pattern. My quilting should look much smoother now. |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: Aug. 21, 2007, 11:46 PM
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I'm one who has only done free motion and groovy boards. I LOVE groovy boards. It takes a little more fussing to get them started than just stippling or meandering, but I haven't had any trouble with the alignment. I tape one board down to the table with painter's tape and move the second board from side to side. I don't trust my hand to be steady enough to do a pantograph and stay on the lines. Groovy boards are a no brainer for me. I use the stylus to position the machine so it is just the right distance from the previous lines. When I get to the end I just stitch down the side where the batting extends from the top and keep right on going the opposite direction. I agree with you others who get a lot out of this forum. I check it daily for information. |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: Aug. 27, 2007, 9:30 AM
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| Here is another site for panographs --------www.quiltscomplete.com (or key in patternstation.com) |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: Aug. 28, 2007, 10:50 AM
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| Hi Everyone! Well I ordered some gorgeous pantographs! I assumed with a 16 inch throat we had that much quilting space. I guess I should have measured! When I set the pantographs down on my table the laser didn't reach. I know we probably shouldn't , but have any of you had the same problem and found a way to reduce the pattern in a fairly simple way so you could still use that gorgeous pantograph you just had to have? I know they are copyrighted. The ones I ordered did not come in a smaller size so exchanging for a smaller version is not an option. I haven't contacted the company to see if they'll even exchange these. I ordered 4 and only 1 will work. Any ideas? I feel pretty dumb asking but since I'm so new at this maybe you pros have figured out some tricks to the trade. By the way, it looks like 11 1/2 to 12" is the max for my machine before it starts hitting the poles. |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: Aug. 28, 2007, 1:15 PM
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Wendy, do you mean 11 1/2-12" is the largest pantograph you can use? I wish I had a solution for you on reducing them to the size you need. Do you have access to a copy machine that will enlarg/reduce? that's the only thing I can think of... |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: Aug. 28, 2007, 6:52 PM
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| Sorry, I wasn't very clear was I ? Yes, it looks like the largest pantograph I can use is 11 1/2-12". At least when I took a measuring tape and measured the width that it looked like would fit. I didn't try to actually quilt yet. Just sat the pantograph on the table and tried to see if the laser would go wide enough for the pantograph and it didn't. Then I took the measuring tape and measured from the farthest spot in the front to the farthest spot in the back that the machine will glide and measured that space. Does that make sense? I don't have the quilt I wanted the pantograph for finished yet, just trying it out on the table first. I did think of a copy machine, but was wondering if there was an easier way than copying soooo many copies and then having to cut and piece them all long enough to fit my area for the pantograph. I also thought that I might be able to pin it on the quilt and quilt smaller widths but am afraid if the quilting area can't all be stitched on one pass it could look "choppy" if I tried to get it all on the next "pass". I am obviously a new comer to all of this and probably stressing more than I need to. Just trying to figure out the easiest way to do this! |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: Aug. 28, 2007, 7:29 PM
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Hi Wendy, Do you have your laser light set up in the back of the machine? I have about 13-1/2 inches from the hopping foot to the roller that holds the quilt top. Of course as you quilt and roll up you would loose inches so a 12" pantograph might be too large. Maybe someone will tell us how high the groovy boards are. Can you do part of the pantograph on one sweep and the rest after you roll the quilt? When I got my machine, it came with 3 DVDs to show how to quilt. It seems that one of the pantographs on the DVD looked pretty big to me. I hope you can figure out a way to use it or exchange it for something smaller. |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: Sept. 2, 2007, 1:26 AM
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Hi Wendy, Another place for pantos is www.willowleafstudio.com. To reduce/enlarge pantos, the "Quilter's Assistant Proportional Scale" from Golden Threads works well. It's very easy to use and reasonably priced. Select the size of your original design, then the desired size. It will tell you what percentage to reduce or enlarge. If you don't want to make a bunch of copies and tape them together, have one copy made. Then, using a permanent or wet-erase marker, trace the newly sized design repeatedly on plexiglass, Quilter's Preview Paper, a Pattern Grid, or, as Ila mentioned, clear tablecloth plastic. The advantage of this is that you're familarizing yourself with the pattern by drawing it out, and the plastic is reusable too! The HQ16 Collection of 3 DVD's by Suzanne Michelle Hyland is an excellent series, especially for newbies like me. |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: Sept. 3, 2007, 9:24 PM
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| If you can reduce the pantogram to the size you need. I use freezer paper and a permanet marker to make a long roll to fit the handie quilter. I use a plastic sheet the length of the table to hold the panto gram in place. Then use the laser form the back of the machine. |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: Sept. 4, 2007, 1:26 AM
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NewQuilter, Great idea about the freezer paper, that way you can save the pattern too! |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: March 16, 2008, 12:29 AM
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Hi- I just took a class on using a HandiQuilter. Im going to rent time on the HandiQuilter from a local store to finish my fourth quilt top. I would like to use the laser light to reproduce a paper pattern to my quilt top since I am new to quilting. I'm unsure - does the laser pointer copy the pattern in the exact size or does it enlarge it as it goes? Should I stand behind it and use the back handles or stand in front and look over the quilt to follow the pattern? What is the difference between a pantograph and tracing a design? If I just draw out my full pattern on a paper the width of my quilt can I just copy it over and over to quilt the full length of my quilt top? Thanks! Jennifer |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: April 14, 2008, 2:02 PM
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When doing pantographs, keep your elbows close to your sides, loosen your grip on the handles and don't try to stear with the handles. Move you BODY keeping arms relaxed (takes practise). If you try to stear with your hands, you will get choppy and not smooth arcs... Lil from Napa CA |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: May 10, 2008, 1:13 PM
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Newquilter, I am unclear as to how you are using your freezer paper. Could you please elaborate a little? Thanks. |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: May 14, 2008, 12:44 PM
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| Thanks for your advice, Napalil. That and going to Willow Leaf Studios was all it took. Some of their designs are rated Easy, Intermediate, and harder or something like that. I got simple stars and loops and with your advice, the first practice row is more that acceptable for a first try. Popcorn is great too. I was giving up on pantographs so again Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! I'm ready to take the muslin off the machine and get a top on there. Now all I have to remember is to follow the laser light, check the quilt ,and breath. |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: May 28, 2008, 9:43 AM
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Just got started with my HQ16 a few months ago to finish up my wife's "I only like to do the top-itis", and to start making a little extra income. I must add to this discussion by saying that even tho the Pro-Stitcher is a bit pricey (but much cheaper than other makes), I have found that I will never have to use a panto! The Quilt-Cad that comes with the machine lets you design your own and you can use other online designs to "base" your own designs on, putting in your personal twists. (And no, I am not a rep or salesperson for HQ) Also, don't forget that when you measure your working space between the poles, you have to figure how much material will be on the takeup reel on your last pass. So 12" is about max, even tho it may seem like more at the beginning of the quilt! |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: July 20, 2008, 1:56 PM
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| Does anyone know if you are supposed to cut the pantograph rolls? I bought a pantograph that also includes two borders. If I lay the whole roll down on the table, it is too big to fit within the tracks. So I am assuming that I cut the borders off and leave just the main design. (There is a line that divides the three separate designs). Otherwise, I guess you have to fold it and it would just seem easier to cut it but I haven't read this under any instruction anywhere. Thanks, Hilary |
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Learning to do Pantograph
Posted: July 20, 2008, 8:05 PM
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| A great place to get copies made in most any size is a printing place that does blue prints or commercial printing...much better than trying the office supply copiers and making tons of copies!!! I have a book of quilting designs that says "enlarge 250%" and such things - yea, right - try doing that on a regular copier!! I took my book to this printing place explained what I needed/wanted and got the most beautiful large reproduced designs I could ever imagine!!! They told me they could do just about ANY size I wanted so this might be something to consider for pantos. I thought I might try using them when I get that brave and laying the panto on the table with heavy grade clear vinyl from the fabric store over the top of it since the lazer doesn't actually touch the panto. Bev |
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