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Velcro Leaders
Posted: Sept. 19, 2007, 6:18 PM
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Since I've taken over my mother's older machine(the old Brother that came with the portable frame), I've imagined that life would be easier if I could velcro the leaders to the bars. I was watching a videoclip from this site, and she mentioned it. I'm have a hard time understanding how to affix the velcro to the bars themselves. Did you just buy sticky velcro and it sticks? I envision it peeling up when trying to remove the leaders. I'd appreciate it if someone explains. Someone mentioned zippered leaders and that truly boggles the mind. What are you zipping it to on the bars? |
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Velcro Leaders
Posted: Sept. 19, 2007, 9:42 PM
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The new frame that comes with the HQ 16 and, I assume, with the Handiquilter II frame has a velcro strip attached to the clamp and the reverse side of velcro adhered to the outside of the "L" shaped bar. I''m guessing it is the sticky velcro. There is a slit in the bar on the new set up but you could have the same effect if you went up and over the bar or under the bar and hook it to the velcro. At least I think it would work. You might also attach velcro to the leader and wrap it around the bar like the plain leader only velcro it instead of pinning it. I think the zippers are attached to the end of the leader and zips on with a separating zipper like a jacket. One side of the zippers is pinned to the quilt. I've never seen them in person but that's what the video that came with my machine appears to be. Good luck. |
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Velcro Leaders
Posted: Sept. 20, 2007, 12:18 PM
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| I don't know just what your setup is like. On mine, there is sticky backed velcro on the poles. Velcro is sewn onto the leaders. Jean's description is right on. If you take your quilt off and zip it back on, it will line up in exactly the same place it was. I ordered the zipper sets from longarmconnection.com They are the makers of the Quick Zip System. Great instructions. Friendly help if you need to call them. |
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Velcro Leaders
Posted: Sept. 22, 2007, 9:45 AM
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I think I have the oldest Handi Quilter system going!! I have naked poles, nothing on them. I have often thought of adding velcro but then i wonder if it would peel off in the summer heat when i peel the leaders off. It would certainly beat the taping method. I can't figure out how it would work with my poles because they are adjustable and i sometimes extend them further than other times, so the velcro would get stuck. THis is why this has puzzled me since I've started using it. I might have to go with Jean's suggestion of attaching velcro to the leader and then looping it over. Again, anything has to be better than the sticky residue left by the tape. Based on what I read in people's posts, I assume the packaging tape to hold everything down method has been replaced by sensible things like velcro. |
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Velcro Leaders
Posted: Sept. 22, 2007, 2:42 PM
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Actually the velcro on the leaders I was referring to was for the side "straps" that the original (I have one for sale) system had us pin on the sides of the quilt. The only way I ever attached the leader to the poles was with the tape. If you were to use velcro on the poles, I'd suggest putting velcro directly on the poles and sewing the other side of the velcro to a piece of leader and then pinning the quilt to the leader. That's what the set up is on the HQ Sixteen. I too live in a hot summer climate and didn't have any trouble with my leaders coming off the poles if I took off the leaders. I guess it was pretty sticky on the back of the velcro. As far as extending the poles different lengths, I guess you'd have to set them to a length that would work all or most of the time and leave them. I guess I'll find out if and when I do a quilt wider than what I have them set at now, as I don't have my table fully extended. The last time I set up my original, I finally got smart and put the acrylic bars that hold the poles on top of the track and clamped them down with the clamps. That worked much better than the tape because the tape didn't stick to my table. I have my tracks on Bea (my HQ16) adhered to the table with heavy duty double sided adhesieve from Home Depot. The little strips that came with it were ok, but I added a few with the heavy tape. |
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Velcro Leaders
Posted: Sept. 22, 2007, 3:58 PM
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| To make your rails still be adjustable AND use the velcro leaders, you clip the velcro where the poles go together, that way, you can still adjust the size of the poles... |
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Velcro Leaders
Posted: Sept. 22, 2007, 11:34 PM
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| Duh! Thanks, monkeymomquilts for the tip. Hadn't thought of that. Too easy. |
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Velcro Leaders
Posted: Sept. 23, 2007, 8:58 AM
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well Jean, I didn't come up with it myself, that's what they showed in my setup DVD =) otherwise, I'd have sat there scratching my head! (eye roll here!) |
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Velcro Leaders
Posted: Sept. 23, 2007, 10:49 AM
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| I might have to try the velcro method. Tape and pins just aren't doing it for me and I spend a lot of time aggravated by what it supposed to be fun and enjoyable. I want to try machine basting the leaders to my quilt in lieu of pins and see how it all works. Still not sure how the velcro will do when I slide the bars to different lengths. I suspect it won't let the bars slide into each other. Which side ofthe velcro do you all use on the bars? The loopy side or the soft side? |
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Velcro Leaders
Posted: Sept. 29, 2007, 8:54 AM
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suchaskirt, I think you could put the velcro on either way you wanted to, but the soft side on your leaders would be kinder to your hands as you're handling that every time your leaders go on or off. |
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Velcro Leaders
Posted: Sept. 29, 2007, 10:19 AM
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Look closely at the pole. You will find a line in the steel, just run your velcro tape along that line to get your leader on straight. (hehe experience here) Trust me, if you don't get those leaders on straight your quilting will never be straight. I have the hook side of the velcro on the pole. To rub it down to get it to stick, I used the flat side of a butter knife. |
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Velcro Leaders
Posted: Oct. 28, 2007, 11:27 AM
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| I have been using the HQ16 for 2 years now. I love it and will be gettig the HQ Pro Stitcher when it comes out. Speaking about the leaders, I DO NOT pin my quilt back onto the leaders. I use my regular sewing machine and use the largest stitch and baste it onto the leaders. It is real easy to take off. Just pull off the leaders and ready to put another quilt on. I also have made 2 extra leaders to have quilts ready to quilt. I have the leaders on with velcro. The velcro now comes ready to iron on and it doen't come off. So NO sewing the velcro onto the leaders. Wal-Mart carries it. I also cut the velcro in half length wise and get more for my money. I live in CA. my phone number is (408) 7293754 if anyone wants to talk to me on the phone. fayestone |
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Velcro Leaders
Posted: Nov. 4, 2007, 3:01 PM
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| Well, I have the velcro and I'm ready to give it a whirl. I'll let you know if any of my frustration subsides once the velcro is on! Since velcro costs and arm and a leg, I got enough to try it with one leader. If I like how it works, I'll do the others. |
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Velcro Leaders
Posted: Nov. 4, 2007, 7:17 PM
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Suchaskirt, I cut the velcro in half length wise. It comes 1/2 inch, so I use it 1/4 inch. This way I have enough to cover all three poles. Even though I sometimes only us the ones for the back of the quilt and not the one for the top. (408)729-3754, or email at fayestone@comcast.net |
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Velcro Leaders
Posted: Nov. 10, 2007, 8:29 AM
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| I tried the velcro on one bar and also basted the leader to the material. It was beautiful not dealing with pins so I will now do it on my other leaders. I'm having a mind cramp about whether or not you can baste the whole thing to take up roll leader. Am I supposed to do it with my machine or is it impossible? |
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Velcro Leaders
Posted: Feb. 15, 2008, 12:17 PM
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| crashnquilt, I've look at the poles and can not find the line. I know that my velcro is not on straight. I'll keep looking. |
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Velcro Leaders
Posted: April 15, 2008, 9:13 PM
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I have one of the original HQ11 frames. I bought it from my friend who upgraded. I have been reading all the goss on the velcro and have decided to try it. I cannot see a line on my poles so what I did was clamp them firm using a wood clamp and drew a line with permantent marker. Works a treat. I now have to go and buy heaps of the sticky velcro which I must say is rather expensive here in AU but I am sure it will work so much better than my tape does. The leaders eventually " move " when you use tape, I know that is partly by pulling the quilt etc too tight but I am so looking forward to "basting" the quilt to the leaders then pressing the lot to the velcro. It should be so much quicker. Charlotterose. |
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