quiltmonkey

Even if you sew scraps of fabric to all four sides, if the quilt top is the same size as the back, it's absolutely impossible to avoid quilting the extra strip's seam line into the quilt while quilting it. Trust me in my 15 years of longarm quilting, it is nearly impossible to accomplish this very difficult and extremely stressful situation. 
I would contact customer and ask her to provide you with larger backing fabric that is at a minimum 8" wider and  8" longer than the quilt top. 
My job is to quilt the customer's quilt without pulling my hair out... it's not my job to perform miracles due to the failure of the customer to provide ample backing fabric. IMHO. 

Adding one more thing:  I am (by nature) a very accommodating and nice person. Probably too nice sometimes. In dealing with my quilting customers, the word "no" is not a word I use, ever. Very rare situations when I need to tell a customer the word "no" ... and this situation is generally the only time I stand up for myself and say "No! Sorry, my requirement is to have 8" wider and 8" longer than quilt top." Period. End of story. I've almost hurt myself numerous times trying to quilt a quilt with barely enough backing fabric. It's dangerous. I draw the line when it comes to injuring myself because of a customer did not give me enough backing fabric. 

Even if you sew scraps of fabric to all four sides, if the quilt top is the same size as the back, it's absolutely impossible to avoid quilting the extra strip's seam line into the quilt while quilting it. Trust me in my 15 years of longarm quilting, it is nearly impossible to accomplish this very difficult and extremely stressful situation. 
I would contact customer and ask her to provide you with larger backing fabric that is at a minimum 8" wider and  8" longer than the quilt top. 
My job is to quilt the customer's quilt without pulling my hair out... it's not my job to perform miracles due to the failure of the customer to provide ample backing fabric. IMHO. 

Oh, Connie... I agree with you and I miss the "old days" on the APQS forums, too. Back then, it truly was a very special place and time... where so much creativity was shared and forever friends were made. 

IMHO, when they changed the forums, several years back, it got MUCH harder to post photos and follow threads - we lost a lot of followers at that point. I know there are those who will NEVER be on Facebook, but FB doesn't have the restrictions that this forum has - and those of us trying to help customers on the various APQS pages get instant notifications when someone needs help, instead of needing to check in here several times a day (although I try to do that anyway!). I love Facebook for the ability to follow my family, both close and extended, and the ability to help my customers quickly, easily, with links to files and photos.
If you don't do Facebook, then it's up to you - and the rest of you that don't do FB - to make this the forum that you want! 

Shana,  I agree you have to be careful due to trolls etc.  I couldn't read the post your were referring to but I know they are here.  I usually look really close at the number of posts the person has submitted and the topic title before answering something.  The forum isn't what it used to be, most members and new owners have migrated to the Facebook Group but I still love the forum.  I find the "search" element to be easy to use.  I miss the closeness this group had too.  I get lost on Facebook, here this minute gone the next, LOL.

My DH outdid himself today. I was using curtain rods to support my clamps and I asked if he could make something for me ... he sure did!! 

My DH outdid himself today. I was using curtain rods to support my clamps and I asked if he could make something for me ... he sure did!! 

Even if you sew scraps of fabric to all four sides, if the quilt top is the same size as the back, it's absolutely impossible to avoid quilting the extra strip's seam line into the quilt while quilting it. Trust me in my 15 years of longarm quilting, it is nearly impossible to accomplish this very difficult and extremely stressful situation. 
I would contact customer and ask her to provide you with larger backing fabric that is at a minimum 8" wider and  8" longer than the quilt top. 
My job is to quilt the customer's quilt without pulling my hair out... it's not my job to perform miracles due to the failure of the customer to provide ample backing fabric. IMHO. 

I agree with Shana.  Save yourself to quilt another day.  Do you have a set of rules for customers?  It's a good rule of thumb to add your requirements to the invoice or contract when you accept the customer's quilts. 

Even if you sew scraps of fabric to all four sides, if the quilt top is the same size as the back, it's absolutely impossible to avoid quilting the extra strip's seam line into the quilt while quilting it. Trust me in my 15 years of longarm quilting, it is nearly impossible to accomplish this very difficult and extremely stressful situation. 
I would contact customer and ask her to provide you with larger backing fabric that is at a minimum 8" wider and  8" longer than the quilt top. 
My job is to quilt the customer's quilt without pulling my hair out... it's not my job to perform miracles due to the failure of the customer to provide ample backing fabric. IMHO. 

Even if you sew scraps of fabric to all four sides, if the quilt top is the same size as the back, it's absolutely impossible to avoid quilting the extra strip's seam line into the quilt while quilting it. Trust me in my 15 years of longarm quilting, it is nearly impossible to accomplish this very difficult and extremely stressful situation. 
I would contact customer and ask her to provide you with larger backing fabric that is at a minimum 8" wider and  8" longer than the quilt top. 
My job is to quilt the customer's quilt without pulling my hair out... it's not my job to perform miracles due to the failure of the customer to provide ample backing fabric. IMHO. 

I have this problem with a brand new machine and table and I've been long arm quilting for over 2 decades. May I ask if you are floating your quilt top? If so try to attach the end of it. Hope this helps.

Hi Pat,
Connie's suggestion about your leaders is good. However, I don't know if you want to...or need to buy new leaders, or if you want to give your current leaders a "hair cut" ...  There's plenty of extra canvas on you rollers, if you want to try the hair cut route.
These are the steps: 
Pin the take up leader to the bottom leader, overlapping the edges a few inches.
After pinning, pull these two pinned leaders taught as much as you can.
As you roll out the take up leader and roll the bottom leader canvas that's pinned to it, do this until you have about 12 inches or so of fresh new section of canvas from the top leader. 
Next, if you have channel locks, turn on the horizontal channel lock and using a cream colored thread in top and bobbin, slowly sew a line across on the fresh new section of the take up leader. 
While everything is still pinned together, roll forward until you have about 12 inches or so of fresh new section of canvas on the bottom leader. 
Repeat with channel locks on stitching a line of thread across the bottom leader. 
Leave the pins in. It's easier to trim the brand new straight line while everything is taught. 
The thread line you sewed on each leader is a line as a guide to carefully cut your brand new fresh clean straight edges for both take up leader and bottom leader. 
You will want to clean up the edges on your top leader, too.
Repeat steps for pinning the take up leader to a fresh new section of the top leader (about 12 inches down), stitch a line across the top leader leader. 
Leave the pins in. It's easier to trim the straight line while everything is taught. 
Viola! 
 

Thanks Jim and Shana.
Jim -- I don't use my channel locks as I advance but I will start doing that.  By just eyeballing it along the way it appears OK, but I don't see that gradual shift happening until but obviously it is.
Shana -- thanks for the good instructions on the canvas leaders!  I give this a try after I have my QOV quilt off the frame.  
I appreciate all suggestions!  

Hi Pat,
Connie's suggestion about your leaders is good. However, I don't know if you want to...or need to buy new leaders, or if you want to give your current leaders a "hair cut" ...  There's plenty of extra canvas on you rollers, if you want to try the hair cut route.
These are the steps: 
Pin the take up leader to the bottom leader, overlapping the edges a few inches.
After pinning, pull these two pinned leaders taught as much as you can.
As you roll out the take up leader and roll the bottom leader canvas that's pinned to it, do this until you have about 12 inches or so of fresh new section of canvas from the top leader. 
Next, if you have channel locks, turn on the horizontal channel lock and using a cream colored thread in top and bobbin, slowly sew a line across on the fresh new section of the take up leader. 
While everything is still pinned together, roll forward until you have about 12 inches or so of fresh new section of canvas on the bottom leader. 
Repeat with channel locks on stitching a line of thread across the bottom leader. 
Leave the pins in. It's easier to trim the brand new straight line while everything is taught. 
The thread line you sewed on each leader is a line as a guide to carefully cut your brand new fresh clean straight edges for both take up leader and bottom leader. 
You will want to clean up the edges on your top leader, too.
Repeat steps for pinning the take up leader to a fresh new section of the top leader (about 12 inches down), stitch a line across the top leader leader. 
Leave the pins in. It's easier to trim the straight line while everything is taught. 
Viola! 
 

Hi Pat,
Connie's suggestion about your leaders is good. However, I don't know if you want to...or need to buy new leaders, or if you want to give your current leaders a "hair cut" ...  There's plenty of extra canvas on you rollers, if you want to try the hair cut route.
These are the steps: 
Pin the take up leader to the bottom leader, overlapping the edges a few inches.
After pinning, pull these two pinned leaders taught as much as you can.
As you roll out the take up leader and roll the bottom leader canvas that's pinned to it, do this until you have about 12 inches or so of fresh new section of canvas from the top leader. 
Next, if you have channel locks, turn on the horizontal channel lock and using a cream colored thread in top and bobbin, slowly sew a line across on the fresh new section of the take up leader. 
While everything is still pinned together, roll forward until you have about 12 inches or so of fresh new section of canvas on the bottom leader. 
Repeat with channel locks on stitching a line of thread across the bottom leader. 
Leave the pins in. It's easier to trim the brand new straight line while everything is taught. 
The thread line you sewed on each leader is a line as a guide to carefully cut your brand new fresh clean straight edges for both take up leader and bottom leader. 
You will want to clean up the edges on your top leader, too.
Repeat steps for pinning the take up leader to a fresh new section of the top leader (about 12 inches down), stitch a line across the top leader leader. 
Leave the pins in. It's easier to trim the straight line while everything is taught. 
Viola! 
 

Hi Pat,
It's hard to see if the canvas has stretched or after years of rolling become off square.  It's probably time for new canvas leaders.  I have a 2009 Millie and mine is the same, I'm getting ready to change them out.  If you go to the online store, parts and notions and search canvas, it will come up.  The price isn't bad and well worth your sanity. 
 

Something like that, I imagine - we've seen a lot of facebook friends suffer through the same thing! But Mark Caraher is looking into it and will get the bad posts gone!!

I've seen those posts, as well, but I am positive that the folks at APQS are not behind them. I don't know who in the company is responsible for the FB page, but I'm sure they will have the garbage cleared out soon. And you don't need to unfollow APQS, just "hide" the ads you dislike.

Hi Bonnie,  I use Dream Puff most of the time.  I just place it where the fullness is.  I have placed it the length of the border when I had a big problem, but not often.  I pin it down also when I have a very long place to work out.  Really, its not hard to do at all.  Good luck.

Actuality Bonnie, that was part of the reason for the extra batting,  to fill up the fullness, but by the time I get my quilting on the border, I cannot really tell its there.  Does that make since.  I know its confusing, but for me it really works well.
 

Hive Mind,
Looking for schematic/dimensions for a frame to accommodate a Ken Quilt 633 machine. I have an inspiration frame now, but I want more working distance. Short arm didn't work so well. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks much.
Red Deb

Yes. I have done this with very friendly quilts.

All I can say is, some people are absolutely clueless (I mean absolutely completely clueless) to the heart and soul and thought and love that the quilter goes through in making a one-of-a-kind ---"BLANKET" ... these people are absolutely clueless.
Even though you never received a thank you it doesn't mean they did not appreciate it. Trust me, every one of us has had this happen to us. What I do is I make and give quilts because it makes me feel good and I love doing it. It's a gift that I chose to give. What happens to my gifted quilt after I have given it is no longer in my control. I'm sure that some of my gifted quilts are being used in a not so flattering ways. I'm willing to accept that fact. I know that most people are grateful and are thankful and treasure them. 
Sending you a hug. Don't ever stop creating and giving the things you love. It's something that makes you special and kind.