Gator

How old are your canvas leaders?  The leaders can/do stretch over the years.  One side may have stretched more than the other.  This would cause your quilt to roll uneven.  Most of the time the canvas stretch cannot be seen with your naked eyes.   If you have zippers on your leaders, zip them together and roll a few times forward and backwards.  You can also zip them together an roll fairly tight, spritz with water and let dry.  There's probably a "how to" on this website, I'll try looking for it when I get home from work.   I'm sure others will chime in with this idea.  Oh no zippers, you can pin.  New leaders are also reasonably priced in the APQS store but try correcting the ones you have first.

Whatever marker you choose may become embedded in cotton quilting thread. A soft toothbrush and a spritz of water will remove most.  This is usually not a problem with polyester threads.

You can use the water or air soluble markers.   The water soluble usually have blue ink and the air soluble usually has purple.   DO NOT IRON over these soluble  marks or they become permanent.  If you live in a high humidity area the air markers may disappear to fast for you.   Have you tried using the white chalk and turn on your black light?  Sometimes we forget most APQS machines come with black light.  I use the gray chalk marker on most items I have to mark.  Stay away from the yellow, pink and blue chalks, they do not wash out.   I also use the Crayola washable markers (like you buy for kids)  but test that the color I use will wash out (put it on test scrap fabric and rub out with a paper towel or wash cloth).  The Crayola markers are a lot cheaper than sewing markers but as I stated test before you use on the quilt.   Hope this helps.

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. 

That's a lot of "no sew zones",   beautiful quilt and quilting.
 

Wow, I would love to make one in purples or blues.  I hope Sherrie comes out with the pattern, what is the size of the quilt?  Terri, this is one of your best, you are an inspiration.

Great point Mary.  I'm a retired Veteran and QOV is my favorite also.  However, other places take quilts, especially laptops.  Hospices, senior assisted care homes, shelters, etc.  Check around your hometown.

Beautiful.   I love looking at the backside of quilts, this one really shows your talents.  I'm thinking about doing one of the "Dream Big" panels.  I need to retire so I can quilt more!

Beautiful.   I love looking at the backside of quilts, this one really shows your talents.  I'm thinking about doing one of the "Dream Big" panels.  I need to retire so I can quilt more!

Beautiful.   I love looking at the backside of quilts, this one really shows your talents.  I'm thinking about doing one of the "Dream Big" panels.  I need to retire so I can quilt more!

Wow, wow, wow.   That is a lot of work but beautiful.  Were you dizzy after finishing it, lol. 

Beautiful quilting, love the modified cross hatch. 

Beautiful but have no idea what pattern it is.
 

Great job and explanation of what you accomplished!!!

Are your leaders square or have they stretched (doesn't take a whole lot)?  Quilting right to left then left to right is a great practice if you are comfortable going both ways.  I will be back to check on you all tomorrow.

I'm just a curious person.  I was wondering  if you prefer forums or facebook groups?  I'm a forum gal.  I love the forum because you can guess how long a person has been involved with a product or skill.  I like how topics are divided into categories and doing a search for topics are fairly easy.  I just feel cozier with the forum group than facebook, I'm not sure if that's the correct verbiage.  I'm not against Facebook groups in fact I belong to a bunch.   I just wonder how long a person has been using a product before they start giving advice, etc.   I've seen bullies on both but not so much on forums now.  Forums and Facebook Groups seem like two different environments to me.  Wondering minds are curious. 

Beautiful.
 

I'm going to chime in for a moment.  I'm totally partial to APQS.  Our machines are easy to use and have few problems you can't fix yourself.  Customer service is exceptional and second to none.  I've called one of the company reps on a weekend and we troubleshot the problem over the phone, yes I held the phone up to the running machine.  She knew what the problem was and I had parts by Monday.  If you can't reach a rep, someone on this forum can usually talk you through a resolution.  Used APQS machines sold through the company are completely checked out and refurbished/updated with grease etc.  They also come with a warranty.  You can trust most used machines sold by the owner.  Like Helen stated, machines are sold due the things she mentioned, other's trade-up to newer models with more features or throat space.  APQS machines devaluate very slowly and last forever, as long as you maintain them.  We can tell you what we love about our machines but you really need to "test drive" them to know exactly what you want.  Any APQS quilter in you neighborhood will usually invite you over for a test run.  I think you're on your way,  asking questions like you have here is smart.  Have fun on your adventure, hope to see your quilts here in the near future.
 
PS:  What other company lets you be a member of their forum, no matter what machine you own?  Need I profess again, CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!!! 

Robin,
Mary Beth's FB group is a great one to join.  There's lots of eye candy to look at and of course Mary Beth's wonderful personality.

I'm just a curious person.  I was wondering  if you prefer forums or facebook groups?  I'm a forum gal.  I love the forum because you can guess how long a person has been involved with a product or skill.  I like how topics are divided into categories and doing a search for topics are fairly easy.  I just feel cozier with the forum group than facebook, I'm not sure if that's the correct verbiage.  I'm not against Facebook groups in fact I belong to a bunch.   I just wonder how long a person has been using a product before they start giving advice, etc.   I've seen bullies on both but not so much on forums now.  Forums and Facebook Groups seem like two different environments to me.  Wondering minds are curious. 

I'm just a curious person.  I was wondering  if you prefer forums or facebook groups?  I'm a forum gal.  I love the forum because you can guess how long a person has been involved with a product or skill.  I like how topics are divided into categories and doing a search for topics are fairly easy.  I just feel cozier with the forum group than facebook, I'm not sure if that's the correct verbiage.  I'm not against Facebook groups in fact I belong to a bunch.   I just wonder how long a person has been using a product before they start giving advice, etc.   I've seen bullies on both but not so much on forums now.  Forums and Facebook Groups seem like two different environments to me.  Wondering minds are curious. 

Thank you Sharon, I appreciate the info and kind words.  I did 27 years in the Navy and loved every minute of it.  Our National Anthem still brings tears to my eyes.

Lora, great topic which needs to be brought up every now and then.  I like hearing what's happening in other parts of the country and world.  I have Millie with an IQ.  I did not raise  my prices when I got my computer.  I didn't need to because I could do more quilts which evened the field.  I charge a penny and a half for loose pantos/e2e and 2 pennies for tight pantos/e2e.  I have a Quilt finishing shop a block away from me (I'm also in a small town) who charges about the same.  The owner and I have a great relationship because she just does pantos/e2e.  She also sells batting, wide backs and flannel.  She does no custom, so she sends those customers to me or another longarmer.  There's work for everyone.  You really have to flow with the local pricing or you will loose those "bread and butter" customers.  When I moved to Michigan, I asked around about longarm pricing before I decided on what to charge.  I ask my customers  to pick out the panto they want from the hundreds I have  but  if a customer wants a particular panto design that I don't have (i.e. hippos, fire hose, particular flowers),  I charge them a one time special design charge of $15.00,  plus my normal square inch charge.  It will help you build your design catalog fast  without coming directly from your pocket.  I do the same with my embroidery business. 
Great info, advise and thoughts everyone.

Lora, great topic which needs to be brought up every now and then.  I like hearing what's happening in other parts of the country and world.  I have Millie with an IQ.  I did not raise  my prices when I got my computer.  I didn't need to because I could do more quilts which evened the field.  I charge a penny and a half for loose pantos/e2e and 2 pennies for tight pantos/e2e.  I have a Quilt finishing shop a block away from me (I'm also in a small town) who charges about the same.  The owner and I have a great relationship because she just does pantos/e2e.  She also sells batting, wide backs and flannel.  She does no custom, so she sends those customers to me or another longarmer.  There's work for everyone.  You really have to flow with the local pricing or you will loose those "bread and butter" customers.  When I moved to Michigan, I asked around about longarm pricing before I decided on what to charge.  I ask my customers  to pick out the panto they want from the hundreds I have  but  if a customer wants a particular panto design that I don't have (i.e. hippos, fire hose, particular flowers),  I charge them a one time special design charge of $15.00,  plus my normal square inch charge.  It will help you build your design catalog fast  without coming directly from your pocket.  I do the same with my embroidery business. 
Great info, advise and thoughts everyone.

Lora, great topic which needs to be brought up every now and then.  I like hearing what's happening in other parts of the country and world.  I have Millie with an IQ.  I did not raise  my prices when I got my computer.  I didn't need to because I could do more quilts which evened the field.  I charge a penny and a half for loose pantos/e2e and 2 pennies for tight pantos/e2e.  I have a Quilt finishing shop a block away from me (I'm also in a small town) who charges about the same.  The owner and I have a great relationship because she just does pantos/e2e.  She also sells batting, wide backs and flannel.  She does no custom, so she sends those customers to me or another longarmer.  There's work for everyone.  You really have to flow with the local pricing or you will loose those "bread and butter" customers.  When I moved to Michigan, I asked around about longarm pricing before I decided on what to charge.  I ask my customers  to pick out the panto they want from the hundreds I have  but  if a customer wants a particular panto design that I don't have (i.e. hippos, fire hose, particular flowers),  I charge them a one time special design charge of $15.00,  plus my normal square inch charge.  It will help you build your design catalog fast  without coming directly from your pocket.  I do the same with my embroidery business. 
Great info, advise and thoughts everyone.