quilterkp

Everyone has different strengths.  When I was in school and pulling my hair out over math, the Calculus whiz remarked, "I wish I could  get a higher grade than a C for English papers."  I aced those!  And some folks have trouble learning a skill from a book or written directions.  They need to have someone physically show them.

Everyone has different strengths.  When I was in school and pulling my hair out over math, the Calculus whiz remarked, "I wish I could  get a higher grade than a C for English papers."  I aced those!  And some folks have trouble learning a skill from a book or written directions.  They need to have someone physically show them.

I am with Marybeth on the math stuff. High school algebra made me cry!

I am finished competing if it goes past simple addition. 

What a darling quilt!  And your quilting is exquisite!

Look what I got to quilt!  It's a pink themed Halloween quilt, to display at our local hospital during the month of October.  Pink because it's breast cancer awareness month.  The Jackson Hole Quilt Guild rotates a quilt display every month at our local hospital.  The nurses and patients really appreciate it.  We've had a hard time in years past trying to find a pink quilt for the October display.  So we had the bright idea to make a quilt just for that.  Different people made the applique blocks, others sewed them together with sashing and border.  I quilted it, and just handed it off to another member to attach the binding.  A terrific collaboration.
Last May I took a few classes from Judi Madsen in Salt Lake City.  I just LOVE her work.  So, you will see that she inspired this quilting.  
The bat bra block is the one that really got me started with the quilt designs.  The lady who made it drew a spider in a web on the cleavage, so clever and so easy to quilt that design!  
Judi had just posted an applique quilt that she'd finished that had bugs in it.  She gave the bugs motion by quilting a swirly design under them.  I thought the ghosts need that swirly design too.  Remember, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?!
I used a wool batting, glide thread with magna glide bobbins.  Love those magna glide bobbins!  Angela Huffman is a great source for them and her delivery is super fast.
Thanks for looking!

Please add location and price.

Five hours isn't that long.   If you are having trouble following the lines on pantos, try quilting with a board.   I rent time on a  Millie and quilted the Baptist Fan pattern on a quilt using a pattern board.   I think it looks great!   You can do this, too, I just know you can!
 
 
 
 
 

Just off my quilt frame this week, "Surf Song" bargello.  From the book Twist and Turn Bargello Quilts by Eileen Wright.  Needed a king size quilt for my bed and instead of adding borders to make a king sized "Surf Song" I kept building the bargello to the edges.  I quilted it with IQ and the panto Ripples by Lorien Quilting.  I will make coordinating batik pillowcases and of course still need to bind the beast!!
Robin in MT

This is from APQS.  I cannot attach the actual .pdf file, so here is my best rendition cutting and pasting the images.  Edited to include images from pdf file.
Cagey
 
 
 ELECTRICITY AND YOUR APQS MACHINE 
With more and more electronics being used in quilting machines, electricity supply is more important than ever! If the incoming power fluctuates, the circuit board will starve certain functions in order to keep the boards powered, and the motor can be affected as well. 
The printout below shows the incoming power here at the APQS factory. Notice how much the power dips towards the end of the printout – we are on the same power grid as Pella Windows, and at the time the power dipped in this printout, Pella had a large motor blow up. You can see how much we were affected by this, and it wasn’t even in our building!

 Even different types of power supplies can vary the incoming voltage to your home – solar, hydroelectric, wind – these types of power vary greatly, and the circuitry on your machine will suffer the consequences. 
The next printout is from a customer of ours in Colorado. He was having problems with his needle positioner acting up at times. He asked for this printout of the power supply to his home over a 4 day period, and was greatly surprised at the varying voltages and amperages that was powering his home.

Purchasing a battery back-up or UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) for your APQS machine is a great ”insurance policy”. APQS has done extensive testing on battery back-ups and found one type that is capable of running both the motor and supplying the needed power for the circuit boards as well. 
Most battery back-ups or UPS’s output is a square wave. This wave type will not keep both the electric motor and the circuit boards running in a voltage drop situation. It will keep the circuit boards powered, so it is fine for other electronic equipment.

The UPS systems that are recommended for our machines are able to output a pure sine wave, which is capable of keeping the electric motor running and keep the circuit board powered at the same time.

With these UPS devices, you are able to even unplug the cord from the wall outlet, and run the machine for a period of time – which can be very handy during power outages!! 
Technical information from the UPS devices we tested is on the next page. There are several companies on the web that sell these specific devices, and prices vary from site to site. The models listed on the next page show a variety of options; however, one is NOT pure sine wave so it is not recommended. The others are Dual Conversion backup systems, which are slightly different than the standard ‘Standby UPS’ battery backup systems. 
Dual Conversion On-Line UPS is the same as the standby UPS, except that the primary power path is the inverter battery instead of the wall outlet. The incoming power from the wall outlet is stored in the battery, and the battery supplies the power to the machine – this keeps the incoming power consistent, without having the delay that is caused by normal battery backup systems when they ‘kick in’ to supply power. The Dual Conversion On-Line UPS provides nearly ideal electrical output performance.

Be aware that UPS units can look very similar so it can be easy to select the wrong one. Look for a unit that is a PURE SINE WAVE output. For added advantages, choose one that is DUAL CONVERSION.
The CyperPower CP1500AVRLCD unit above left does NOT have a pure sine wave output and would not be a good choice. Lower priced units typically are not pure sine wave units. Read the product descriptions carefully before buying.
 
End APQS pure sine wave pdf.
 
I spoke with SYCOM, and they told me that they do not have any Dual Conversion / Double Conversion units that would meet the price points above.  Theirs would be more in the $1000 range.  They did review all three items above, and suggested the Tripp Lite as  having the best power factor.  That is to say that how much power does the unit use to provide electricity to the quilting machine.  The Tripp Lite is 0.8, the Minuteman is 0.7, and the CyberPower is 0.6.  To clarify what I just wrote, the Trip Lite uses about 20% of the power to provide the pure sine wave coming into the unit.  The Minuteman would use 30% of the power to produce the same sine wave, and the CyberPower would use approximately 40% of the incoming power to produce the pure sine wave output.  Their units run in the 0.9+ power factor range, which increases the cost.
They did go on that by using the device you would hypothetically extend the life of anything plugged into the device by 50%.  This is because unlike with most surge protectors with battery backup, there is a lag time for a surge or lag to be experienced before the unit switches to battery power.  With a pure sine wave generator, the item plugged into the device is somewhat always being run off the battery.  The unit is constantly soothing out the highs and lows of the electricity coming out of the wall plug, and providing a very pure power source to the output plug and the quilting machine/anything plugged into the unit. The battery backup run time is to allow you time to shut the item plugged in, without damaging the device.  
 

Five hours isn't that long.   If you are having trouble following the lines on pantos, try quilting with a board.   I rent time on a  Millie and quilted the Baptist Fan pattern on a quilt using a pattern board.   I think it looks great!   You can do this, too, I just know you can!
 
 
 
 
 

We have the Tripp Lite SU1000XLA as recommended by APQS a few years ago.It is a little pricey but works excellent.  If I understand correctly it constantly filters the power and gives pure sine wave output.  I have unplugged the unit while the Millie was running and the machine didn't skip a beat, we couldn't do that with the cheap UPS we had before.
It looks like they are still available but make sure you are sitting down when you see the price.  On the other hand you don't want the power going out while you are merrily quilting along and tear a quilt because you can't stop as fast as the machine does.
Maybe call the factory and see if this is still the current model they recommend.
Nigel

VL;
Living in Florida the lightening capital of the US, I might suggest protecting your entire house and then protect our machine.  I did this a number of years ago.  While almost nothing will protect your home from a direct lighting strike; there is just too much power for a protector to absorb, you can protect your home and your electrical devices from surges caused by lightening hitting a power line down range from your home or other surge sources.  
I found SYCOM to have the best surge protectors.  At the time, SYCOM was the fastest to react (nanosecond) and absorbed the largest surge load  This is the model I installed on my home;  http://sycomsurge.com/~sycomsur/images/products/SYC-T2 Series.pdf .  You should install one on your main circuit breaker panel (if you have more than one panel you need one for each), one on your outside breaker panel for your air-conditioning unit, one for you pool pump or any other large motor you might have on a dedicated circuit.  You or your hubby can do the install if your into this type of project.  SYCOM tech support will answer any and all questions you may have.  While you are protecting your new Millie, is your AC unit or refrigerator protected?  I for one would not enjoy quilting on my George while waiting for a new outside AC unit during the Florida summer.  So consider whole house protection.  While your power company may sell a "meter treater" for whole house protection, I believe you will find that it does not react as quickly or absorb as much surge as the SYCOM, and you will also be stuck paying around $15 per month as long as it is installed on your electrical meter.  
They also sell "point of use" surge protectors.  I have them on my computers and my George.  I am not sure if they meet the sine wave protection recommended by APQS, but I have not had an issue with them.  I like the fact they have a lifetime warranty, and you can find the batteries at most electrical stores or online.  Here are two models they sell (these are only surge protectors and not double conversion protectors);
http://sycomsurge.com/~sycomsur/images/products/SYC-625BB.pdf.pdf
http://sycomsurge.com/products/SYC_825BB-69-18.html
I hope this helps you decide on how to best protect your Millie and possibly your home.  Take care, and best of luck with your new baby.
Cagey
 
 
 

I have an Uninterrupted Power Source for my Millie. It protects from power surges and in case of power outages will run your machine long enough to shut down safely. The size recommended by APQS was a little over $300 from Amazon. 

I thought I'd update you all on my experience with my long arm needles.  Since I last reported, I've re-timed my Gammill to run the Schmetz SERV 7 needles.  I can recall breaking only one needle, and it was with the Gammill, and was on a very heavy seam.  Not the kind of deflection break one gets by moving the machine, but simply breaking because it couldn't penetrate the layers of fabric.  I never damage the needle point anymore, and seem to be able to use a needle endlessly without changing it.
The stitch quality has improved on both my machines.  I now have much less directional tension change than I did before.  The stitches when I sew a circle, are almost the same all around the circle.  I almost never encounter missed stitches anymore.
The Schmetz SERV 7 needles have performed so well that they are what I now use.  In fact I've given the sizable stock of Singer and Groz-Beckert MR needles I had to a friend, and don't intend on using them again.   Jim

MY husband retrofitted my 2005 Mille with LED lights like the newer models plus created a new, smaller light bar similar to the old one with LED's. I too, wear glasses and have no glare. I love the LED's. There is alot of information on the internet for configuring. Go for it!

I don't have a light directly over my machine, but I have 3 Phillips Hue lights around it (a table lamp, a flexible floor lamp, and a flexible table lamp). They're the ones that you can use all colours with, and I can adjust and play with the light until I get the visibility I need. All 3 can be the same colour, or they can be different colours as well. That combined with the light on the machine itself works wonderfully, but it also isn't terribly bright (I think they max out at 60 or 75 watt equivalent.)

Carmen;
Myself, I would go with LED lights.  While the initial cost is somewhat higher the efficiency and heat throw off will be better.  Before you hubby build the light bar, I might suggest having him hold a few of the considered LED lights and see what works for you.  What works for me or others, may not be to your liking.  While I have a George, I could see a LED light strip with magnets stuck to a roller bar illuminating my work area.  It would be easy to move, and direct the light where I want it as my quilting needs change.  I could also see a light bar with either long strip lights or possibly adjustable can lights that I could move as my lighting opinions change.  I would suggest whatever your hubby builds that it be adjustable, because I believe your opinions of what is best will change over time as you become accustomed to your Millie.  Flexibility is the key to.....
Cagey

Batty:
 
I spoke with Dave, and his "spa treatment" is $250.  Though I am sure if it needs parts, they are more.  You could check with him, to see if he will be in CA and could stop by to fix your issues.  You would be putting more money into you problem child, but he might be able to fix it and keep you in the quilting game.
 
Cagey

This is the quilt I made for my first granddaughter's graduation from the book Bella Bella quilts.  It is my version of NON-paper pieced paper piecing.  My mind just doesn't work backwards, so I break the pattern down into units and then connect them into the wedge segments.  I had my husband cut out plexi template rulers to trim the units.  I started this after Easter and it went together pretty quickly.  SID the borders and the outside of the Xs.  Feathers in the upper purple/teal sections and loops in the bottom ones.  The star is from a shirt from each grandpa, the dark from the other grandpa who has been gone a couple years now, the light from one swiped from my husband.  The label is inserted into the western snap pocket from the dark shirt with a ribbon and kite from hubby's shirt.
 

CBing:
I believe Tim Taylor said is best;  Bigger and More Power...UUUEEGGHH.  It think that is why APQS went with the new 30 inch Millie.  I for one believe weight/mass is more important that just throat depth.  I say this, because a Gammill weighs more than an APQS.  Thus a larger APQS machine would be easier to start and stop movement verses a smaller but heavier Gammill.  See if you can rent or test use any machine you are interested in.  
Have fun shopping.
Cagey
 

I sold my first quilter ,Ultimate II, because I bought a grocery store. When that didn't work I bought a used  Gammill  had a stitch reg put on it he didn't know what he was doing it would never run full speed again. Bought another Ultimate II for a machine to do small things. Then I bought a used Millie because I was dying for stitch reg, which I don't use it.  lol. Sold my ultimate II to someone else because I had health problems. Still have Millie and don't plan on letting her go because I am much better.I have been machine quilting for 22 years. Carol

I learned on a non stitch regulated machine. I did about 50 quilts on my sister's Voyager 17 before buying a 2012 millennium. Being on this forum puts you 10 steps ahead of where I was! Good luck.
Diane

Is this machine still for sale?
 

IMHO anything smaller than 20" is limiting, and anything over 25 or 26" puts you a long way from some of what you are sewing.  I think the BIG machine (28"-36") is really designed with computers in mind.  You can set up a large area to be quilted and let the machine go to it without having to move or re-calibrate.
The best choice for someone, is something suited for the type quilting you plan to do.  Now for someone just starting out, it's a difficult call because you probably don't know what type quilting you're going to end up wanting to do.  My rule of thumb would be:  If you plan on doing a lot of detailed custom, go with a smaller machine (20"-24").  If you plan on doing mostly pantographs, go with a bigger machine (24"- 28"), and if you plan on doing computer driven stuff, go with the big machines.
It is probably worth your time to carefully look at each manufacturers machines to see exactly how much area (front to back) their machine can quilt.  Not all 26" machines have the same sewing "field".  Some "smaller" machines may give you more "field" than nominally larger ones.  The shape of the machine, and the way the table is configured affects it's sewing "field".  For instance, three roller tables generally give you more "field" than four roller ones. Similarly, square throated machines will give you more "field" (assuming similar outside dimensions), than oval shaped ones.  Carefully checks the specs, and take a tape measure and check for yourself when you look at them.  There may also be convenience issues to consider.
 Unfortunately, there is a trade off with which ever you choose.  In the final analysis, who builds your machine might be the most important consideration.  Not all manufacturers support their products equally.  Go with someone you know you can trust to answer questions, have parts available for both current and past products, and provide prompt reliable service.  Jim