Chocoholic Posted March 24, 2009 Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 So I am about to load my first quilt with a Minkie backing. I'm a bit scared. I searched the archives and discovered that people say to load the Minkie with the selvages pinned to the leaders. My problem is that I can't load it that way, as the CompuQuilter design that my customer wants is an E2E with words in it and the words will be sideways if I try to load the quilt sideways. Any ideas? This customer used to be a longarmer with a computerized machine (not APQS) and had to sell her machine when they moved here and her house doesn't have room for the machine. So she has definite ideas about what she wants. ;-) She picked the design and everything. Wish me luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BethDurand Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 Hi Sheila, The reason for loading the selvages pinned to the leaders is because the greater stretch goes lengthwise. Therefore, you'll just need to watch that you don't stretch the minkie too much when you tighten up the rollers. I'm sure that others with more knowlege and experience with Minkie will chime in, but I hope that will at least get your started. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boni Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 Hi Sheila, I, too, am getting ready to load a minkie backing. However, mine is planned for selvages to the leaders. Like Beth said, we're going to have to make sure to not stretch as we go. I'm planning to mark my backing every 24 inches just to keep an eye on things. I did that on the last quilt I did because the backing was a hair too short. When I saw that my halfway mark on the backing was matching the half way mark on the top, I knew I was going to have enough. If my marks on the minkie closely match the increments on the top, then I figure everything will come out alright. This quilt has a black and white top, sort of a turning twenty configuration--wild! The minkie is hot pink! I'm trying to decide whether to use hot pink thread on top, or black, or white. I know it won't show on the back since it will bury itself in the minkie. Are you wanting the script to show on the minkie? I'm curious about how the script will cover the top. Is it all over, or just in the borders? Anyway, I hope you have good luck. I have one quilt to finish and hope to load mine before the end of this week. Keep us posted as you go and let us know your successes and words of wisdom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pntmms Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 If you can't load your minkee with the selvedges to the leaders, then the best advice would be to sew on 4-6" strips of muslin all around the minkee to help stabilize the stretch. You just need to use your biggest basting stitch to baste that muslin on and then you can easily rip it off once you are through quilting. Even with the muslin strips on you should be careful of pulling tightly with the clamps or rolling tightly. TJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sspingler Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 I've loaded both ways with absolutely no problems. Just be careful of stretch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chocoholic Posted March 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 Well, I have one row done! I tried to be very careful of stretch while loading it. The script does show on the back, but, of course, it is backwards! I am using 40wt. Signature thread. The customer provided the thread, as she said she has so much left over from when she was longarming, so I am using that thread both on top and in the bobbin. So far so good!! By the way, thanks much for all the pointers. This group is so great. I'll post a picture, along with some others I have done recently as soon as I am done. I sing in a chorale that practices tonight, so have to go now and will finish when I get home. Or hopefully will, if all continues to go well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltlover03 Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 Great advice! I am getting 4 queen size quilts, all with Minky backing, from the president of a Quilt Guild. I can do it, I can do it, I know I can!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltmonkey Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 I have done a couple of quilts with minkee backing and all went fine... HOWEVER.... ...However one of these was a very large quilt (Queen) and that minkee was a bit of a bugger to manage. I was able to quilt it just fine but it did require a little more shall I say "tending to" to make sure it didn't get wonky on me. The tending to required more time and attention. Time is money, right? So, that said, would you consider this something that might require a little extra "fussy" charge to the bill? The small minkee backing was no trouble, but that big queen size quilt took me a while to fiddle around with it. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltlover03 Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 Interesting Shana, something to watch out for. I also did a baby quilt in minky and flannel, no problems, but the queen size ones will be "work". However, clamps and stabalizers should take care f any extra "wonkyness" I hope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltmonkey Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 OK Yes, perhaps with a big piece of minkee backing it might be best to have your customer stitch on a edging of muslin to help stabilize it. Even with my diligence to keep it from stretching, it did and I had to fuss a lot with it. I was sweating bullets there through part of it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boni Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 When you did your queen, did it sort of sag in the middle? My workspace is 22-24 inches and I am a little worried about the minkie sagging and not wanting to pull on the sides to tighten it. Eeekkk. Thanks Monica: I can do it, I can do it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltmonkey Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 Yes it was heavy and sagging a bit; mostly toward one side. I was super duper careful not to pull or tug and roll it evenly but it still wanted to stretch under its own weight because it was so big. I was able to quilt it OK but it was a little tricky and required a lot of attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCramer Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 I've never delt with minkee or computerized quilting, just wondering if you could put it on upside/down? Put the minkee on top so its own weight doesn't pull and make it sag or stretch? I know dumb thought! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boni Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 Hmmmm Sounds like an interesting idea. I wouldn't rule it out or think it a dumb thought. I might try it on a small sample just to see how the hopping foot behaved in the pile. The only issue I would have is trouble seeing the stops and starts amongst the pile. It would be like monkeys searching for fleas in their fur:P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chocoholic Posted March 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2009 Well, the quilt is done. I think that she had stretched the flannel blocks a bit, as I had to do quite a bit of 'maneuvering' by hand to get it to lay flat and quilt in. That was hard to do without stretching the Minkee on the back, but it is done. I'll post a picture either tomorrow or Friday. As far as putting the Minkee on the top, doesn't sound like a dumb idea at all. Of course, I would want to try it before using it on a customer quilt to make sure the hopping foot could handle it. And it wouldn't have worked for this quilt, because then the words would have been backwards on the front of the quilt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.