Starla Posted August 5, 2009 Report Share Posted August 5, 2009 I am...looking for some different side clamps...the ones that came with my Millie are to hard to open...I also use a piece of PVC pipe that clamps together , but that is really hard to put on and pulls the fabric.... any suggetions Starla Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtreusch Posted August 5, 2009 Report Share Posted August 5, 2009 Try the Grip Lite clamps. They are great and don't pull the fabric. You can get them at Kingsmen Quilting Supply and you really need to get 2 sets, one for each side of the machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted August 5, 2009 Report Share Posted August 5, 2009 Starla, I love, love, love my Grip lite clamps. I ordered 2 sets. They work wonderfully and the company is awesome too. You can get them at Kingsmen or direct from the company. Here is their link: http://www.quiltersparadiseesc.com/Online%20Shopping/Longarm-Midarm%20Accessories/Grip-Lite%20Side%20Clamp%20Sheet.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcclannan Posted August 5, 2009 Report Share Posted August 5, 2009 I agree with Deb and Heidi. I love mine AND you can open them easily with one hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IBQLTN2 Posted August 5, 2009 Report Share Posted August 5, 2009 Heidi I didnt see any price range on the link, Do you remember approx how muct two sets would be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcck00 Posted August 5, 2009 Report Share Posted August 5, 2009 Jeanne, They are approx. $27 for a set of two clamps. Really like mine a lot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted August 5, 2009 Report Share Posted August 5, 2009 Yup about $50 is what it cost me. Well worth the money IMHO. These are by far one of the best tools I've purchased. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hollyrw Posted August 5, 2009 Report Share Posted August 5, 2009 I think I learned this from Dawn. I turned the elastic strips around and just pin the ends to the quilt back. It's quick and there is nothing to get hung up on the edge of the machine. It's cheap too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda G. Craig Posted August 5, 2009 Report Share Posted August 5, 2009 That's right, Holly, it was Dawn. She did it so fast and smooth, and there is nothing there to bump the machine. Great idea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boni Posted August 5, 2009 Report Share Posted August 5, 2009 Originally posted by Hollyrw I think I learned this from Dawn. I turned the elastic strips around and just pin the ends to the quilt back. It's quick and there is nothing to get hung up on the edge of the machine. It's cheap too. I need a picture here. You pinned the ends to the back of the quilt??? Elastic??? I thought we were talking about clamps??? I'm confused. I bought clamps at Harbor Freight, a whole set for less than $10, added two keyrings, elastic, and velcro to make my own. The smallest clamps are very light and easy to squeeze. I use them mainly with the muslin sides when I don't have enough backing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda G. Craig Posted August 5, 2009 Report Share Posted August 5, 2009 Boni, I don't have a picture, sorry, but Dawn just slid the actual clamps backwards on the elastic that they are attached to, so that the clamps were close to the side of the table and the tail of the elastic hung free. She then just picked up the tail and pinned it to the backing fabric, quick as can be. This also solves the problem of the machine bumping against the clamps as they are out of the way at the end of the table. Sorry, that's about as clear as I can make it. Maybe Dawn will come along and make it all make sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hollyrw Posted August 5, 2009 Report Share Posted August 5, 2009 Boni, imagine if you had not attached the clamps to the elastic. Then just pin the end of the elastic to the quilt backing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boni Posted August 5, 2009 Report Share Posted August 5, 2009 I think I have the picture. Like this: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hollyrw Posted August 5, 2009 Report Share Posted August 5, 2009 That's it. I like the quilting I see in that picture. It that a whole cloth? Do we get to see more? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boni Posted August 5, 2009 Report Share Posted August 5, 2009 OK, so now I understand about just pinning the elastic to the backing. It does eliminate the clamp from getting in the way. I suppose you wouldn't even need clamps then? All we need is a wide velcro strap and pins, hmmmmm--another invention born of necessity. Yes, that's my first whole cloth. I'll post when it's done. It's white on white and doesn't like to have its picture taken. More later... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolinequilts Posted August 6, 2009 Report Share Posted August 6, 2009 I also do what Holly does - just turn the clamps around and let them hang and pin the elastic to the quilt - nice and smooth and cheap. Don't need any bar to raise the elastics either! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sspingler Posted August 6, 2009 Report Share Posted August 6, 2009 I stopped using clamps all together because I hated the machine hitting them if the customers backing wasn't wide enough. I took some leftover scraps from a log cabin, folded them several times and sewed them to the ends of my velcro. Now I just pin them on and nothing gets in the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hollyrw Posted August 6, 2009 Report Share Posted August 6, 2009 Originally posted by sspingler I stopped using clamps all together because I hated the machine hitting them if the customers backing wasn't wide enough. I took some leftover scraps from a log cabin, folded them several times and sewed them to the ends of my velcro. Now I just pin them on and nothing gets in the way. I really need to do that because the ends of my elastic are getting kind of chewed up from the pins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobette Miller Posted August 6, 2009 Report Share Posted August 6, 2009 Check out these clamps. I have had several kinds and finally found these that I really like. They hold good stay out of the way and are not heavy. Tomorrows Heirlooms side Clamps http://02b82aa.netsolstores.com/ Bobette Paradise, CA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoryJM Posted August 6, 2009 Report Share Posted August 6, 2009 Hi Bobette....nice to see you on here! I use the featherlights too and I really like them. Unfortunately, I've been a bit rough with them and have broken them:( However, a little painters tape and all is well again--they're easily fixed. I did have one that broke not long after I bought it and when I contacted them, they sent me two new ones. Good people to work with! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teri Posted August 6, 2009 Report Share Posted August 6, 2009 After 10 years of using clamps, at the encouragement of this thread, I put my clamps outside of the table and just use pins. I love not having to use curtain rods to hold up the elastic to keep the clamps from hitting the side of the machine head. Really, as someone pointed out, there is no reason to have the clamp - just some elastic and a pin. Much better! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladybugquilting Posted August 6, 2009 Report Share Posted August 6, 2009 I'll be trying all these suggestions have replaced the elastic and clamps but didn't like the ones that came with my Discovery and can't find the ones from a supplier that came with my designaquilt machine anymore since they've gone out of business so will give these great suggestions a try thanks all.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smorris Posted August 6, 2009 Report Share Posted August 6, 2009 I read Darlene Epp's tip a few months ago about turning the clamps and elastics around and pinning the elastic to the edge of the backing. Thats how I do it now, its so easy and quick and doesn't cost a cent and works very well. Sue in Australia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starla Posted August 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2009 Thanks everyone I really like the idea of pinning the strap to the backing.......No $$$$$ Starla Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Miller Posted August 7, 2009 Report Share Posted August 7, 2009 Definately a featherlite fan here. I like the fact that they are wide enough to disperse the fabric evenly and they don't get in the way of the machine head. However, don't forget to unclamp them before advancing the quilt as they break easily! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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