ideas for newbie wish list?

[Anne from Guam]

Hi Ladies!

I'm awaiting the arrival of my Freedom SR ( early January!) and I want to know what items you would have liked to have on hand right when your machine was set up?

King Tut thread? Which colors are most used?

zippered leaders? What size would I get for the 10' table?

pantographs? Which ones are good for beginners? I did check out the clearance sale at urbanelements.com

I'm trying to put together a wish list of items each under $100.

:cool::cool: Anne :cool::cool:

[Calicoquilter]

Anne,

I think the zippers are a must. Go to www.longarmconnection.com and check out the info on the quickzip system. She has a lot of different size and I have the 144 inch because I have a 14 ft table. You could always call Sue Schmeiden and ask her, I'm sure she would be happy to help you. The rest is all pretty subjective as far as what you like or what your customers like. If you buy neutral thread, you will get a customer who wants brights or verigated, so I can't help you there.

[Mary Beth]

I would say go easy on the King Tut...that stuff can be a pain in the fanny until you figure out how to use it. Might just be too frustrating when you are just getting acquainted with your machine. Unless you are a seasoned quilter, then you may be fine with it.

[Quilting Heidi]

My must haves are my expanded base, micro drive handles, saddle stool. My favorite thread is SoFine. I use Kingtut but not a lot. I would get a couple of spools of different threads and see what you like best. I always have the main staples in place, white, off-white, taupe, black & blue. Then as you do quilts you can add colors. You will need a good pair of snippers too. Other pantos to look at are ones by Jodi Beamish. Only get a couple until you are sure you like doing them. Urbanelementz has a panto of a month that I highly suggest. For 19.95 (includes shipping) you get a new panto every month. They always have individual block designs, border design and triangle designs. It is a good bargain. You will also want a ruler. I'd recommend something in the 6" range. I love my rulers from Deloa Jones. They are very helpful, well marked and very handy to have. http://deloasquiltshop.com/deloasonlinestore/littleoneguide.html

[LadyLake]

So Fine thread seems to be a favorite of many quilters, because it runs easy. King Tut, although beautiful, is thicker so it is trickier to run.

Pre-wounds can make life easier because they are wound consistently and hold about 1/3 more thread.

[LinneaMarie]

Congrats and welcome!

You will get some sample threads with your machine, I think. I did.

Zippers are a must, and a ruler base.

I use DeLoa's "Little One" for stitch in the ditch, I use circle rulers that a friend made me from 1/4" acrylic, and I scored them myself.

A few stencils are nice to mark and follow along. For marking I like plain old chalk. and I use thin flower head pins by Clover. The long ones.

I just got my machine last February. Do you think I can remember what I needed most then?? NO!

Have fun playing and remember to breathe!!

[seakitten]

Welcome from another Polynesian longarmer! So glad you're here!

Personally I LOVE the King Tut thread, even tough it can be a little bit fussy at times. It is just so BEAUTIFUL. Ditto the rainbows. I use So Fine in the bobbin, & one of those heavier threads on top, in nearly all my quilts. You'll probably be doing a lot of quilts in tropical prints & batiks, so the bright varigated colors show off nicely. You really can't have too much thread. Superior Threads is very good about shipping promptly, by Priority Mail. I usually get mine in 3-4 days, yours shouldn't take much longer.

The zippers are great, they come in various sizes. You've already gotten some good advice about pantos, rulers. etc., so you're good to go. Congratulations.

[Hollyrw]

Flower head pins. While I love my zippers, I could get by without them. I could not however, get by without the flower head pins (or something similar) to pin to the leaders.

I really like pre-wound bobbins but you can wind your own.

I find Bottom Line or So Fine to be the easiest threads to work with.

[juliagraves]

Get a few spare parts and tools. You don't want to be out of order for a $2 part. When I was new, I started putting various posts into a file, which is below. Because the input came from many people, there are duplicates (but that just means they're probably the most important!).

Spare parts:

A couple of needle screws, an extra bobbin case, a bobbin case spring, a pigtail, a fuse or two and a lightbulb.

The pigtails (these are the last two thread guides before the needle) need to be changed when they are worn. The thread will eventually wear a groove in the guide and it will cut the thread. Replacement depends on how much and what kind of thread is pulled thought. Monofilament will wear the guides faster that other threads. You can turn them over in a pinch but they are cheap (If I remember right $1.30 each).

The needle bar set screw can be installed on the other side (the needle bar is threaded all the way through). It is placed on the left because the thread might catch if it is on the right. We have used our machines with the screw on the right for years without any problems.

I would recommend as spares, 2 needle bar setscrews, pigtails, tension return spring, and bobbin case. For a bobbin case spring in a pinch you can use a side of a prewound bobbin or a donut cut from paper. The fuses are available from Radio Shack and the lamp from Home Depot or Lowes. You machine has a spare fuse in the fuse holder for immediate use.

QTY 20 Bobbins (Metal) $0.50 each =10.00

1 Bobbin Case $9.95 (have)

1 Check Spring $2.50

1 Hook, Teflon $64.95

Needles:

1 MR4 7.50

1 MR3 7.50

2 Needle bar set screw $.50 each =1.00

4 Thread guides: Wire – pigtail $1.30 ea = 5.20

1 Tension assy. 15.00

Total 126.30

Needle plate screw

mx video

I have a clean(unused) coffee filter with double sided tape on top of my machine for putting thread clippings. I have hot glued a cardboard tube with the bottom taped off.Put this on one side of my machine not in the way of my thumb wheel or anything where it would be in the way. I put assortment of things of washable marking pens, twezzers, scissors,seam ripper, squeezers, small screw driver for changing out needles.

One thing I'd like to add is that I throw a small piece of batting over my shoulder and quickly stick the threads I snip to it. Saves looking for the garbage can or cleaning up the floor later.

I also use this when I'm sitting at my regular sewing machine quilting.

I also have a sticky roller (3M I think) close at hand for cleaning up the threads off the top as I'm snipping.

I have small strips of adhesive magnetic tape on the front and back of my machine. I keep an embroidery needle for burying ends, an extra machine needle and a couple of flat flower head pins on it. At the back just behind the first thread guide I have a small strip of velcro with a wet erase pen attached. It's a quick reach to mark the perimeters of the quilt on the plastic table cover. I also have a 1 1/2 x 12" plexi-ruler velcroed to the side of the machine just in front of the laser post. I always know where that straight edge is for quick crosshatching or straight lines in a block, or for some quick ditching.

My tools are kept in a small rolling cart that I can put right where I need it. I also have extra bobbins, needles etc. on the cart. My WD40, canned air, alcohol etc. are in a carry-tray on another rolling cart under my machine table. I also have a "carousel" thing I got at Staples that holds markers, magnifier, tweezers etc.

Threads go on the floor for a quick pickup after quilting. My shoulder is too sensitive to do the batting on the shoulder trick. I tried that after seeing Linda Taylor do it and paid big time! A quick swiffer on the floor or a "Stick vacuum" picks them up quickly and saves me a lot of time. Reaching to the top of the machine for a coffee filter also doesn't work for me. Too many whiplashes and shoulder injuries.

One thing that I have really found helpful is those little dental flossers.

You know the kind that make it really easy to floss your little childs teeth.

One end has a bit of floss, the other is like a toothpick. That's the end I use to get into my bobbin case and clean-out the thread path. I have seen many use a pin to do this, but with this bit of plastic I know I won't scratch anything. I have been using the same one for a long time now.

I also wear an apron while I am quilting. The pockets hold my little screw driver for adjusting bobbin tension, my best little snippers, and a make-up brush for extra tuff fluff cleaning in the bobbin area.

My best thing is have my tool chest right by my machine. A gross of bobbins in their little boxes fit real nice in those little drawers. In the big drawer I have put a silverware tray to organize my pens, markers and other little tools.

Screw driver to change needles

Screwdriver to adjust my bobbin case if needed.

A couple of extra bobbin cases.

I keep my scissors on the laser light peg on the top on my machine

A trash can at each end of the machine . They are only a suggestion as I usually miss the can. But get the threads close for easy pick up. I can't do the batting or shoulder thing either. A quick pick up for thread is a toilet bowl brush.

I have a Scissor Spot on my machine (from Darlene Epp) I keep my self-threading needle there.

A 1" paint brush for lint in the bobbin area when needed. I use an air compressor after every quilt.

I use the mechanics magnetic holder or my pins I also keep a pair of tweezers in there.

Flashlight just in case.

a piece scrap of batting (cotton) to wipe anything that need wiped.

Chalks pencils, and a piece of scrap Hobbs 80/20 to wipe chalk off with. If it isn't Miracle chalk.

A tape measure.

Blue painters tape for lots of things.

Template and rulers. Base Expander

Lint rollers I by them by cases from cleanersupply.com for the best price, if you have someone to split with that's great. If not they won't go bad. I also get the comforter bags for returning quilts. The large ones are HUGE. I think I get the 18" ones now.

Oil.

Pens and paper for designs. Floralphane for designs.

Pigma Brush pens in all colors, very handy

I keep my blunt nosed scissors on the laser post on the top of the machine and I have a Scissors Spot for a couple of pins and the darning needle I use to bury threads. When I began outfitting my studio, I decided that I never wanted to search for a trash can. I have them everywhere LOL.

Because my room is quite large, I have space to put a 2x4 foot table on one end of my frame and I have a set of rolling drawers with all my bobbins, rulers, screw drivers, etc. on the other end.

Put a string through an empty batting roll or pvc pipe and attach to the table frame to keep the batting and quilt top (I float it) from dragging on the floor.

Air compressor for cleaning out the bobbin area (canned air is expensive and can introduce moisture - not good for mechanical parts).

[VictoriaG]

Anne

What are you really going to want? Meals in the freezer, and cleaning help.

Just so you can be quilting.

All the ideas above are good too.

Victoria G

[Anne from Guam]

Hey! A big shout out to Joan and Victoria G from Minnesota! I grew up in MN and lived in the twin cities area. I moved to Guam with my four kids about 6 years ago. My late husband grew up on Guam and we had always wanted to live on the island, so here we are and loving the extended family and the weather!

Catherine, thanks for the welcome and the thread tips. Nice to know there's another longarmer in the neighborhood .

Colleen, Heidi - I'm definetely getting the zippered leaders, thanks for the website, and I'm expecting the expanded base in my shipment with the machine. I checked out the rulers too, they look like a good idea.

Everyone else, THANK YOU for the tips!

At my house, I have 'make your own' night, which means there's either enough leftovers or everything for sandwiches and the kids will make their own dinners. Comes in real handy when I have a quilting deadline or just plain quilt fever!

Anne

[Chocoholic]

I think that Julia pretty much covered everything, but I didn't see a horizontal spool holder on her list. It is a must for spools that are straight wound and must come off the side of the spool rather than the top. Most cones (and a few spools) are cross wound and need to have the vertical spool holder as they need to feed from the top. The thread on straight wound spools will get all twisted if you try to take it off the top.

[Stagecl]

I don't have any problem with King Tut thread and haven't on any machine I have owned (that is 3 previously to this one). But I think it is best to start out with a few more basic solid colors because you can get more for your money. I like So Fine the best for top and bobbin for a thinner thread. Signature for 100% cotton in the top only and the bottom with So Fine. Many quilters like Bottom Line, but for me it is too slippery.

Buy a spool of the different kinds of thread, try them out and then decide what works best for you before you buy a lot of one kind.

[meg]

hi anne - i'm a newbie too. i just got my new freeedom (lola) set up yesterday and she came with 2 pantographs. one is very easy - one a bit harder. she also came with a sample of king tut and lava thread. lots of folks here in this forum seem to have trouble with king tut thread. my dealer says she likes rainbows and lava, both from superior thread. she sews with lots of batiks as i do. i have ordered a try me special of both of those kinds to give them a whirl. you will need lots of muslin and backing to load in and quilt on for practice. and cleaning supplies are rubbing alcohol, wd40 and canned air. also, a small philips and flat head screwdriver. that's all i got right now - if i think of more, i'll let you know. good luck and have fun - i sure am and i cant even sew with lola yet! meg

[RitaR]

Welcome to the forum Anne, congrats on the new machine next month.

I use needles size 3.5, 4.0 4,5 and 5 and the one I use the most is 4.5.

Ask your rep about the change in brands recently made, etc. and where is the best place to get them. I buythe 4.5 by the 100 lot, from Kings Men, I think.. lol maybe Columbia River Quilting.

enjoy, and remember to breathe and use a very light grip on the handles.

RitaR