Lori Posted June 4, 2013 Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 Okay, so I've ordered my leader grips. From what I understand, they're not too hard to attach. I've actually found a couple of videos that look pretty helpful. What I haven't been able to find, though, are instructions on how to sew the casing sleeve (right term?) into the canvas to slip the dowel into. I'm sort of assuming that I can actually do this with my longarm machine, but I could sure use some advice on exactly how to do that. Thanks. Lori Empty Nest LAQ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primitive1 Posted June 4, 2013 Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 Hi Lori...me again... I don't have leader grips but have attached zippers to my leaders using my longarm. I am assuming you can do the same thing...maybe someone else will jump in who has done this.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debi Posted June 4, 2013 Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 Hi Lori I have red snappers but I think the principal is the same to make the casing sleeve. I measured carefully along the edge of the leader and folded over the edge the measurement that they recommended. I pinned this so it was secure and then attached my side clamps to the ends to try to keep the leader as taunt as possible. I used my machine to stitch along the edge to make the casing. It is a little slow going as you stop and remove the pins. I tried to keep my stitching as close to the edge as possible but it is still a little wavey. I did this to the 3 leaders and they seem to be working great. You'll love the leader grip concept. So fast and easy to load and take the quilt off the machine. Debi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
queenie123 Posted June 4, 2013 Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 just wondering if I could just attach a leader strip to my zippers and add the dowel ,my brain is not clicking on all cylinders but thinking about this later on down the road ,sounds like it would work in my brain anyway ,lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHuffman Posted June 4, 2013 Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 I recently installed LeaderGrips on my new Millie and did a blog post about how I sewed the casings and some modifications I made to increase the strength in the junction points. You might find it helpful. It is over on my blog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fineseams Posted June 4, 2013 Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 Angela, I'm curious why you decided to switch to Leadergrips. I purchased Red Snappers after checking out both products on line, and by asking on this forum, and it really didn't seem that there was a significant difference. I actually don't remember exactly why I decided on the Red Snappers - maybe because Heidi uses them? But they seem to work just fine, and it looks to me like they work exactly like the Leadergrips I've seen demonstrated in Matt Sparrow's videos. Just wondering.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHuffman Posted June 4, 2013 Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 Bonnie, When I started using Red Snappers I couldn't turn the pages in a book for about 4 days. After those first four days it didn't hurt my hands, though. I've found the LeaderGrips didn't need that breaking in period. With the slight modifications I made to the Leadergrips I'm happy with them. If I hadn't made those modifications I don't think I would be as happy. Also, I found the Red Snappers are heavier and I found I would bump into them on the first pass of a quilt. I'm not finding that difficulty with LeaderGrips. Plus, I really like the LeaderGrip company and I wanted to support them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitepinesquilter Posted June 4, 2013 Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 I folded over 3/4" the length of the leader on the backing and the take up roller leaders (I float my tops), pinned them together along their folded edges (overlapped 1/4" doesn't matter) and then stitched across. I don't have horizontal or vertical locks, so I used a clamp on my carriage to keep my machine from going moving forward and back, guaranteeing a straight horizontal row of stitching. I also wanted to mention I didn't use dowels for inside the leader casing. I purchased 3/8" (outer diameter, 1/4" inner diameter) poly tubing from Farm Fleet cut to the length of my leaders instead. This way it is solid the whole length of the leader. One piece had some coiling going on since they sold me the inner end of the roll (the part wrapped around the center). It worked fine, but I would just make sure not to accept the piece if it comes from that inner part of the roll just to make it easier for you. I just took a heat gun and heated up the tubing at a distance to relax it, and it worked fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted June 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 Wow, thanks to everyone who responded. Everyone is always so willing to share. Angela, I just checked out your blog, and that's exactly what I needed. Your instructions are very clear. Thank goodness for you wonderful people who have the presence of mind to do tutorials! Where would we be without them. Thanks so much Lori Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisquilter Posted June 4, 2013 Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 Bonnie, When I started using Red Snappers I couldn't turn the pages in a book for about 4 days. After those first four days it didn't hurt my hands, though. I've found the LeaderGrips didn't need that breaking in period. With the slight modifications I made to the Leadergrips I'm happy with them. If I hadn't made those modifications I don't think I would be as happy. Also, I found the Red Snappers are heavier and I found I would bump into them on the first pass of a quilt. I'm not finding that difficulty with LeaderGrips. Plus, I really like the LeaderGrip company and I wanted to support them. Angela, what was the slight modification you made to the leader grips. If I am reading your quote correctly, it would seem that your adjustment was more important than just a slight adjustment. I have been on the fence about these products and any clarification would help. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHuffman Posted June 4, 2013 Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 Chris, Take a look at my tutorial and you'll see it. I didn't use the shrink wrap to connect the pieces of tubing. Instead I used a dowel screw which is much more stable and, I found, easier for me to install. HTH! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fineseams Posted June 5, 2013 Report Share Posted June 5, 2013 The red snappers are quite stiff to begin with, and they continue to be just a bit tricky to snap down exactly as I want, so I'm guessing the Leadergrips would be better - but not enough for me to replace the snappers. Thanks for the explanation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheagatzi Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 Angela, thank you for your tutorial on making the casings for the leadergrips. They helped alot. I tweaked it somewhat (read: too lazy to pin and make extra stitch lines) by just measuring and drawing a 1" line from the edge of my leader. I used that pencil line as my crease line. Then, using my clamps I straightened and stretched out the leader as much as I could, set my channel locks on and sewed along the edge of the leader now that it was folded up. (not along the crease line) The hopping foot gives me a natural 1/4", thereby making my casing now 3/4" Anyways, thanks for the tutorial, it was very helpful!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RitaR Posted June 8, 2013 Report Share Posted June 8, 2013 I have the Red Snappers a few years, and find them still hard for me to use. I have to ask Himself to help put the "clamps" on with the leaders for the quilt, used as the part to clamp down. With arthritis in my hands, shoulders, elbows, and back problems, scoliosis etc. I believe I will get the Leader Grips..Maybe I will be able to use them with less pain.. Thank you for all the info from everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkayr Posted June 8, 2013 Report Share Posted June 8, 2013 just wondering if I could just attach a leader strip to my zippers and add the dowel ,my brain is not clicking on all cylinders but thinking about this later on down the road ,sounds like it would work in my brain anyway ,lol i've wondered about this too. since you are taking 2-1/4" off each leader, is that a problem. also, i really like my zippers but leadergrips look really interesting to me. i thought i saw a setup like that one time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie H Posted June 8, 2013 Report Share Posted June 8, 2013 Rita maybe try cutting one section of the red snapper into thirds and see if making them shorter helps your hands. It did for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RitaR Posted June 9, 2013 Report Share Posted June 9, 2013 Bonnie, thanks for the suggestion, I even hurt just putting the little clamps on that holds the quilt back in place while putting on the longer clamps. It still hurts my hands. After thinking it over, I may just go back to zippers. I have the zippers, and I dsm baste the backing onto the leaders anyway.. Will think before I make up my mind. Rita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheagatzi Posted June 9, 2013 Report Share Posted June 9, 2013 Rita, I find the leadergrips pretty hard to snap on right now, and I know in time they will loosen/soften up, but if you have a tough time with strength/pain in your hands, they may give you trouble too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrandmaLKB Posted June 9, 2013 Report Share Posted June 9, 2013 I found I like the zippers much better than the leader grips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotmama Posted June 14, 2013 Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 Regarding use of zippers and leader grips - I'm going to try to keep flexible options. I have the zippers sewn to my Millie leaders. Folded the zipper edge over to make a casing for the leader grips (and by the way, I really like the other options instead of fitting the dowels in their little sleeves and heating them). This way I can use either the leader grips, or the zippers. My friend is finding that on long quilts the leader grip "bump" gets too bulky, so she is using them on shorter quilts, table runners, etc. So nice and fast! My big problem is that in doing all of this my leaders are now not even and taut all the way across. So I did something wrong, and need to redo/recheck them. Rats. I'd rather just be quilting . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epprog Posted June 15, 2013 Report Share Posted June 15, 2013 On my older machine I had zippers installed and then reinstalled new ones cuz I wore them out. Needless to say, my canvas leaders were a mess and I didn't want to mess with them and take out all the stitching. I just sewed a sleeve onto a zipper, put in a casing on the edge. They work like a charm. On my newer machine I folded the canvas over and stitched it with my longarm much like Debi suggested. They work great! Cher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RitaR Posted June 16, 2013 Report Share Posted June 16, 2013 I decided to go back to zippers. I still have to dsm the backing to the leader I have on the second side of the zipper. That part is simple to do. Loading it on the frame is easy, so no sense in continuing the red snapper. Once I get the zipper leaders on I will have the Red Snapper set for sale.. and a few have been cut to smaller lengths. Made it easier to load a quilt that wouldn't fit evenly with a full length. Rita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kwiltr Posted November 6, 2016 Report Share Posted November 6, 2016 Thank you Angela!!! This is exactly what I was looking for today, while I was trying to get my new Lenni prepped for quilting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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