The Joy of Quilting with Your Long-Arm Machine
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KathyQuilts.com
attached to your machine can be used in place of a laser to follow a pattern.
To attach the laser to your machine, you will first need to install the bracket. When
looking at the machine from the backside of your frame, the bracket will be installed
on the left side. Next, place the laser on the bracket of the Block Rockit with the laser
pointed down at a slight angle away from the machine.
To follow the pantograph, lay it out on the table top of your frame. If your quilt or
pantograph design is directional (it needs to be quilted in a certain direction), either
load your quilt on the frame upside down or flip the pantograph pattern upside down
to accommodate this. Move the Block Rockit to the right side of the frame when
standing in the back, and adjust the laser so that it lines up with where you want to
begin on the pantograph. Look to the needle of your machine and press the “needle
down” button. See if this is where you want to start your quilting in reference to where
your laser is. If everything is lined up how you like, you can begin quilting here.
From the backside, you will quilt from right to left. It is important to quilt this direction,
as you will have fewer problems with thread breakage and tension. As you quilt,
stand slightly to the left of the machine and watch the laser follow the design.
Most importantly, breathe, relax your body, and don’t worry about following the
pantograph perfectly as much as making smooth movements. You want to avoid jerky,
abrupt motions. Take small steps with your feet and always relax your hands – you don’t
need a death grip. And most importantly, have fun!
Remaining Calm, Cool and Collected
Quilting with a pantograph can be a bit tricky, but the more you do, the less you have
to think about it. As you are following a pattern, as with freehand quilting, you will
want to flow from the one end of your pattern to the other. The trick here is to be able
to move your feet from side to side without it jerking your upper body. As you trace
along the path of the pantograph pattern, you need to have a fluid, flowing motion.
If you step to the side, and it makes your arm jerk, then you get a nice little mess up on
your quilt. Just take your time and relax. If you are too uptight, then you are bound to
mess up. Many quilters like to listen music that can help them relax and get in a flowing
motion. Kathy usually listens to audiobooks with wireless headphones to have a fun
