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9-1-2022
APQS.com
Quilting Basics
Quilting Basics
To learn more about your APQS longarm and quilting, please contact your closest
APQS Dealer for your Free Beginner Longarm Quilting Class.
The class is free for students who purchase a quilting machine from APQS, or
tuition is $200 for anyone wanting to learn more about longarm quilting.
With the beginner class offered at APQS, our goal is to teach you the skills you will
need to accomplish a typical quilting project on your new longarm machine. Whether
you intend to start a business or just want to get your quilts done faster, you will
learn valuable techniques to accomplish your projects creatively and efficiently.
We will also review basic APQS machine maintenance. This class is mostly
“demonstration” so we can squeeze in as much information as possible.
Below is a summary on how to begin your longarm quilting journey.
Loading a Quilt
As you gain experience with your new APQS quilting machine, you’ll discover that there are really several ways to
load a quilt top, including pinning, floating and even using zippers (discussed in a bit more detail below). We’ll
demonstrate the two most common types of loading here, but don’t be afraid to experiment until the method
feels
right to you
.
We recommend that you first load “practice” fabric and batting such as muslin, old sheets, etc. Spend time and
practice, practice, practice. If you want to develop your skills quickly, plan on at least an hour a day with your
machine. The more you practice, the more “second nature” things will become. Once you develop muscle
memory, you will find that quilting is sometimes easier than drawing designs.
Loading styles can be divided into three broad types: “partial float,” “full float” and “full attachment.” When a
quilt “floats” as part of the loading process, it means that one or more sides of the quilt simply rest (or “float”) on
top of the batting and backing. It may be held to the batting or backing fabric with pins or basting, but it is not
attached directly to the frame or canvas. When discussing quilt loading method with your friends, make sure your
terminology matches theirs, so you are comparing accurately. If a person says she “floats” her quilt top, she may
use a “partial float” or a “full float.”
