Longarm quilting machines have made quilting easy and quick, especially for quilters who love free motion and perfect quilting finishes. Loading your gammill longarm is an essential process to ensure smooth operation and quilting experience. In this guide, we will take you through the steps on how to load a gammill longarm and make your quilting experience seamless.
Step 1: Preparing the Quilt Top, Batting and Backing
The first step in loading a gammill longarm is preparing your quilt top, batting, and backing. Start by ensuring that the quilt top and backing are straightened and cut to the right size. You can use a rotary cutter and a cutting mat to ensure perfect edges. Next, locate the selvage edges on the batting and cut them off. Make sure you use a batting that is at least 4 inches bigger than the quilt top on all sides.
Step 2: Attaching the Backing to Leader Cloths
Leader cloths are long, narrow pieces of fabric that attach to the gammill longarm. They hold the backing in place as you quilt. To load your backing, you need to attach it to the leader cloths. Start by identifying the top and bottom edges of your backing and sew them onto the leader cloths. Use a straight stitch and keep the edge of the backing aligned with the edge of the leader cloth. Once you have sewn all four edges onto the leader cloths, move on to the next step.
Step 3: Attaching the Batting and Quilt Top
Now it's time to add the batting and quilt top to the gammill longarm. Start with the batting by laying it smoothly on top of the backing. Ensure that there are no wrinkles or folds. Next, add the quilt top on top of the batting, making sure it is centred. Use quilt clips to hold all three layers together. Take care not to clip over your stitching lines.
Step 4: Rolling the Quilt onto the Machine
The final step in loading your gammill longarm is rolling the quilt onto the machine. Do this by rolling the two edge sections onto the take-up roller. Start with the bottom edge, followed by the top edge. Ensure that the quilt is not too tight and there are no wrinkles. Once the edges are loaded, attach the side clamps to secure the quilt onto the machine and take up any excess fabric. Before you start quilting, check that everything is aligned, smooth and straight.
Conclusion
Learning how to load your gammill longarm is an important step towards perfect quilting results. The process involves preparing the three layers and attaching them to leader cloths before rolling them onto the machine. Take your time and follow each step carefully to achieve smooth and even quilting results. With these steps, you are now ready to load your gammill longarm and start quilting like a pro!
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