A picture’s worth a thousand words. Cliché but true! Well, then what’s a video worth? Especially a video that has been specifically designed to answer your longarm questions, help you succeed in your quilting, and inspire you with new longarm skills and possibilities!
That’s the purpose behind our YouTube channel, Angie’s Answers.
I started recording our videos in June 2021, almost 2 years ago. In that time, I’ve created 41 videos ranging in length between 53 seconds and 1:08:03. Most of the videos range from three to twelve minutes long.
What topics are covered? Anything longarm quilting related! As education is a primary focus for us, most of the videos are instructional in nature. Some are truly ‘how to’ and others offer quick tips.
For those of you relatively new to longarm quilting or if you have not loaded a quilt in awhile, I’d like to highlight three helpful “how to” videos.
First, watch “Part 1 How to Square up a Backing Fabric.” This is a 4 minute, 28 second video. It walks you through how to:
- make sure there is no twisting in your backing fabric and
- initially square the quilt backing.
These preparation steps are the basis for ensuring your quilt will remain square as you quilt it on the longarm!
Next, view “Part 2 Getting a quilt ready to load on the frame.” This is a 7 minute, 57 second video. It picks up where part 1 leaves off. In this video you learn how to:
- ensure your backing fabric is big enough,
- choose which sides of your quilt back and top you’re going to attach zippers to based on the quilt pattern you decide to use, and
- finish squaring your quilt backing if needed.
Finally, check out part 3 of this series, “The Quick Zip System – Zippers for a longarm! How to pin to a project.” This is a 10 minute, 37 second video that walks you through how to pin the two zippers to your quilt back and the one zipper to your quilt top. It also highlights the benefits of using the Quick Zip System™ and gives you a couple helpful tips.
For those of you who don’t want to have to return to your domestic machine to sew on your binding once your quilt is quilted, I suggest watching “How to attach Binding using a longarm quilting machine!” This 30 minute, 37 second video touches on:
- the best machine feet to use when sewing on your binding and
- suggestions for choosing thread color.
However, most of the video focuses on how to sew on the binding … including how to miter the corners and how to close the binding using the tuck and fold method.
Obviously, that’s a small sampling of the Angie’s Answers videos. Our library also includes:
a welcome video,
19 additional instructional videos including topics such as:
- choosing thread color,
- understanding thread types and needle size, and
- fixing thread breaks and motor errors,
4 project videos explaining:
- quilting with minky,
- quilting with fleece, and
- making a tote bag,
4 inspirational videos displaying many of the quilts completed by our renters,
6 event videos showcasing quilt shows we’ve vended at, and
3 videos specific to model updates on Handi Quilter machines.
I’ve chosen topics that our renters and machine owners ask most often. But I know there are more burning questions out there! PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT OTHER VIDEOS YOU’D LIKE TO SEE! Here are some questions to consider:
- What scares or confuses you the most about longarm quilting?
- What else would you like to know how to do?
- What tools would you like to learn how to use?
- What tips would help you have more fun or work more efficiently with your longarm machine?
- Do you want to know more about free motion quilting, using rulers or custom quilting?
- Do you know how to properly take care of your machine?
I want your longarm quilting experience to be stress free and fun! Let me know how I can help!
QUICK UPDATE on our Appleton move …
We’re scheduled to be in our new space by June 1st and construction is moving forward. Here’s a sneak peek! There will be so much more space!
That’s it for this post.
As always, if you have any questions or want additional information, please call us at (262) 723-6775 or email us at info@QuiltingConnection.com.
You can also visit us online at QuiltingConnection.com or in person at 21 Adams Street in Elkhorn, WI (usually M-F 9-4, please call to confirm we’re open) or 1017 W. Northland in Appleton, WI (W 10:30-5, Th & F 10-4, S 10-3).
And finally, check out our blog at QuiltingConnection.com/blog and our Facebook posts.
Please share your thoughts and questions with us. We love to hear from you!
Angie