The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below are divided into various
categories to make it easier to find your answers. Please let us
know if you have additional questions that we haven't answered.
info@baysidequilting.com
We
are still working on some areas of our site. Many of the FAQ are
completed, but there are more to come. Thanks in advance for your
patience as we continue to add more answers. Come back often to see what's new.
B-Line Home Quilting
System Questions
PC Quilter
Questions
Brother/Juki/Featherweight Questions
Notions/Supplies Questions
Bayside Quilting Questions
B-Line Home Quilting
System Questions:
Does the b-line have to set on a table top?
The B-Line will set on a
table, cabinet or any sturdy work
surface to which it can be securely clamped. The ends of the
frame have a base that is 30 inches long, so the best fit is a top
that is also 30 inches in width, although it can be used on surfaces
as narrow as 24 inches.
If so what size?
It can be set up anywhere from 6 feet
in length all the way to 12 feet in length so you can work on small
quilts all the way to king-size. The ideal width of the work
surface is 30 inches, although narrower surfaces can work as well.
If you are going to be setting the frame up at a variety of lengths we
recommend 2 6 foot long banquet tables. Then you can use a
single table for the 6-foot set up, the two tables in an "L"
configuration for the 8-foot set up, and the two tables end-to-end for
10-foot or 12-foot set ups..
Is it easily stored or does it set up all the time?
It is designed as a portable system.
The first time that you set it up plan on spending 1 hour and using a
screwdriver to reassemble the free-motion carriage. This
carriage has been pre-assembled in the factory to make sure everything
fits properly and then it is taken apart for shipping. The
instructions that come with the unit are very clear.
See some comments from a customer.
Then after that it only takes 15 to
20 minutes to set the system up and not tools are required. The system
requires very little space for storage, the biggest part, once
assembled, is the free motion carriage, but everything else can be
stored under a bed or in the back of a closet. The entire frame,
including all of the extension pieces, weighs only 56 pounds.
At the
same time, even though the system is designed to be portable, there is
no reason that you couldn't leave it set up permanently if you have
the room to do so!
How much space is required to set it up?
Somewhere you can put up 2 6-foot
tables end to end for the maximum length. Keep in mind that
you'll want to get all the way around the set-up for servicing your
machine, rolling the quilt, and possible following pantographs from
the back side of the machine.
Since
it doesn't take long to do a quilt with your machine once you have it
loaded, we know people that set the frame up on their dining room
table, complete the quilt, and then take the frame back down again.
No need to dedicate a room to the frame this way. (You may
want to make sure you have some type of protective covering on the
table top where the ends clamp on to protect the table.)
I have been investigating different machines and am
trying to find the best for less. I have never machine quilted before
and I have some tops that I need to get done but don't want to invest an
arm and leg in a machine with no experience under my belt. I have hand
quilted on frames. Will I be able to do this?
Hand quilting on a frame is good
background because you already know how a quilt loads on a frame.
All it takes is some practice to get used to the movements.
There are also some books that will help in developing the free-motion
skills for the frame.
See our
featured book!
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PC
Quilter Questions:
What is the PC Quilter?
The PC Quilter is a computer-controlled
carriage which supports and operates a sewing machine on a machine
quilting frame to accurately recreate quilting designs based on the
users specifications of design, size, stitch length, and speed.
Why Would I want to have/use one?
The PC Quilter is capable of recreating
incredibly precise and detailed designs on a quilt based on your
specifications. If you are "free-motion challenged" then this tool
could be an answer for you. Now you can finish your own quilts
rather than putting the fate of your quilt in the hands of another.
What is included with the PC Quilter?
The PC Quilter includes the industrial
strength robotic carriage, the cables needed to connect to power and to
your computer, a surge protector strip, the software to operate the
system, the timing belt and clamps needed to connect the belt to the
frame/table to allow horizontal movement of the carriage, the software
to create your own designs, a detailed user manual, and a video with
set-up and operational instructions.
What kind of sewing machine do I need to use
the PC Quilter?
The PC Quilter will work with virtually
any home sewing machine. The weight limit for the sewing machine
for the normal PC Quilter is 40 pounds. The sewing machine must
have the capability to drop or cover the feed dogs and the machine must
be capable of doing a straight stitch. Without the addition of
other equipment (see Max Throat), the size of designs that you will be
capable of sewing is limited by the throat depth of your sewing machine.
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What is the "throat depth" of a sewing
machine?
The "throat depth" of your sewing machine
is the distance between the back of your sewing machine and the back of
the sewing foot of the sewing machine. This defines the area
within which the quilt will roll up on the frame roller. As the
quilt is quilted, the roll of the quilt gets larger and the work area
will be equivalently reduced. So, if your sewing machine has a
small throat and you have a large quilt, you need to carefully plan the
size of the designs that you will be able to create on your quilt.
This limitation will be reduced significantly/ eliminated with the
introduction and installation of the Max-Throat addition for home
machine quilting frames.
Can I use my existing home sewing machine?
Yes you can as long as you can drop or
cover the feed dogs on your machine, your machine will do a straight
stitch, and your machine weighs no more than 40 pounds.
What kind of machine quilting frame do I
need to use the PC Quilter?
The PC Quilter will work with virtually
any of the home machine quilting frames on the market today. This
includes, but is not limited to, the HandiQuilter, B-Line Home Quilting
System, Grace, Pennywinkle Valley Ranch, SuperQuilter, and others.
What kind of computer do I need to run the
PC Quilter?
The PC Quilter requires an IBM compatible
computer, with a 486 or better processor using Windows 95 or better.
The computer must have a parallel port and be capable of being
positioned no more than 20 feet away from the PC Quilter. There
currently is not a MAC version of the software to operate the PC
Quilter.
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How does the PC Quilter hook up to the
computer?
The PC Quilter connects to your computer
though a cable to the parallel printer port on your computer. The
PC Quilter comes with a 10 foot long cable. You can add one
additional 10 foot cable (available at an additional cost) but no more
than one extension.
Do I need to have an advanced degree in
computer science to run the PC Quilter?
No, but you do need to have a basic
understanding of the Windows operating system and you must be able to
complete some simple tasks such as finding a particular file in a
directory, copying a file from one location to another, sending email,
and executing an individual program. If you have operated
embroidery software in the past, you probably will have no problem with
the PC Quilter software.
How does the PC Quilter work?
For the typical installation, the foot
control of your sewing machine is inserted into the back of the PC
Quilter lower carriage. This allows the computer to operate the
foot control of your sewing machine for starting, stopping, and speed
regulation. At the same time the computer is controlling the
sewing machine, it is also controlling the motion of the carriage to
recreate the designs on the quilt.
What about stitch regulation?
The computer will control the system and
allow you to select the number of stitches per inch, anywhere between 5
and 20 stitches per inch. This will depend on personal preference
and also on the designs and the sizes selected.
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Where do I start?
How do I know what to do next?
What kinds of designs can the PC Quilter
sew?
Is there a way to see the designs before I
sew them to make sure that they will fit correctly and look the way I want
them to look?
What size designs can I do?
What are the limitations on designs?
Can I repeat designs?
Where do I get designs?
Can I create my own designs?
What happens if the thread breaks or the
bobbin thread runs out before the design is finished?
Is there customer support available?
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Brother/Juki/Featherweight
Questions:
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Notions/Supplies Questions:
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Bayside Quilting Questions:
Can I use a credit card to pay for purchases
on your site?
Yes, you can. We accept Visa,
Discover, MasterCard, American Express. and eCheck all through the
Paypal system.
What is Paypal and how do I use it?
Click on the link below to find out more and to
set up your own account and see how to get $5 added to your account!
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