Managing a Large Quilt It is important to have your machine in a cabinet if possible when you tackle any quilt larger than a wall hanging. The bed of your sewing machine should be flush with the surrounding surface. Your quilt should have complete support with no edge of it falling over the sides. Rolling from the sides toward the center It is important to have family or friends around to lend a hand when rolling a twin or larger size quilt. The more hands you have helping, the tighter each roll can be wich decreases the bulk of the quilt at your sewing machine. Start with a plan of where you will begin stitching. If youwant to stitch in th ditch along the sashing strips from one nd of the quilt to other, you will need to roll the side edges of the quilt parallel to that ditch. The basic rule is roll the quilt so the area to be stitched is left flat. 1) Lay the basted quilt sandwich flat on the floor or large table surface. Roll the edge of one side of the quilt toward the center of the area you want to quilt. Keep the roll as tight as you can, and stop rolling 6 to 8 inches from the area to be quilted. Slide quilter's clips onto the roll, placing them approximately 14 to 16 inches aprt. These clips will hold the roll until youare ready to release it. 2) Roll the opposite side of the quilt toward the center. Stop 6 to inches from the area to be quilted. As before, slide the quilters's clips ove rthe roll 14 to 16 inches apart. Place one rolled side of the quilt into the throat of the sewing machine with the flat part underneath the needle and the opposite roll to the left of the needle. There will be quite a bit of extra rolled quilt to manage. The priority is to be sure the area to be stitched is flat under the needle, while the rest of the quilt is supported on the cabinet and tables and out of the way of your hands. Do whatever is necessary to quilt the area under the needle and let the rest go where it may. Many times I have part of the quilt over my should or rolled up on my chest. Quilt as much as possible in that vertical 12 to 16 unrolled area of the quilt. As you quilt the full length of the 12 to 16 inch flat area of the quilt, unroll the part of the quilt in the throat of the machine a few inches at a time. Quilt the revealed length of the next area. Continue quilting and unrolling the same roll until you can quilt the remaining areas without having the quilt rolled. Remove the quilter's clips, turn the entire quilt around, and put the opposite roll into the throat fo the machine. Proceed in the same manner, quilting and unrolling, as before. You will also need to re-roll the quilt several times in the quilting process. The following sugestions will also assist you in managing your quilt. Roll the long sides toward the center to stich in the ditch of vertical rows. Roll the short sides toward the center to stich in the ditch of horizontal rows. Re-roll the long sides toward the center to stich in the ditch within blocks. Reroll the long sides toward the center to do detail stitching within blocks. Quilting Terminology Quilting Terms C to G Quilting Glossary H to P Quilting Terms Q to Z Tools Types Machine Quilts Fabric Guide Caring More Quilting Tips Quilting Machine Benefits Quilt Sandwich Quilt Pattern Tips Large Quilt