A Spring Cleaning Guide for Longarm Quilters
Happy Almost Spring!
I’m not going to jynx us by saying it’s spring. Wisconsin’s weather is yoyoing as usual. We get a few warm days then it’s back to snow and cold. Those warm days are a real tease! But that also means spring IS coming.
And as spring arrives, so does the itch to throw open the windows and clean. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a little, but spring is definitely a good time to sort through any chaos and clutter left behind from holiday and winter quilting and put things in order.
So, let’s look at spring cleaning from a longarmer’s perspective and get ready to dive into a new year of quilting!
Start with a high-level overall cleaning
· Clear any clutter. Put away all fabric, scraps, work-in-progress, tools, thread and anything else that shouldn’t be sitting on a work surface or the floor.
· Freshen up your workspace. Dust the flat surfaces and vacuum the floor. If pins or needles have strayed from the safety of their holders, use a magnet to find and retrieve them.
Reassess your fabric stash
· Reorganize your fabric. Sort it in a way that works for you … possibly by color, size, season or type.
· Donate or swap pieces that you no longer want to use.
· Evaluate your scraps. Are they so small you’ll never use them? Do you have too many? Purge those that make no sense to keep and store what’s left for easy access. If you regularly use a particular strip width or size of square, cut your scraps accordingly and have them ready to go.
· Fold and store your fabric. Whether your fabric is on open shelving or in plastic bins, make it easy to see what you have.
· Store any batting remnants. Label them by type and size.
Revaluate your UFOs
· List your unfinished projects … at least some of them. Prioritize which ones to complete.
· Donate or repurpose projects you no longer want to finish. It’s okay to let go!
Refresh your cutting area
· Give your cutting mat a little TLC. Use a brush or cutting mat smoother to remove embedded fibers and smooth over any nicks. Use a cutting mat cleaner if fusibles or adhesives have left any gummy spots.
· Replace any dull or nicked blades.
· Clean your rulers. If any are nicked or chipped, discard them.
· Organize all your cutting tools. Place your most frequently used tools where they are handy! Store the rest for easy access.
Refresh your pressing area
· Use a damp cloth or iron cleaner to wipe away any sticky residue on the soleplate.
· Wash or replace your ironing board cover if stained or worn.
Refresh your piecing/sewing area
· Maintain your domestic machine(s) as appropriate. Follow manufacturer's instructions for oiling and cleaning under the throat plate and the bobbin case. Schedule professional maintenance when appropriate. (How does your machine sound? That’s one indicator!)
· Change the needle! The result? Good stitch quality, less stress on your machine, and less thread breakage. Your fabric won’t pucker or snag.
· Delint your thread. If your thread sits out where dust can accumulate on it, wipe down the spools or cones with a microfiber cloth. Wipe in the same direction as the thread is wound.
· Discard old, brittle thread. That includes any old bobbin thread as well!
· Organize your thread. Possibly store it by color, weight, or type. Make sure thread tails aren’t hanging out where they can get caught.
· Check your bobbins. Empty any that are running out. Reload the colors you use frequently.
· Organize all your piecing tools. Are your pins ready to use? Discard any that are bent or dull! Make sure your seam ripper, thread snips and other frequently used tools and machine accessories are handy! Store the rest for easy access.
Refresh your longarm quilting area
I’m going to break this section down into two parts: 1) your longarm machine and 2) your longarm frame.
Longarm machine maintenance
· Dust all the exterior surfaces of your longarm machine. Using a microfiber cloth, wipe over the top of the machine, the cone holder, the bed of the machine, etc. Remove fingerprints from your machine’s display screen and the software tablet if your machine is computerized.
· Remove any hidden lint. It’s amazing how much lint quilting generates, even when you’re using quality cotton fabrics! Gently brush out your bobbin case and the bobbin hook area. Carefully unscrew the throat plate and remove any fibers or lint hiding under there.
· Clean your machine’s wheels. Using a microfiber cloth or a damp paper towel, roll your machine back and forth on the carriage, holding the cloth against each wheel as it turns. Remove any loose threads wrapped around the wheels.
· Clean the wheels of your machine’s carriage. Lift your machine off its carriage and flip the carriage over. Hold a microfiber cloth or damp paper towel to each wheel as you turn it to remove any compressed lint and remove any loose threads wound around the wheels. If your longarm is computerized, make sure the cog-like wheel that guides your machine is also free of dust and thread.
NOTE: These are all important steps in your spring cleaning, but dusting your bobbin area should be done every bobbin or two and wiping down the wheels of your machine and its carriage should be done every quilt.
ADDED REMINDERS: Every quilt deserves a new needle!
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for oiling your machine.
Longarm frame maintenance
· Dust all surfaces of your longarm frame. Using a microfiber cloth, wipe over your entire frame. If you do pantograph quilting, be sure to clean off any marks on the plastic grid that covers your patterns.
· Clean the rails and tracks on your frame’s back table. Using a microfiber cloth or a damp paper towel, rub over both rails that your longarm carriage travels over, removing any compressed lint. If your machine is computerized, remove any lint or thread from the track running along the back of your table.
· Verify that your frame is still level.
· Check your canvas leaders. Make sure the leaders are still securely attached and running parallel to your frame’s bars. Remove any thread and lint. Spot clean if necessary. Unroll your back and front leaders enough to zipper them together. Let them sit this way overnight to help maintain their shape
· Organize any tools you use for longarm quilting. Keep extra machine feet, needles, tools, scissors, pins, clamps, etc. nearby but organized and stored for easy access. One possibility – sit a rolling cart at one end of your frame.
NOTE: Again, these are important spring-cleaning steps, but cleaning the tracks on your back table should be done every quilt.
Professional maintenance
Give your longarm a spa day. Handi Quilter recommends your machine should receive professional maintenance every 2 years or 10 million stitches, whichever comes first.
When The Quilting Connection’s trained technicians service your machine, they thoroughly clean and check its internal components.
Our techs remove any lint found inside the machine and check/adjust mechanisms like timing and tension. They also inspect your longarm for worn parts, relubricate necessary areas and check for proper needle and bobbin alignment.
If your longarm is ready for a spa day, just give us a call at (262) 723-6775.
We’ll discuss your service options!
Some additional notes from our technicians
· If your longarm is still under warranty, please contact us for service. If you try to repair your machine, it may no longer be covered by the warranty.
· If you buy parts for your machine, buy them from a reputable dealer (such as The Quilting Connection) or directly from the manufacturer. You may find parts available from other sources (such as Amazon), but sometimes those parts end up being counterfeit even though they were sold under the manufacturer’s name.
And you know, this spring cleaning doesn’t have to be done all in one day. But stay with it! A clean, organized space does wonders for your creativity and stress levels!
Quilting Central Podcast Update
Recent QCP Episodes
In keeping with the focus of this post, I’m delighted to highlight the February 4th edition of the Quilting Central Podcast, “Stop the Lint Madness! How to Clean & Maintain Your Sewing Machine Like a Pro.”
In this episode, Julie, Cathy and I do a deep dive into keeping your sewing machine in top running condition. We explain why regular sewing machine maintenance isn’t optional! We also walk through the tools needed and then demo the whole process step-by-step!
I take you through the longarm cleaning tips!
Then there’s our episode from February 18th. Please check out …
Invariably, you’ve discovered that quilting involves a lot of math. You calculate the cuts or yardage needed for your quilt top, the yardage needed for your batting and back, the yardage needed for binding, and then how to best use your longarm quilting space! Ugh!!!
This episode is designed to give your quilting brain a rest! Cathy, Julie and I walk through the tips and tricks you need to make the math a little easier and lots less stressful!
And remember, for a complete listing of all our episodes, visit the Quilting Central Podcast YouTube channel! Please subscribe and comment. We ‘d love to hear your thoughts and ideas!
Okay, that’s it for this post!
Please remember, if you ever have ANY questions or want additional information about ANY of the products and services we offer, 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, Th & F 10-4, S 10-3).
Finally, check out our blog at QuiltingConnection.com/blog and our Facebook posts.
And please share your thoughts and questions. I’d love to hear from you!