DIRECTIONS
Assemble the EQ2 OR EQ3 frame
according to the directions that came with your frame.
QUILTING INSTRUCTIONS
These directions are the same for EQ2 and EQ3 track system.
The machine moves easier with EQ3 track system.
EQ2 set up with the EQ3 Track System on a 2' x 4' table
Sit down and quilt, moving the machine with the handles on the front of the cart which holds the sewing machine.
Half of the basted quilt is rolled inside the opening of the machine and the other half rests in the front aluminum arms. Clips hold the quilt to the frame on the sides and front. The quilt is rolled on 2 sticks to help support the roll. The roll inside the machine can be rolled forward and backward to increase the sewing area.
Basting
the Quilt
Baste
the quilt using your desired method.
The back should be 8” larger all
around.
We
recommend spray basting. The more
pins you use the heavier the quilt is to move.
Sewing Machine
You
may use any portable, free arm, “standard size” sewing machine. It may also
be used with the longer arm machines such, as the Juki 98, Brother 1500, etc.
With the larger machine a table at least 30” deep is required.
Turn it so the front end of the machine faces the front of the table.
The electric cord and foot pedal cord should be hung over the back of the
table.
Feed dogs
You
must lower the feed dogs (the teeth under the foot that move the fabric).
Check your sewing machine manual. If you do not have this feature, you
may have a plate that covers the feed dogs.
If neither is available, set your stitch length to zero.
The feed dogs will still go up and down, but they will not interfere with
the movement of the fabric.
Needle Down
Set
your machine to stop needle down if you have that feature,
if not you may want to turn your hand wheel toward you, to sink the
needle, when you stop sewing so the machine does not move, so you don’t loose
your place.
Presser Foot
You
must use a darning or free motion foot on your sewing machine.
Check your sewing machine manual or ask your local dealer about this
accessory.
Tension
Most
machines have a tension dial. Check your manual.
Sew
a sample to check the tension of your stitches and adjust your tension dial as
needed. The faster the machine is
sewing, the better the bottom tension will be. The longer
stitch lengths tend to result in loops on the bottom.
Sewing Speed
For
more even stitches, sew at full speed while smoothly moving the sewing machine
on the EQ2/EQ3 cart/trolly.
Preparing
and “Hooping” the quilt
Plan the quilting area.
EQ2/EQ3
has a quilting area of about 36” maximum width and from 10” to 14” maximum
depth, depending on the dimensions of your machine and the depth of your table.
You may need to work in 2 to 3 strips of quilting depending on the size
of your quilt. When you have a large
roll, you may not get 10” of depth until the roll gets smaller.
Plan
your quilting area in quadrants. Work from the center toward the edge farthest
from you, within the 36” width. Reposition
the quilt on the frame and do the next section, then turn the quilt around and
repeat the process on the remaining area.
Borders
- When the center is complete, roll most of the quilt on the front dowel/stick
so the far raw edge is along the back of the frame.
Begin on the left corner, sew along the border as far as you can, pull
the roll and the quilt to the left and continue quilting to the right corner.
Reroll the quilt to repeat the process on each side.
If you don’t have enough backing overhang, you may have to quilt the
corners without the frame.
.Rolling
the quilt on dowels or sticks
Buy two ½” dowels ( it will help to glue sandpaper to it so the dowel turns less inside the quilt ) –or- two sticks ¼” x ¾” ( wood counter top molding from the lumber department may work ). The length of each should be as wide as your frame - 48” at normal width. It helps to use small office supply clips to hold the quilt to the sticks. The wire silver handles on the clips will come off if you squeeze them together where they connect to the black part. If you take off these little wire handles, it eliminates some of the bulk of the roll.
( 2 thin sticks have been included in some models )
Roll each end of the quilt around the dowel,
or sticks, toward the center of the quilt. It
should look like a scroll. Make the
roll as small and tight as possible because this will affect your sewing area.
Place the quilt on top of the frame by sliding
the edge of the quilt under the needle. Insert the front rolled edge into the
front quilt holders. The back roll
will rest inside the machine arm and on top of the side of the frame, wherever
the machine is standing.
The
frame and the clamps are the “hoop”.
Adjust
the quilt so your quilting area is in the center of the frame
- roll the machine, on the EQ2/EQ3
cart, around on the table to test the sewing area.
Stretch
the quilt toward the other side of the frame and put three clamps on that side.
The excess of the quilt will hang over the side of the frame.
The
quilt does not have to be drum-tight to work.
There will be some sagging.
TOP VIEW
If
the clamps that come with the frame are not strong enough you may use 2”
binder clips that come from an office supply store.
Increasing your sewing area
On other quilting systems that use your
standard sewing machine, your sewing area is limited to the depth of the arm of
your machine, about 6” to 7”. On
EQ2/EQ3 you can increase that by moving the
back roll of fabric forward and
backward as you quilt. Adjust the
side clips as you move the roll. You can get from 10” to 14” of quilting
depth, depending on the depth of your table and the size of your sewing machine.
As you get near the roll, stop sewing and move the roll, then continue
sewing. Plan your quilting area so you are not moving the roll
continuously.
B A
( A ) When you begin to quilt, have the sewing machine as close to the front of the frame as possible. Secure the sides of the quilt to the frame with 2 or 3 clips. The back roll will be as far back in the machines opening as possible.
( B ) As you need more space, roll the back roll and the machine, toward the back, open part of the frame. The needle of the machine will be further away from the front of the frame. Think of this action as rolling a pencil back and forth on a table top. By rolling the quilt roll back and forth, you gain a deeper quilting area.
Always have at least 2 clips on the side ( A ). As you roll the quilt roll back on the frame move the third clip to toward the back of the frame ( B ).
Re-hooping
Work
from the center of the quilt toward the edge of the quilt furthest from you or
from one side to the other. When you
complete an area, stop with needle down as close to the back roll or raw edge as
possible, remove the clamps. Roll
the front roll up to the front of the sewing machine.
Pull the front roll and the sewing machine forward to the front rail of
the frame. Set the roll into the aluminum
arms. Put the clips back on and
continue sewing. When one half is
complete, turn the quilt around and repeat on the other side.
Sewing area
As
you move machine
around you will become aware of the machine coming in contact with the
sides and front of the frame…this is your sewing area. Because
of the dimensions of various sewing machines, the sewing area varies.
Plan your quilting patterns to fit within your sewing area.
It is recommended that you work from the center of the quilt, toward the
far edge away from you. The quilt
unrolls easier toward you, than it rolls up in the back.
Plan to quilt a 36” wide strip at a time from the center, working away
from you, to the far raw edge of the quilt.
Quilting patterns
At
first you will want to practice on quilts of less importance than your
masterpiece. Charity quilts or baby
quilts make good learners. Try large
loops or large stipple motions. Remember
your old penmanship exercises making eeeeeeeees.
Find a fabric with large shapes and use that as your backing; quilt from
the back using the shapes as your pattern. As
you gain confidence, use patterns from quilting stencils and books.
Continuous quilting patterns will work best.
You may mark the pattern on your quilt or pin on a paper pattern an
stitch over the paper.
Assemble the EQ2 OR EQ3 frame
according to the directions that came with your frame.
HAPPY QUILTING!
Easy
Quilter
PO
BOX
870
OWASSO OK, 74055-0870
918-260-7615
or 918-260-7194
ã 2002 copyright
This
document may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, or any facsimile made, for
Any
reason.
Easy
Quilter and the company owners are not liable for any damage or harm caused by
the improper use of the Easy Quilter frame and/or track system.