Finish your Quilting Project on our Longarm Quilting Machine. This guide provides resources for both beginners and more experienced machine quilters; hand guided and computerized (E2E) stitching available.

Patrons can be certified to operate our Handi Quilter Longarm and Pro-Stitcher software at the Hunterdon County Library.

Class will include ALL materials and will cover the following instructions----

Intro to Longarm Quilting at HCL

• Tour of our Longarm Quilting Machine.
• How to Load Quilt.
• How to make Bobbin.
• How to Clean & Oil the Sewing Machine.
• How to turn Sewing Machine and Pro-Stitcher Tablet “On”.
• How to Thread the Longarm.
• How to Test Thread Tension.

Safety Guidelines

Home Preparation

• How to prepare your project before you come to the library.

Loading Back, Batting and Top

• How to load project on to quilting frame.

Introduction to Pro-Stitcher Software for Edge to Edge (E2E) Quilting

• Review Pro-Stitcher Screen Options.
• Step by Step instruction on how to create a repeat pattern and how to stitch it out.

Hand Guiding Options

What to do at the end of your appointment

• Turning off equipment, unplugging everything.
• Cleaning up the area.

How to book time on the quilting machine

• Go to HCL website; reserve equipment during makerspace open hours.  

HCL Longarm Certification Quiz

        "Amara" HCL Longarm           

Longarm quilting is the process of finishing a quilt project by sewing the quilt backing, batting and top together with stitches.  The Longarm machine is a sewing machine with a larger throat space to accommodate quilt projects.  Sewing machine is use with a quilting frame, where the quilt backing and top are attached/rolled on polls. 

• Never leave machine unattended.
• Always turn the machine "off" and unplug, before performing any maintenance, changing needle, removing thread locks, or if you need to leave unattended.
• Keep fingers, jewelry away from all moving parts; thread take up lever, hand wheel, needle, hopper foot, bobbin area, etc. 
• Use caution around needle or sharp external components.
• Do not touch the handwheel; take up lever, needle or other moving parts.
• Do not pull or push machine across the fabric excessively while stitching. It may deflect the needle enough to cause it to break or put a hole in your fabric..
• For Basting or Hand Guided Quilt - make sure that when you "pause/stop" that you stop the longarm by  quilting push "stop", button looks like play/pause symbol ( "arrow with 2 lines"), it's located on right handle. Because Longarm is in "sewing mode" and will take stitches until you actually push stop.  Computerized stitch mode, will end in "stop mode".
• Beware of needle position at all times.
  
  Longarm Machine Preservation:
• Do not push Quilt Frame using long bars in the front, only use the side of quilt frames to move longarm
• Keep take up Leaders straight, by rolling a little  at at time and straightening then rolling a little more, this preserves the life of the leader.

Amara Longarm Threading Guide

1.  Spool Holder (1),(2),(3)
2.  Three Thread Hole (4)
3.  Thread Guide (5)
4.  Top Tension (6)(7)
5.  Thread Guide (8)
6.  Take up Lever (9)
7.  Pigtail (10)
8.  Needle Bar guide hole (12)

Pro-Stitcher Bobbin Winder

1.  Place spool on thread hold.
2.  Place thread in thread guide above the thread.
3.  Place thread through tension disc.
4.  Place thread through hole on the bobbin.
5.  Place bobbin on winder.
6.  Hold thread tightly.
7.  Start winder.
8.  Continue to hold thread until it breaks.
9.  Bobbin winder will stop when full.

Cost: $.001 per Square Inch

Measure your Quilt Top's Width (W) and Length (L) in inches.

Then multiple:  W x L = Total Square Inches
Then multiple: Total Square Inches x $.001 = Total Cost

For example:
Twin: 72 x 90 = 6,624 sq in 6,624 * $.001 = $6.62 
Queen: 80 x 100 = 8,000 sq in 8,000* $.001 = $8.00

Loading Backing and Quilt Top on Handi Quilter.

1. Center Backing fabric bottom on front inside roller's leader (fabric should be wrong side up when you roll in unto bar).
2. Secure Backing to Leader with "Red Snapper" clips or pin Backing  to leaders with large straight pins secure quilt.
3. Pass backing under guide bar (bottom back bar, marked "leave empty".
4. Center Backing fabric top on top leader.
5. Check that right side of fabric is facing down.
6. Roll backing on to bars, guiding fabric for smoothness.
7. Use take-up bars to position back fabric at the top.
8. Lay batting on top of back and over the front take up bars.
9. Lay Quilt Top on top of batting. 
10. Secure with side Clamps.
11. Baste Quilt top, along top edge, using channel lock to help you keep things straight.
    Click Channel Lock on top right and select "horizontal" on right side of screen.
12. Baste along sides to keep them straight. Press "stop/start" button and start quilting.
13. Check Thread Tension; look at back of quilt, do the stitches look good? If No, adjust tension on right side of the machine.

1. Turn Longarm "ON" (switch located in the back)
2. Turn  Pro Stitcher "ON" (switch located on tablet, top left hand side)
3. Load Quilt (see load quilt instructions)
4. Set Area:
   Select "Area" in Pro Stitcher tabs.
   Position Longarm machine head on top left, and 1 inch outside your project (on the batting).
   Select "2 Corner", option to set the top left corner.
   Move machine head to top right corner 1 inch outside your project (on the batting).
   Select "2 Corner" option to set the top right hand corner.
   Refresh Screen - Press "House" picture on bottom right of screen.  Width of your Quilt is now set.
   Set Length:  on right side of screen, click Height/Length and enter the Height/Length of your quilt.
   Refresh Screen - Press "House" icon on bottom right of screen. Length of your quilt is now set.
5. Select a Design:
   Select  "File">Design and choose a Continuous Line pattern. 
   (A Continuous line pattern starts on the left and ends on the right, on the same horizontal plane)
   Can be found in designer files or chose <<"1PS Design">> and choose <<"Continuous Line">>.
   Select the design you like and click "open". 
   Adjust Pattern size.  
   Check Pattern size by clicking "1:1" on bottom of screen.
6. Create Repeat Pattern: 
   Select  <<Repeat>> - fill up pattern horizontally and vertically by increasing pattern quantity.
   Use arrows to increase number of patterns across quilt. 
   Switch to <<vertical>> and increase patterns quantity with arrows.
   <<Shrink Gap>> (this moves patterns closer or further from each other).
   Make Quilting Pattern larger than the Area Box.
   Drag Quilting Pattern into position by using your finger to move it into place.
   Select Baseline on left side of screen.
7.  Wrapping Quilt Patterns: (optional) rows can be off-set to make placement better.
   Select "Repeat".
   Select "Wrap" on top left.
   Select  "Row" on right and use the right arrow to move design.
   Select "Baseline".
8.  Crop Quilt: 
   Select "Modify". 
   Select "Crop".
   Select "Outside" on right.
   Select "Edges" to get rid of all the stops and starts.
   Select "Baseline" on left.
   Now you are ready to quilt.
9. SAVE YOUR WORKSPACE! 
   Select "File">"Save">"Workspace".
   Name your project using the following naming convention: firstnamelastnamedate.  ie cathiegiambalvo01122024
   Area doesn't have to be saved.
10. Baste top edge, and sides (If you didn't do so yet)
    Select "Pro-Stitcher".
    Select "Baste".
    When finished turn "off" basting mode by clicking on basting again, otherwise machine will quilt in large basting stitches.
11. Check Thread Tension (if you didn't do so yet)
    Stitch along the side of quilt top on batting.
    Look under quilt top to make sure if tension is correct.
    Use Tension nob on right side of machine head to adjust if necessary.
12. To Start Stitching:
    Select "Pro-Stitcher" from tab.
    Verify that "Stitch", "Tie Offs" and "Pull-Ups" are "ON" (they'll be highlighted in green) on the left side of screen. "Tie Offs" on -means that the machine will take a couple of stitches to make a "knot", "Pull-Ups" on - means the machine will take a stitch so that you can pull the bobbin thread to the top of quilt sandwich.
    Select "RUN" on bottom left side of screen.
13. Caution: Make sure the needle is UP.
14. Long Jump Pause Message
    Cut threads by pushing machine head to right side cut both threads.
    Verify that your next row's pattern has enough space to stitch; move machine head down to belly bar, look at computer screen. 
    Are the orange cross hairs below the pattern on the screen?
    If YES, hit "Resume" and continue stitching.
    If NO, time to  Advance your quilt sandwich. 
15. Advancing the Quilt (2 Options for advancing); Reposition or Drag/Drop)
    A) Reposition:
    Select "Modify"
    Pick a "known" or obvious spot on your quilt top.
    Use 2 fingers to move quilt design on the screen into the exact physical spot on your quilt top.
    Use "Nudge" buttons on right, to help position. 
    Move starting position (green compass) to next row.  "Pro Stitcher", "New Start/End", "Jump" (jump to next start).
    B) Drag/Drop Method:
    Move Machine head anywhere on the last stitched row.
    The end spot is a good location.
    Put the Needle down through Quilt sandwich by pushing the needle down button on left handle bar 1x.
    Select the "Drag" button, it's the button below the "Duck" icon.  Undo side clamps.
    Undo ratchet closest to "belly bar" on quilt frame, so that you can roll quilt onto back take up bar. 
    Roll both bars at the same time.
    The machine head will travel, because the needle is embedded in the quilt sandwich.
    Tighten the ratchet.
    Select "Drop" on the left side of the screen.
    Put clamps on both sides.
    Raise the needle (on left handle bar), push 1x.
    Run/Resume.
    Move machine head near start location (green circle cross hatch).
    Use clamps to secure the sides.
    Bring up bobbin thread using the "flossing method".  "Flossing Method" - hold top thread with both hands and floss under pressure foot, bobbin thread will appear.
    Select "Resume".
16. New Start 
    Select "Pro-stitch".
    Select "New/Start/End".
    Position Machine head where you want to "Start".  
    Select "Auto".
    Green Circle with Cross hairs will appear in the location of machine head.
    Select "Quilt", Run/Resume button on bottom left.
17. Finishing - Cropping the Last Row 
    Select "Area" from tab.
    Use Multi-corner option to capture the unquilted area; by clicking multi-corner 4 times; on the top right, top left, bottom right and bottom left. enter the actual amount quilt that you have left into "Height".
    Select "Modified"
    Select "Crop"
    Select "Outside" on right side of screen.
    Select "Edges" on right side of screen.
    Select "Baseline" on left side of screen.
    Select "Pro-Stitcher" on tab.
    Select "Quilt" icon.
    Select "Run/Resume"  button bottom right of screen.

For Hand Guided Quilting:

Select "Manual" or "Regulated" stitch mode.In Manual stitch mode the needle goes up and down continuously, Regulated Stitch mode the needle goes up and down when you move the machine head.
For Regulated Stitch mode select stitch length.
Press start on right handle bar, looks like a "play/pause" button.
In Regulated Stitch mode -Remember to push stop after you stop moving.  Just because you stop doesn't mean the longarm is out of stitching mode.

• Clean up area by sweeping threads up.
• Turning Longarm "off", switch is in the bottom back, and unplug machine.
• Turing Pro Stitcher "off" - on/off top left side of tablet.
• Windex Pro Stitcher Screen.
• Put thread and bobbins back in proper place.
• Unplug bobbin winder.
• Unplug Longarm.
• Take with you everything you brought with you or dispose of unwanted items.

• Bring your quilt top, batting, and backing as separate pieces (do not baste).
• Batting and backing must be 12 inches larger than your quilt top (or 6 inches larger on all sides).
• Press your quilt top and backing (seams may be pressed open or to one side).
• Trim loose threads on quilt top and backing.
• Mark center top and bottom on quilt top and back.
• Remove all pins, button, sequins, or other embellishments.
• Quilt tops should be flat & even.
• Measure quilt length and width and bring with you, (saves time, so that you have more time to quilt).