How I Organize My Longarm Quilting Room

[@LeahDay]

You can read more about my longarm room or share a picture of your room on the Free Motion Quilting Project! Find the post here: freemotionproject.com/2018/11/organizing-your-longarm-quilting-room.html

[@roxannecaredio2781]

Just like cooking...clean after working so you can start again with no pre-distractions. I love your organization.

[@LeahDay]

Thank you Roxanne!

[@tmoore1144]

Love your comparison of a long arm to a couch space wise. I got rid of my couch to make room for my long arm in my formal living room. The formal dining room is my sewing, cutting and pressing area.

[@LeahDay]

I'm glad that worked for you! Yes, I think a couch is a good comparison and I didn't think of it until working on this video. The only catch is having a couch where you need to walk around the entire thing - not as easy as being able to shove it against the wall.

[@virgie704]

Thank you for helping me decide my arrangement of machines and materials. I am trying to organize my whole house to make it work better.

[@LeahDay]

Awesome! It's always a work in progress.

[@lauranicholls5052]

Hi Leah another informative, interesting and really useful lesson. I love the way you share your space as it is and are not scared to let us know that even the experts aren't always tidy and have to work towards it. I love the way you have designed your space and it has given me quite a few good ideas which I can't wait to put in motion now I am more active. Thanks again Leah and enjoy Quilt festival. I have a sit down long-arm but would love to have a proper long-arm, but alas I don't have the space, but I am working on it. Laura

[@LeahDay]

LOL! Definitely not always tidy! Only after shooting this video did I look around and think - man, I should have cleaned up first! I'm glad to hear you enjoyed this video and found something helpful.

[@kathykay8633]

If you need to take a long arm for some reason, use a permanent marker and label all the parts. We bought a long arm machine and in order to get it home it had to be disassembled. We found that the labeling was invaluable.

[@emmacarpenter4055]

Thanks, Leah. It's funny how you know these things but it always helps to hear it from time to time. Easy to fall back into the same trap. Will immediately get re-organized, again. Thanks so much.

[@LeahDay]

I've been working on it myself since making this video! Several things have gotten junky and just need a clean out.

[@katimelgarejo1010]

I always appreciate organizing inspiration. It really is an ongoing process as your needs evolve. See you at quilt fest!

[@LeahDay]

See you! I can't wait!

[@patriciakamp8013]

Leah thank you, perfect, I can see how the arm glides, awesome, I get it now. The full size. I was going to use a single bed and sofa chair in my new sewing space to drape my projects over, but I think the long-arm will be way more fun. I'm going to have a back up projects by the time I get there. Saving my bucks.

[@LeahDay]

I'm so glad you found this helpful Patricia! Yes, it's definitely going to give you more speed and ease of quilting, but it will be an investment in time, space, and money. I'm glad you have a plan for how it can fit now!

[@emilyking3291]

This is so inspiring as I am in the process of organizing my sewing room. I had so many little things all over the room that didn't really have a spot to live. So I am slowly working on that. It's exciting to see the progress! I love all the room you have for each type of craft! By the way, I love your socks...haha. And I died laughing at "Fits your face." Haha!

[@LeahDay]

LOL! Oh, the outtakes that sometimes happen. Let's just say a lot get edited OUT! Yep, good bit of space, but what counts is how it's used. I'm already scoping out a few changes I'd like to make just after filming this video. Improvements can always be made and then I feel happier and less frazzled when my toys are put away.

[@denisek5208]

Great advice! I don't have a long arm yet (it is on the wish list) but my craft room is actually the spare bedroom & has all of my husbands art supplies. Origination is key! Thanks for sharing 😁👍

[@LeahDay]

Yes! Good Organization is key! I'm so glad you enjoyed this video. Please subscribe to our channel so you never miss another tutorial!

[@janwebster3749]

That was so so helpful also a little scary. I live in South Wales Uk and have on order from our Uk Dealer her JB Sewing a Grace Q Zone Frame. Thinking I have ordered a much more manageable longarm. I can see now that I need more..... space than I have planed. I have super sewing room over looking the Bristol Chanel but there is no way I can fit it In, so hell no more guests or it will just have to be a feature in the room. Cant wait to play you are so kind and helpful with your time . Thank you Jan

[@LeahDay]

I'm sorry you're a bit worried Jan! The Q Zone is much smaller so it might not be as bad as you're thinking. Yes, it will be good to have space all around the frame so you can work on it.

[@janwebster3749]

Leah Day fingers crossed.

[@Westernwilson]

There is an interesting interplay between the creative flow and the paralyzing mess! I like the approach of Alisa Burke (Watercolor Bliss) who allows her studio to get as messy as it wants during a project....but between projects the studio gets a complete tidy and clean. Kinda wipes the creative slate clean for the next idea.

[@ShadowMoonFarms]

Thank you

[@patriciakamp8013]

Hope to see you just play with your machine, maybe show how you work it from the back & do what you think is funnest. You are so inspiring for me, love your program.

[@LeahDay]

Thank you Patricia! I'm working on my first pantograph pattern to quilt from the back. It's definitely different, but really takes the question mark out of how and what to quilt so I like it too.

[@___melanie]

I have the best storage for my frame. My mom and I went halves on it and it stays at her place. (I have an apartment with a 7’ by 10’ sewing room but she has a 12’ by 24’ sewing room) 🤗

[@LeahDay]

Perfect! Sometimes you just have to be creative to make it work!

[@freida14]

use a notebook as a way to catalog where you keep things and be faithful to use it

[@LeahDay]

That is a great suggestion! Then I just need to keep up with the notebook!

[@brendawilliams5946]

Hi Leah, I have my 15R in my former photo studio, which is a double wide coach house garage (finished on the inside with heating, a/c and a half bath) behind our house. I'm enjoying my new long arm, but my space is very disorganized. The first thing I'm going to do after watching your video is go to Lowes and find some drawer system that I can fit under my 10 ft. Frame. Speaking of frame, I did leave plenty of space between the back and wall, but find I'm always stepping on the extension cords. I was also curious about the items you have attached to the 15R machine itself. I see a little basket on the side and then I see steel looking bands wrapped around the middle. What are these used for? Also, I bought a Grace gooseneck lamp from Amazon, but not sure how to attach it. Maybe a video on how to get more lighting would be an idea for the future. As a side note, I am finding using large spools of Isacord with a net (and oiling my machine more often) has made my tension issues disappear ( knock on wood). Thank you for your patience and ongoing encouragement.

[@LeahDay]

That's great Brenda! I'm so happy to hear that! Yes, bins or drawers can make a big difference. I also like having my big tables in the next room up on risers so cutting and any layout I do is on a higher level. It sounds like you might have space for that in your garage. On the metal bands and pipes and basket like thing - that's just to attach my video camera to the machine! Check the lights on your machine. I find the LED lights around the needle very bright, but I think some of these can be adjusted and some of yours might be turned off. I'm not sure on the gooseneck light though. Check the Grace Frame website for help!

[@PenClapp]

Hi Leah, Thanks so much for the tips! Can you tell me where you got the wire hanging racks over your embroidery table? Looks great for hanging freezer paper, pellon, wonder under, etc!

[@LeahDay]

Yes, it is. Unfortunately it's not available from the manufacturer any more! I'm going to come up with a new hanger myself with wood and leather. It's not a complicated thing to build and it's super convenient!

[@k9mama]

Good info. Can you do a video of attaching leader cloths. Not how to load a quilt but just attaching the right leader cloth to the right bar and the right direction. Thank you

[@LeahDay]

Grace Company actually has some great videos on this already Marsha. Check them out right here for help on which leader cloth to match with which rail: www.graceframe.com/en/resources/support/videos

[@lamoabird]

Hi Leah! I watch a ton of your videos and love them all! My grace long arm ( 21 Pro) and frame (Continuum 10’) are on the way and I am trying to reorganize my whole sewing room. How much free space do I need on the back ( I would like to try back handles and pantographs), front and sides, please? Can one do pantographs on the front? Thank you kindly!

[@LeahDay]

You can put the frame 6 inches from the wall on the left hand side. On the right hand side, you'll want enough space to be able to walk around the frame (2-3 feet). To the back, it really depends on how much you plan to quilt with pantographs and the size of your longarm. I like 2 feet to the back with my Qnique 21, but that's because I rarely quilt with pantographs. It might start feeling a bit tight if I quilted from the back more often. The more space you have to the front, the more comfortable you'll be. I hope that helps.

[@TSMerc98]

Hi Leah, Thanks for another informative video!! I have a question about your wire shelving units under your longarm. Which Ikea units were these? Antonius 4 shelf, or other? I need to get some ;)

[@LeahDay]

This was Antonius which seems to be a system on it's way out. It used to have solid plastic bins too, but now only the mesh are available. They are great even with the mesh style and have plastic inserts you can add too. IKEA is flat out dangerous!

[@TSMerc98]

Thanks @@LeahDay!! We can always count on you ;)

[@phylliscampbell2325]

I love the art bins for individual projects! Where did you get the shelving unit in which to put the bins?

[@LeahDay]

You'll need to search online. I believe they are called Art Bin Storage Cubbies or something like that. They are an Art Bin product too.

[@phylliscampbell2325]

Thank you!! I will look.

[@ginnywise2817]

Hi Leah, Your video is very interesting. Thanks for sharing. I do have a question, I recently purchased a Q’Nique 15R and have been trying to find a storage cup or basket of some sort to keep my snips and other items in on the side of my machine but can’t seem to find anything suitable. Where did you get yours from and how do you have it attached to your machine? Thanks. Keep the videos coming!! Ginny Wise

[@LeahDay]

Great question Ginny! I made my tool caddy out of leather and wood. It's resting on one of my spool pins on the side of the machine and I love it for keeping all my tools handy. It may be something we offer soon... I can't say anything more about it now!

[@ginnywise2817]

Thanks Leah.

[@tamelascaggs1835]

Good video, Leah! What kind of storage system do I see that your embroidery stabilizer is on?

[@LeahDay]

This is a wonderful rack I found a few years ago. Unfortunately they aren't being built anymore! I'm thinking about designing a similar system cut out of wood that would work the same way. Or I could try leather. Which would you prefer?

[@tamelascaggs1835]

I think something stiff like wood or pvc pipe maybe.

[@agnesjackson1609]

Where did you get the rolls of stabilizer?

[@LeahDay]

Quilt shops, promotions, etc. I tend to try lots of different types, but then only use one and the other rolls never get used up!

[@jewels-8655]

Mine is a mess with ironed fabrics etc.... :(

[@LeahDay]

Think about ways to organize what you have differently so you have more surfaces free for working. I regularly take inventory of all the stuff "floating" around and try to find homes for it. Even if that means getting it on the machine and quilting with it just to use it up!