Using Paper Quilting Stencils on a Longarm Machine? Yes, It Works!

leahday.com/products/quilting... Yes, you can quilt with Paper Stencils on a longarm machine on a frame! I created Paper Quilting Stencils for quilting on a home machine or sit down longarm, but have found this works on a quilting frame too.
Quilting on a line gives you something to see and aim for, even if you can't hit the line perfectly. This saves time and results in a soft, consistently quilted quilt. Check out our quilting stencils here - leahday.com/products/quilting...
#longarmquilting #beginnerquilting #quiltingforbeginners
What I'm using in this video (Yep, I'm a Grace Company Dealer!)
Qnique 21 X Elite - leahday.com/collections/long-...
Rolling Rail Frame - leahday.com/collections/quilt...
Isacord thread - leahday.com/products/isacord-...
Cheater Needles - leahday.com/products/cheater-...
Jump ahead in this longarm quilting video:
00:00 Can Paper Quilting Stencils work on a longarm?
00:41 How to begin longarm quilting with stencils
01:31 Longarm machine settings
02:30 How to add another quilting stencil
02:59 Only downside - tearing the paper away
03:31 How to trim down a stencil that's too long
03:58 Stitch off the edge of your quilt
04:10 Tearing off the paper is easy!
04:49 How to secure thread breaks
06:29 Begin quilting after a thread break
07:28 Is there a "right" way to quilt a shape?
08:02 Check out our thread break - invisible!
08:13 Longarm Stencils verses Pantographs

[@rebeccawolf3196]

Oh my goodness! What a game changer! This is brilliant! Bravo Leah!!! 🔥💕❤

[@LeahDay]

Thank you! I hope you enjoy these as much as I am!

[@dreamdanzzer]

I purchased a few of your paper patterns, downloaded them to my Ipad and have been using them to learn the pattern - love them

[@LeahDay]

That's great!

[@janliljegren9524]

So excited about this

[@susanmcc6131]

Thank you for these paper patterns!!! Just purchased and using on my sit-down Sweet16 and loving how easy to use!!

[@LeahDay]

You are so welcome! So glad you like them!

[@brigitteligons-reed6167]

I jumped in the deep end and bought a longarm without ever doing fmq....these stencils are great to help me create muscle memory. Didn't mind pulling off the paper. Thank you!😊

[@LeahDay]

Wonderful! I’m so glad you like them!

[@Yarnartist]

Brilliant! Thank you

[@cherieseward9868]

Thank you thank you !! I asked this question last week when I watched you doing this on a sewing machine Can’t wait to try it on my long arm And thank you for always answering questions and teaching new techniques ❤️

[@LeahDay]

You are so welcome! Thank you for asking. I honestly wouldn't have thought of using these on my longarm machine, so your question pushed me to think outside the box. It's easy to get stuck in "this is what we do and how we do it" and not see the potential beyond the first idea. I hope this helps make longarm quilting easier for you!

[@wandaanderson1220]

This is sooo exciting!!! I can't wait to try this. I love paper piecing so this should be very easy for me.

[@LeahDay]

Great! I wonder if it will feel the same? LOL!

[@shanabanana3800]

I've used this technique quite a few times, it makes panto's so easy!!!

[@LeahDay]

Yes, indeed!

[@janetwickeraad5170]

Thank you so much. I can’t wait to try this.❤️

[@LeahDay]

You are so welcome!

[@hdsharp3]

More patterns please Leah, brilliant idea

[@LeahDay]

More are coming in March!

[@ginnypalmer8752]

Thanks for showing thread break and what you do when this happens.

[@isaiah45.3]

A good option for the Cutie frame.

[@LeahDay]

Yes, indeed! Line up the stencils with the seamlines on your quilt and keeping the design straight will be much, much easier!

[@barbarastefani254]

Thank you this is gonna be a lot quicker to get it done I love it

[@LeahDay]

I agree! I found it much easier to quilt from edge to edge with the design printed in front of me.

[@pattygailcreations3772]

Mind blown!

[@LeahDay]

Mine too - I really didn't know if this would work on my quilting frame, but it worked great!

[@theresabedet6653]

I have an old Gracy frame with the top shelf with pointer guide. I've always used paper patterns rather then templates. So I can concur that it helps you sew faster.

[@LeahDay]

Thank you for sharing!

[@christinerussell395]

Love this option since I don't have rear handles

[@LeahDay]

They have gotten a little pricey!

[@rutedokipinheiro5270]

Hello Lya!! I miissed you.❤

[@LeahDay]

I've been here! Glad you're back!

[@lindashort4016]

Thank you again for designing these! I've ordered mine and can't wait to use them!

[@LeahDay]

You are so welcome! Thank you for supporting our quilt shop!

[@sewquilty357]

Hi Leah , Can you use these stencils on a cutie frame ? I just bought a cutie and just got it set up .I was somewhat disappointed there was no instructions on how to really quilt on it .I have never had anything like this before and so eager to learn how to quilt on it .i think I could quilt with the patterns . You are brilliant .Love watching you ❤

[@LeahDay]

Yes you can! Just like quilting with my longarm, just place the stencil and stitch along the lines.

[@mariejohns1387]

Thank You for doing this!! I have often thought about using my stencils and drawing them on flimsy paper and doing this. Some marking tools are really hard to see the lines once you get to it on the long arm. Or they disappear.

[@LeahDay]

This has been my struggle too... and I design the plastic stencils too! With busy fabrics, it's impossible to see the lines, and marking is so time consuming. Happy to have made something that works better all around!

[@mariejohns1387]

@@LeahDay I bought 4 of your designs to try them out!!

[@rosanneclouston9847]

I was wondering about using printouts to do overall quilting on my frame.I really don't have room to behind my frame and machine to do pantographs from behind. (My 10 foot frame is shoehorned into it's space. So I'm going to trying this method.

[@LeahDay]

I think it will work well! Just quilt in rows across your quilt as I showed in this video. I do find most machines work best when quilting from left to right, but you're welcome to play with this to find what works best for you!

[@annemariemartin4946]

Hi Leah, this is an interesting technique and could be a great help for some sewers. I am a little concerned with the thickness of the paper and how it could mess/loosen up how your stitches are made. Maybe a very thin paper (like tissue paper) would work?

[@LeahDay]

Yes, of course a thinner paper will work, however, you can't print directly onto tissue paper. I tried finding something that could feed through my printers and couldn't find thinner paper. The time savings comes from print, then stitch. Of course you can use the stencils in a variety of ways - as worksheets to practice drawing the design and memorizing it so you can quilt it yourself free hand. I also found the paper VERY easy to rip when using my longarm because the stitches were consistently spaced by my stitch regulator at 16 stitches per inch. With a home machine, run the machine faster! Make sure your stitches are small enough and rather than tugging on the tiny, stubborn paper bits, wash the quilt and let the washer take care of them. Win win!

[@cherylwilliams42]

Leah, do you think there would be any advantage to using something like Carol Doak’s paper piecing paper for this since it is lighter weight? Of course, it would be expensive but might be easier to remove. At the same time, it might not be sturdy enough for this. What are your thoughts?

[@LeahDay]

It honestly depends on cost and availability and the ease of your printer printing on it - rather than wanting to eat it! I played with a lot of different specialty papers before launching these stencils. I found many different things on Amazon to try, but when I found regular cheap copy paper worked, and ripped away relatively easily, I couldn't see the sense in recommending something thinner. The key with this technique is minimal expense AND time spent marking. Of course feel free to try whatever works for you. I struggled to get my printer to feed thinner paper, couldn't see quilters buying $50 packs of paper for one quilt (thinner paper packs are expensive!) and didn't want to make this technique difficult for anyone to try.

[@cherylwilliams42]

Would you mind sharing your setting that you used for this? Thank you.

[@LeahDay]

I’m using stitch regulator Precise with 16 stitches per inch.

[@janicewatts4444]

Do you have to have the ruler base on when you are doing that? I just bought a q Nick 19x. Do not have the ruler base for it. Please let me know. Thank you! I love that. I want to do it

[@LeahDay]

Nope! I do have my ruler base in place, but for paper, it's not a requirement. The paper isn't like a ruler - it's not going to shift and actually crash into your needle if it lifts off the quilt!

[@belannatorres4777]

Do you recommend this for Juki Haruka ho.e sewing machine?

[@LeahDay]

I've never quilted on that machine, so I don't have a particular opinion about it.

[@MA-rh9cx]

I'm wondering if you need a ruler table under the quilt?

[@LeahDay]

No, I don't think so. This isn't like ruler quilting and you can tape down the paper if needed to keep it from shifting.

[@eddigilstrap9627]

I bought your paper stencils. Whenever I tear the paper stencils away, some of my stitches pull up. I know you said this could happen, but then I looked at the back and some stitches are “toe catchers”. I have a Qnique 16X and I’m using 14 stitches per inch. Will my stitches lay back down? Should I rip out the section that is bad? What am I doing wrong? Thanks in advance.. oh I have a cutie frame

[@LeahDay]

I recommend quilting at 16 stitches per minute and set the regulator to Cruise so you put more stitches into your quilt. Try washing the quilt and see if the stitches rebalance. If not, rip them and stitch those areas again.

[@eddigilstrap9627]

@@LeahDay thanks

[@2945redfox]

Do you have a discount for the rebel sewing machine? Period I discount code

[@LeahDay]

Nope, per dealership rules, the lowest advertised price at this time is clearly displayed on my website - leahday.com/products/little-rebel

[@amylaing2345]

How much distance you need from one roll to the next?

[@LeahDay]

Line them up right against one another. If you don't like the spacing, then add a gap evenly across. I designed these to align edge to edge and top to bottom, but of course this is entirely up to you.

[@andreboisclair8827]

Where do we get the stencils?

[@LeahDay]

You can find them here! leahday.com/products/quilting-stencils

[@VonnieOdette]

If you have a laser and back handles, you can use a paper stencil as a pantograph and not have to pull the paper away from the quilt

[@LeahDay]

Yes, that definitely works too. However, advancing the design on a longarm and getting the spacing right can be a little tricky. I have designed pantographs with extra lines to make advancing easier here - leahday.com/products/pantograph-quilting-designs

[@dh57873]

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊​@@LeahDay

[@dh57873]

Ok 😂

[@susannewilkerson8702]

This looks much easier than a pantograph! I like being in front where I can see what exactly I am doing.