We bought a quilting frame off the local Craig s list accompanied by a so called professional sewing machine.  Well, to tell you the truth, the sewing machine isn't professional at all, but I suppose when it was new, it was probably the item to have. To boot, we took the machine to a local professional to have it timed. It cost us $65.00 for the timing because it wasn't picking up a stitch. A bit outrageous if you ask me, but then again, I wouldn't have the slightest idea of what to do, so I paid the price. The man didn't even know how to tread the thing correctly and needless to say, we won't be taking it back to him in the future.

            Anyhow, the frame is a light weight all aluminum frame from New Joy. A nice beginner frame, which is exactly what we were looking for. The asking price was $1300.00 and we offered $1000.00. It's a nice frame. Assembled with little effort, but after the first quilt, we weren't real impressed with the rods. They are square aluminum in three pieces which are connected with solid plastic square rods. A bit flimsy for a decent job to be performed. The bow about 6 inches when the 12 foot expansion is installed and we have a few California Kings that are close to that dimension.


           A trip to the local steel mill made all the difference in the world and now we have a quilting frame that that a professional would be proud to use. I took three 1 inch schedule 40 steel tubing cut to 145 inches long and some aluminum solid stock that fit inside the tubing. I cut 1 inch of aluminum stock off times 6 to insert into either ends of the tubing. I drilled a hole through the centers of the solid stock for the appropriate tap size for a 1/4-20 tap and inserted 1 3/4 inch 1/4-20 hex head bolts into the solid stock. then I placed the stock into the end of the tubing and drilled 4 holes into  the tubing  and thus into the solid stock with the appropriate drill choice for a #10-32 threading tap. I inserted 4 half round Allen head screws into the tubing fastening the solid stock firmly into the end of the tubing with the exposed 1/4-20 bolt protruding out for the quick release adjuster that came with the frame. On the other end of the tubing, I drilled, tapped and inserted the appropriate 1/4-20 bolt with out the four screws so that the tube would rotate with ease. A locking nut secures he left side and the tubing rotates well. The other end of the tubing acts as the locking mechanism. The tubing flexes approximately 1/2 inch total both ways.

After the tubing was built and installed, the local Walmart supplied the stick on Velcro to secure the Leaders.

Custom Homemade Personalized Quilts can be ordered though our website at : http://www.quiltsbyladyzoe.com

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