We are back Up!

We had some upgrading we needed to do on our web site, but we are back up! We are going to be working on some awesome sales in the next few days! Keep posted!

-Lynn

Metal V.S. Wooden Machine Frames

Over the past several years I have sold tons of Machine Quilting Frames. Kathy has a Gammill Classic Longarm Machine Quilter, that is a huge monster of a set up. She loves it, it is her baby and a very good source of income as well as a great way to develop her gift for quilting. She is very well acquainted with it, since she spends about 40 to 60 hours a week quilting on it. Not everyone can or would like to have to run a business to justify spending the kind of money that she did to machine quilt. If the Grace Company would have had their machine frames out at the time Kathy bought hers, her life might be much different.


When Kathy first started out, she just wanted to quilt for nieces and nephews, and other members of her family. There wasn't a lot to choose eight years ago, like there is today. Today the market is flooded with frames that in essence are from manufacturers trying to build a better mouse trap. We like the frames that the Grace Company sells because they are really the best available. We know the people at Grace very well and work with them closely to have them incorporate features into their frames that we want. Kathy has eight years of machine quilting experience and is one of the most successful Professional Machine Quilters in Utah. She really knows what works and what is a waste of time and money. We like working with Grace because they know and trust Kathy's input.


With the Pinnacle - Professional Machine Frame from the Grace Company hitting the market, we are proud to say that there are metal machine frames for quilters that don't want to speed a ton of money up front to get started. Whether you plan on starting a small business or just want a frame that will make doing your own quilts a lot easier, the Pinnacle is a great frame. There are a few features on the GMQ Pro that still make it a great frame, but with the Pinnacle, Grace has done a great job of venturing into Professional series machine quilting frames.



The Pinnacle has larger diameter frame rails which are the strongest rails that the Grace Company has ever produced. Loading your quilt on your frame is easier with the larger diameter frame rails. One of the most dramatic improvements with the Pinnacle is the No-Flex Carriage. One reason that this will have such a huge impact upon machine quilting is that this carriage is also available for owners of the legacy model frames from the Grace Company.


If you ever found that as you quilted side to side on your frame, if you moved too quickly, your carriage handles would flex. I have seen a lot of things that people did to modify the carriage, but with the No-Flex carriage upgrade you will be able to have greater control and precision in your quilting. You can put machine heads as long as 18 inches long on this new carriage. It works with regular sewing machine as well.

Vibration from your machine while you are quilting can really fatigue your arms and hands. The new high density foam grips on the No-Flex carriage will virtually eliminate vibration and let you quilt longer without making you feel like you had been riding a bicycle in the Tour de France!

If you are considering purchasing the Pinnacle or just upgrading your frame with the No-Flex Carriage, the good news is that your Grace SureStitch, or Quilter's Cruise Control will still work on your new setup. If you have a sewing machine that doesn't work with the Grace Speed Control , SureStitch, Quilter's Cruise Control, or have its own speed control, then you might need to upgrade to a different sewing machine. There isn't a place for your sewing machine's foot pedal or any way to control the speed except for attaching some sort of speed control. If you have the Gracie Laser, it will work with the new carriage. They Grace Company is working on compatibility issues with the Pattern Perfect if you have the original GMQ or Little Gracie. We are so excited about these new products.


If you have been thinking about moving up to a longer arm machine, then you will want to put the Pinnacle or No-Flex Carriage at the top of your list as the go to machine quilting frame!

Using your Grace Machine Frame

Hi,

With the GMQ Pro set up to King Size, the dimensions are 133 inches. So the frame is just over 11 feet. The largest quilt that you can really do is about 125 inches wide. Like was mentioned earlier, you will want to have some room to get around the end of the frame. If you are really tight on space, you could use those furniture sliders, and pivot your frame out into the room when you use it, slide it back when you want to get it out of the way. Best option will be if you have about 14 or more feet of space to use it.

For those that don't see the merit in using both sides of your frame, here is a tidbit of information. When you are pinning your quilt on, you need to pin the quilt top and back on from the front of your frame, (the side with all the rails closest to you). When pinning to the take up rail, (the one inside the arm of your sewing machine), do that from the table side of your frame. If you pin all three rails on from the front or back of your frame, the pins will be on the wrong side of the leader. Here is a link to the "tips & tricks" page on our web site. There is some really helpful information:

http://www.kathyquilts.com/customer/pages.php?pageid=9

We have been doing some updating to our web site, so use the search function if you don't see what you are looking for right off the bat.

We have some really fun Moda charm packs and jelly rolls that we will be putting our our site today, (cross your fingers). Keep your eye out for them!

If anyone ever has any questions about Grace Frames or machine quilting, please email me at mailto:lynn@kathyquilts.com

-Lynn

KathyQuilts.com

If you have an Original GMQ, READ THIS

Hi,

We have been doing some updating to our web site, so use the search function if you don't see what you are looking for right off the bat.

Here is an announcement that is really important for Original GMQ frame owners. The Grace Company is slowly running out of parts for your frame. They no longer make the track adapter or the King Extension for that frame. If you call them, they are all out!

We have about five or six of these left and they will go fast. If you have the Original GMQ and your track is about one inch wide and comes in several pieces, then you should upgrade to the Continuous Track. The Crib Queen is $29.00 (we have 4 or 5 of these) and the Crib, Queen, King is $48.00 (we only have two left). You will not have that annoying "tic tic" sound as your frame carriage rolls over the track joints.

Here are the links:

Crib / Queen:

http://www.kathyquilts.com/customer/product.php?productid=572

King, Queen, and Crib:

http://www.kathyquilts.com/customer/product.php?productid=575

If you don't have the new black and silver wheel upgrade, then you should order that as well.

http://www.kathyquilts.com/customer/product.php?productid=771

If anyone ever has any questions about Grace Frames or machine quilting, please email me at mailto:lynn@kathyquilts.com

-Lynn

KathyQuilts.com

New Book that Lynn is working on

Hi!

We are back from Kathy's Family Ranch near the Uinta Mountains, in Utah. What a great time we had. We were able to visit with tons of family members and our kids had a wonderful time. Lots of fun, food, and fishing. The three "F"s.

I am working on my next book, that will teach you how to use your Home Machine Quilting Frame more efficiently. There is a lot of detail that needs to go into this book, so it is taking a lot longer than I had hoped. I will post again when we have more news.

Keep Quilting!

-Lynn
KathyQuilts.com

Results of the Tour de Cure

My friend Dave Hiester and me on the right after the Tour de Cure

I want to thank everyone that donated to the American Diabetes Association. The Brigham City Utah, Tour de Cure was a great success. They told us that we are one of the top 10 fund raising Tours in the U.S.

I had a great time, and felt like I could have done another 40 or 50 miles. I ended up doing 110 miles that day. I learned that team work and preparation makes all the difference.

Thanks,

-Lynn
KathyQuilts.com

Great News From KathyQuilts.com!

We have repented, and will now be posting more regularly on our Blog.

We have some really great news! We have a new eBook (electronic book that you download to your computer), that will help anyone that wants to purchase the right quilting frame. This is the most comprehensive book about finding and purchasing the right quilting frame.

With over eight years of selling Grace Frames, Kathy and I have been able to help thousands of quilters get started with their quilting frame or hoop. Now we have taken that knowledge and compiled it into a book that you can download and read right on your computer.

We have also included special coupons in the back of the book that you can use to get free stuff when you order your frame!

Click here to find out more about this new exciting book!

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Another Item that we want to mention is that Lynn will be riding his bicycle in the upcoming Tour de Cure, ride for the American Diabetes Association. Last year there were nearly 1000 riders that participated. It is an awesome event to be a part of. Lynn will be riding to the Golden Spike National Monument, located in Promontory Utah.

I did a training ride out there a few weeks ago, and it was great! It was about a 62 mile ride, which told me that I needed more training. The Tour de Cure offers 25, 60, and 100 mile options. I did the 100 mile one last year, and I will keep doing it every year as long as I can.

He I am after the 2006 Tour de Cure, with Kathy and the Kids

My goal this year is to raise $1500. I have already raised $500, so I still have a ways to go. I need your help in donating anything you can. I have several family members that suffer from diabetes, and would like to see the research continue that will help to provide a better quality of life for people that have to live with diabetes.

The Tour de Cure this year is on June 9th, so I need to raise my $1500 before the day of the event. You can donate afterwards, but they like us to have our money in before the ride.

Click here to support Lynn by making a donation

Click here to visit my Tour de Cure page

Thanks! Keep on Quilting!