[TheForge] now for something completely different

[terry l. ridder]

hello;

For several months I have been observing people who quilt spend in my
opinion far too much money and time on something that should not be
overly expensive nor complicated; a quilting frame.

quilting frame is basically a laminating frame. there is a top, a
middle and a bottom. normally, there are four rollers. the take-up
roller, the top supply roller, the middle supply roller and the bottom
supply roller. These layers are secured together with thread sewn with a
long-arm sewing machine. the take-up roller is generally located to the
right of the needle above the free-arm. originally, the quilting was
perfomed by hand with needle and thread. somewhere along the line the
meaning of simple and simplicity have been lost in building quilting
frames.

i have seen two models of quilting frames which have servo motors
driving the rollers, acme screws driven by servo motors which drive the
long arm sewing machine back and forth, fore and aft. all under the
control of a computer running a CNC program.

there are many intelligent people on theforge from many different
careers and occupations. in the spirit of the Junk-Yard-Hammer, could we
brainstorm to come up with a simple design for a quilting frame that is
inexpensive to build, simple to operate and fullfills the original
purpose of the quilting frame, sew three layers together.

to start off my first thoughts were to use a gantry type frame. instead
of rollers the layers are laid out flat and held in place either by
metal clips or clips on bungee cords. the draw back is the long arm
sewing machine.

the cost of long arm sewing machines is another area that needs to be
addressed at a different time.

anyway, there it is. comments, flames, hints, suggestions, etc welcome.

-- 
terry l. ridder ><>