Do you mean side-tension clips? My Grace Continuum frame came with side tension clips and I LOVE them! With my Hinterberg frame I used chip clips that I sewed onto velcro strips. The Grace ones are on nice long elastic cords and you can clip and unclip them with one hand. I just love them.

I also have long plastic clips (purchased from Grace) that are about 3/4 round - they clip over the front roller to hold the top in place, if it isn't loaded on the third roller. I only use the third roller if I'm doing a big quilt (like queen or king size).

I'm going to the Jacksonville Quilt Show in a few weeks and will be shopping for a mid-arm machine to replace my 9" Juki. Mr. J is 16 years old!

Donna

Donna, the machine comes with the side-tension clips that are on elastic cords. I was talking about the others that clip on the belly bar (I think that's what it's called). I looked at the Grace ones, but they seemed so expensive. They wanted $90 for four of them. Maybe I can find two for a lesser amount.

I was on the phone with Grace today for about an hour and a half. They updated my old software to the newest version of the Quilter's Creative Touch software. All I had to do was buy a new circuit board for $30. I did have to buy a Windows tablet to run the program, but Microsoft's Surface Go 3 at $400 had everything needed to run the software. I'm exploring it in simulation mode to check it out, since I don't have the machine yet. I never in a million years thought I would own a computerized long arm. I can hardly wait.

I seems like most quilters "float" the quilt like you do. That's why the good clips are important, I'm sure. You must be really excited to be buying a new machine. I hope you find the one of your dreams. Have fun.

Lois, I got my clips when they were on sale. :) I think I paid $60 for four of them. Is your new machine a Grace one? I've never even tried an actual longarm (midarm), but I'm looking forward to trying them at the quilt show. I don't think I'd want computerization (and I know I don't have room in my current house).

The machine is a Baby Lock (made by Handi Quilter), and the frame (Momentum) and software (Quilter’s Creative Touch) are from Grace. The sit-down Tiara that I have now is a Baby Lock machine made by Handi Quilter too. In fact, the machine looks identical to my Tiara, except that the workspace is 18” instead of 16”. The quilt shop owner said I could have converted my Tiara to work on a frame, but it would have cost more than what I paid for the Crown Jewel III, and that didn’t include the software, which I’ve seen advertized for $5,000. When I first thought of buying the new machine, i assumed I would just be doing laser-guided pantographs and free-motion, but when I realized I had everything I needed for computerization except a $400 Windows tablet, I couldn’t resist.

Thanks, Donna and Beverly. I looked at the Grace clips and the Red Snappers. They seem to be used by many of the YouTube presenters too. So, they’re both on order now too. I can see that the cost of the long arm is only the beginning. Haha. I love your idea of the apron, Beverly.