sandybeach

I have them also, but do have some reservations about recommending them to anyone with a small (9") throat space. I find I cannot use them on the take-up roll as they take up too much room and I run out of quilting space too quickly. So still have to pin the top. However, because I used velcro for the leaders, I can take the leader, back, batting and top over to a table and pin them there. Also, I have a hard time getting them to snap in place because I just don't have the strength in my hands that I used to have. But with that said, I still wouldn't give them up.

jljack

Sandy, thanks for that information on the short arm setup. I have a short arm on a frame, so that's important information for me. Thanks again!!

tonka2shoes

I need help from everyone! LOL. I am a newbies newby. I am so close to 60 that I am shaking hands with it and have never before sewed. In fact, if a hem came out I was one of those people that stapled it until I could get it to the dry cleaners for repair. LOL

My first purchase was a Bernina 580. Fell in love and have been hooked ever since. I probably have more fabric than my small community Bernina Shop has. Next purchase was a way over priced chair but it is comfortable so what the hey. Next was a Used Bernina 820 and a new Grace King Quilting Frame. That being purchased in December 2013. It has been a nightmare getting the quilt shop I purchased it from to follow through on everything that they would say would be done. I finally just started searching the web to find things that would help me to get it set up. I don't even have the clothe leaders on. But in my search I came across the Red Snappers. Now I want them BAD. lol.

Here is my question, after going through all the above that you really didn't need. lol My cloth leaders that came with the Grace King frame have a velcro system. There is no hem to slide anything through. Can I just simply buy another set of cloth leaders that are hemmed and use the Red Snappers on my Grace Frame?

Anything any of ya'll can do to help would be so very much appreciated. I promise, the next time I ask a question will not be so long winded.

Judi in Ohio

Go to youtube and Renae H - not sure how to spell her name - lovely instructions on how to use them.
I have them - took off my zippers and never looked back. Love the red e edge, but I have more problems loading one side than the other. I know what I have to do, my hands sometimes don't agree.

letawellman

I bought the Mondo clips instead - much less expensive, and they work exactly the same.
Here's where you get the clips:
http://www.amazon.com/Clip-n-Seal-Ba...ds=mondo+clips
And here's a YouTube on using them:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq2U1bvnpRg
and I have the velco leaders as well - it was very easy to make the sleeve for the mondo tube to go into.

GEMRM

I bought the Leadergrip system - similar product. I am very pleased with them, quick and easy to load/unload - I found that pressing the bar to attach the quilt requires a little practise to find the right balance of position and pressure to get it to snap easily.
Also, mine were so tight that I had difficulty getting all three layers on when required, so I bought a length of dowelling that was a little bigger diameter than the round guide pieces and left the grip part snapped onto it for a few days - repeated with enough lengths for width of frame. I now keep these pieces for three layer attachment. The dowelling was just big enough to stretch the grip part a little and now it snaps on well, without being too loose.

tonka2shoes

I was told (and have found out way too late) that a Bernina 820 is really not a longarm sewing machine.
I bought a Grace King for the 820 and have had little help from my dealer getting it put together. Found a sight with rave reviews about the Red Snappers and got very excited but my throat size is only 12". Would that be wide enough to use the Red Snappers.

Thanks for any help ya'll can give me.

kdeems

I've googled the company's url but can't find it. Where is the best place to get these? Thanks, KD

sandybeach

tonka2shoes - Yes you can use the Red Snappers with a 12" throat machine. They work with my 9" throat machine. You just have to pin the backing, batting and quilt top to the take-up roller (hopefully you have a Velcro applied leader on the take-up roller). Then you can use the Red Snappers for the bottom end of both the backing and quilt top.

kdeems - Here is the site to purchase them: http://www.longarmsupplies.net/red_snappers.aspx

sandybeach

Another thing that I have found works very well is to baste sew a scrap 2.5 inch strip along the top and the bottom of the quilt top before I start loading it on the frame. It gives me room to be able to quilt right up to the top and right down to the bottom of the quilt top without running into either pins or the Red Snappers.