Sewing Zippers onto the Longarm Leaders/Making Detachable Zipper Leaders

Starting with a zipper the same length as your longarm leaders. I marked the center of the zipper with a line and the number "0" and then made dots for each inch and a line for each 5" increment. Is this really necessary? Maybe not. Mostly, I don't look at those numbers, but every once in a while I'm glad for them.

I center the zipper on the leader, matching the center points.

I have the zipper pinned with the pull tab on top which puts my markings showing on the top.

The longarm leaders are lined up flush against the back of the zipper teeth on the underside.

Carefully zip it together. All your dots should line up.

Using the longarm, sew the zipper to the leader, removing the pins as you go.

All the way down and all the way back. Not sure if that was the best way, but it worked.

Next was to make some zipper leaders to baste the quilt back to. The fabric I used was a cotton, thicker than normal quilters cotton, but not as thick as the canvas. I feel it was a good choice because that leader gets extra pulling on it when you rip the basting out time after time. Again I lined up the center points of the fabric leader and sewed. I'm not sure why I did it with the zipper facing down, but maybe it was so I could see the writing I did on the other side.

I labeled the zipper leaders (yes, the top of the quilt back should be on the bottom of the zipper) and marked my zippers the same way as above. The first time I used them, I realized that the pattern on the leaders was facing down. Oh, no! But then I realized that it actually makes it easier when I'm sewing the back to the zipper leaders. The right sides of the zipper leaders and the right side of the back should be facing down, so I can match the direction to help me remember which way to sew the back on.

I have made several of these and used different colored fabric pens to make sure I had the matching pair together. I'm not sure it was necessary, but it made me feel better to do it that way.

Basting Quilt Back onto Leaders for Using Zippers on my Longarm

I've been asked how I sew my zipper leaders onto my quilt backs. It's super simple, but a picture paints a thousand words, so here it is. I mark the center of the quilt back with a pin on both top and bottom (or both sides if putting it on the frame sideways).

Lining up the center of the leader with the center pin, I begin basting the two together, lining up the edge of the backing fabric with inside edge of the seam allowance. My preference is to use a medium width and largest length zigzag stitch and the cheepest thread I have because I think it comes out easier.

When done with the first side, I turn it around, return to the middle and sew to the other edge. Repeat on the other side. After that, I can zip the leaders onto the zippers I sewed on my longarm, making putting the quilt on and taking it off a breeze.

Cynthia's Kaleidoscope Flower Quilt in Gold, Green, and Burgundy

This kaleidoscope type of quilt was made by Cynthia from my quilt guild.

I quilted it in Glide military gold thread using the Autumn Oaks pantograph pattern.

Beautiful choice of colors.

Cathy's Pickle Ball Quilt in Blue

This lap quilt was made by Cathy for a pickle ball lover. Pickle ball fabric. Who knew?

The back is white minky and I quilted a meander with White Glide thread.

Dorothy's 4-patch on Point in Purple, Red, Blue with Strip Background

Another quilt made by Dorothy.

I quilted it with the Bourbon Street Baby pantograph pattern from Urban Elementz in Glide Tabriz Orchid thread on the front and light pink MicroQuilter on the back.

Scrappy back.

 

Dorothy's Zebra and Sheep in Blue, Coral, Grass Green, and Purple

Quilt by Dorothy. I quilted it with white Glide thread using the Kindling pantograph by Urban Elementz.

Instead of quilting it the normal way, I loaded the quilt sideways so the flame-type pattern would look more like zebra stripes.

Scrappy back.

 

Charity Quilt in White, Brown, and Tan

This charity quilt I quilted for my quilt guild.

I used cream Glide thread and freehanded the quilting.

Fast and easy, and I think, elegant. A great design for medium sized squares.

 

Children's Charity Quilt in Red and Blue

This is a quilt I quilted for my Quilt Guild to be given to charity.

For this quilt I used Glide Candy Apple Red thread using my own "Clamshells on the Side" pantograph with heart variation that I haven't officially named yet.

 

Embroidered Quilt in Blue, White and Aqua for Charity

Knowing that I make and/or quilt many quilts for charity, Cynthia gave me 16 hand embroidered squares with coordinating fabric to make a quilt for charity. Here it is.

Some free-hand quilting, some ruler work. Quilted with white Glide thread.

 

Maureen's Mountains by Swirly Girls Quilt

Beautiful top quilt made by Maureen. She doesn't want me to trim the sides as most do, that's why you see the extra back fabric.

Love the fire-on-the-mountain look as well as being very fitting for an outdoors-y firefighter.

I quilted with Sterling gray Glide (Glide 60 on the back) thread using the Kindling pantograph from Urban Elementz.