Welcome back!
Thanksgiving’s upon us! Are you hosting, visiting or just chilling this turkey day? You know what immediately follows that festival of food – Black Friday! Alright, at this point the whole month of November is pretty much Black Friday. None-the-less, the holiday shopping frenzy is here!
So, while you’re starting to focus on getting those fabulous deals, I thought I’d share a few ideas that you could consider for the longarm quilters on your shopping list … or maybe add to your own wish list.
Let’s start with a few stocking stuffer ideas. Then I’ll add some Quilting Connection and Handi Quilter accessories (several of which are on sale!). And we’ll close with a quick look at the huge Laurastar, Handi Quilter and APQS sales.
Stocking Stuffers for Longarm Quilters!
There are so many small notions that longarm quilters can use all the time. Here are a few that consistently make my list!
Pins
I’m constantly using pins! From a longarm perspective, the long, strong corsage style pin is my go-to pin. These are called Longarm Pins I use these for basting my quilt tops and backs onto my Quick Zip™ zippers. I also use them if I have any pinning to do at my longarm frame.
However, 2-inch safety pins are also a favorite when it comes to pinning tops and backs on our zippers. This is truly a personal preference item, and we have both styles available in our shops!
Magnetic Pin Holders
Whenever you use straight pins, you need easy, safe access to them (and a way to find them when you drop them).
Have you tried a magnetic pin holder? They hold your straight pins in place for easy use, attach to the side of your quilting frame, and can be waved above your table or floor to pick up any pins that have escaped your grasp!
Brushes, Tweezers, Screw Drivers – Tools for longarm maintenance
Running your longarm (or domestic machine) creates dust. Having a good brush to remove excess lint from the bobbin housing, bobbin case and anywhere else dust settles is important. From a longarm perspective, a good long handled brush is helpful for getting down into the bobbin area. Many great options exist. One example is this brush made by Martelli.
Another good tool to have available is a bent nose tweezer. When you see a stray thread caught in the bobbin hook area or caught anywhere one shouldn’t be, it’s this style of tweezer to the rescue! A good point at the tip will help you grab short ends in awkward places!
And small screwdrivers are a must. You need a small flat end screwdriver to be able to adjust the tension on your bobbin case, a short stubby screwdriver to be able to remove your needle plate and a hex wrench to be able to change your longarm’s needle and foot. Most likely, these came with your machine, but it doesn’t hurt to have an extra one on hand when your originals decide to play hide-and-seek!
Seam Rippers
Okay, seam rippers are a sewing room staple! Whether your longarm’s bobbin ran out or the top thread shredded, you must rip out a few stitches to ensure you’re restarting your quilting in good solid stitching. The perfect ripper in this case is one with a rubber ‘eraser like’ top.
The rubber end grabs and removes the thread pieces once they’re cut. Just swipe over the ripped area and brush away the loose ends.
Scissors
Whether your trimming lose ends on your quilt top or snipping threads as you quilt, you need a handy, small, sharp pair of scissors at the ready. Again, there are many to choose from. Some quilters like a pair of scissors with a curved tip to avoid catching the fabric. Others like micro-serrated blades. It’s all personal preference … just so they’re sharp and handy!
Gift Certificates
Not sure what the longarm quilter in your life needs? There’s always the trusty gift certificate! You can order a Quilting Connection gift card from our website. That gives your quilter the option of purchasing merchandise or applying it toward a class. It’s the versatile gift option!
If you’d like even more gift ideas, check out The Quilting Central Podcast: Favorite Quilting Notions You NEED in Your Sewing Room! Julie, Cathy and I talk about these items as well as additional notions and Handi Quilter accessories that will enhance your longarm and piecing experiences! (Even I learned some new tools and tips for piecing!!! Check it out!)
Small, stocking stuffer notions are always needed and appreciated, but if you need a little more substantial idea, let’s check out some longarm accessories specific to The Quilting Connection and Handi Quilter.
The Quick Zip™ System
The Quilting Connection’s renters and owners love the way we load our quilt tops and backs on the longarm frame! You can’t beat the ease of using the Quick Zip™ zipper system!
Whether you rent time on our longarms or own your own machine, you probably know the benefits of owning multiple sets of zippers. You can have as many quilts ready for quilting as you have sets of zippers. Finish one, take it off the frame and move right on to the next!
Right now, ALL our Quick Zip™ System sets are on a Black Friday Sale!
Get 10% off through December 1st!
Use code ASF10 to order from our website.
NOTE: If you are a Quilting Connection renter, order the 132” zippers.
By the way, our Quick Zip™ System will work on ANY frame with canvas leaders. They are NOT brand specific!
And if you’d like to watch some videos covering how to use the Quick Zip System, see my Angie’s Answers episodes:
- The Quick Zip System - Zippers for a longarm! How to pin to a project
- Loading a Quilt on a Longarm - NO Pinning! Sew Baste to The Quick Zip zipper system! Fast & Easy!
Handi Quilter Accessories
HQ is running a 25% off deal on select Handi Quilter accessories! By chance are any of these on your list?
Ruler Bases and Rulers
If you’ve ever considered adding ruler work to your quilting skills, or want to expand your selection of quilting rulers, now’s the time!
Handi Quilter offers several ruler bases sized to fit their longarm machines. You can get a ruler base for your Moxie, Amara (or Forte), or Infinity. The ruler base extends the base of your longarm, providing stability when using rulers, guides, and templates. Visit the Ruler Base page of our website for more information.
Handi Quilter has a fantastic assortment of longarm quilting rulers! Whether you want a straight edge, scallops, waves, circles, ovals or a combination ruler, we have them! I’ve pictured a few but visit the Rulers & Templates page of our website to see everything available.
Note: Some of the rulers have been discontinued, so quantities may be limited.
Secret Drawer
Handi Quilter’s Secret Drawers are amazing! They allow you to take advantage of that wasted space under your longarm frame! You can store up to 96 cones of thread or your entire ruler and template collection in just one drawer.
Your quilting frame determines which and how many drawers can be added to your frame. For example, a twelve-foot Studio 3 frame can handle from one to three drawers. And you don’t have to install them all at once. You can add drawers as time and your budget allow. Visit the Secret Drawer page of our website for more details.
Note: We have one used Secret Drawer for a Gallery 2 frame available at a reduced price.
HighLight
Handi Quilter’s HighLights provide light that spans the whole length of your longarm frame! These freestanding lighting systems come in a range of sizes (5’, 8’, 10’, 12’ or 14’) designed to complement the size of your longarm frame.
And HighLights will work anywhere you need some additional bright light! Consider using one over your cutting table or domestic sewing machine … anywhere direct overhead lighting will help! Visit the HQ Frame Lighting page of our website for more information.
Note: We also have one used 12’ HighLight available at a reduced price.
Handi Quilter Feet (Not on Sale)
While the Handi Quilter feet are not on sale right now, they play such an important role in longarm quilting that one or two of them may still be the perfect gift for the quilter on your list!
Glide Foot
The foot I recommend first and foremost is the Glide Foot 3. This clear plastic, bowl-shaped foot literally glides over thick seams and applique work with ease!
You’ll notice in the picture that there is a metal collar around the top of the foot. This improvement was introduced with the Glide Foot 3. The original Glide feet were all plastic. With time, the originals could crack at the top. The metal collar helps these go-to feet last longer.
It’s a good time to check the condition of the bowl of your Glide Foot as well. Are there any cracks or grooves that your thread can catch on? If so, it’s time for a new foot!
If you’re getting into ruler work and adding a ruler base to your longarm accessories, you’ll also need a Sure Foot.
The Sure Foot has a taller profile. It adds stability when you’re working with rulers because its additional height sits more securely against your ruler.
Square feet come in a set of two, a ¼” foot and a ½” foot. They were designed to help you achieve straight seams when piecing on your longarm frame. They guide you in producing a consistently straight seam. Use the ¼” foot for cotton fabrics and the ½” foot for cuddle fabric.
Actually, I prefer them for other uses! When free-motion quilting, they’re wonderful for stitching or echoing straight lines or creating piano keys. But I mostly use the ¼” square foot when I’m adding my binding to a quilt that I’ve just finished quilting on the longarm!
(If you want to see how, visit Angie’s Answers: How to attach Binding using a longarm quilting machine!)
Handi Quilter offers additional feet that you may find helpful. These include the Handi Feet Micro Foot, Echo Feet (set of 3), the Handi Feet Couching Kit, and the Handi Quilter Felting Foot kit. Please visit the HQ Feet page of our website for more information on all these products!
Finally, let me share a few more sales that may meet your needs or those of a longarm quilter on your list!
Laurastar Sale!
Laurastar is THE brand for premium, double-heated, micro-steam generator ironing systems. I know you’ve already heard me share how much I love these products!
Well guess what? If a new ironing system is on someone’s gift list … or if you need some maintenance products for your system, please visit the Laurastar page of our website to take advantage of some wonderful sale prices!
Distributor Sales!
Handi Quilter
Here’s a reminder of what Handi Quilter is offering for Black Friday this year! These sales are in effect until December 1st.
APQS
And here’s what APQS is offering. How about these deals? Act before December 31st!
BUT to celebrate this season of joy (and quilting!), APQS is also gifting you FREE SHIPPING!
Please contact us for more details on any of the Laurastar, Handi Quilter or APQS sales!!!
The Quilting Central Podcast Updates
The Latest QCP Episode
Have you caught the latest episode of The Quilting Central Podcast?
Check out our latest video, “Time-Saving Quilting Hack: Continuous Chain Piecing Tutorial” Julie shares one of her favorite time-saving quilting techniques: continuous chain piecing!
This episode covers:
- What is continuous chain piecing, and how it works
- How to chain piece quilt blocks while keeping them in order
- Tips for saving time and thread when piecing your quilt top
- Why this technique helps avoid mix-ups and reduces waste
- Fun, in-person quilting talk from our three quilt shop owners
And for a complete listing of all our episodes, check out the Quilting Central Podcast YouTube channel! Be sure to subscribe and comment. We’d love to hear your thoughts!
The Quilting Central Podcast Virtual Retreat
We had so much fun with our first QCP virtual retreat that we’re doing it again!
Join us:
Sunday, January 25th 1:30 PM – 6:00 PM CT
Monday, January 26th 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM CT
Tuesday, January 27th 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM CT
Click here to register
(We’re opening 30 minutes early each day for setup and Q&A before instruction begins.)
We’ll cover:
- Free-motion quilting
- Ruler work
- Computerized quilting (Tips for all brands of longarms!)
- Needles, thread & tension
Your registration fee includes a Retreat Kit that will be shipped right to your door! It will include:
- A piece of printed fabric that looks like pieced quilt blocks large enough to practice on (and you’ll have a small table runner as a finished project by the end of class)
- A few surprise tools and supplies to use in our free-motion and ruler work lessons
- Step-by-step instructions for downloading the computerized quilting design we’ll be using
- Plus a few fun extra surprises just for you!
(You’ll need to supply your own backing, batting & thread.)
See the Classes page of The Quilting Connection website for more information and to register. Registration closes on January 5, 2026, so don’t wait!
That’s it for this post! And as always …
Please remember, if you ever have ANY questions or want additional information about ANY of the products and services we offer, please call us at (262) 723-6775 or email us at info@QuiltingConnection.com.
You can also visit us online at QuiltingConnection.com or in person at 21 Adams Street in Elkhorn, WI (usually M-F 9-4, please call to confirm we’re open) or 1017 W. Northland in Appleton, WI (W, Th & F 10-4, S 10-3).
Finally, check out our blog at QuiltingConnection.com/blog and our Facebook posts.
And please share your thoughts and questions. I’d love to hear from you!
Angie