Several of you have asked us to provide a document about how we load a quilt top with Red Snappers (since, like with so many techniques, we don’t follow the “rules”). We’re here with our modified Jukebox Float in a nutshell.
Red Snappers are a system that helps load quilt tops and backs onto your quilting project without the use of pins or zippers. Knowing the most effective technique can be challenging, but that’s why we’re here today!
At Jukebox Quilts in Fort Collins, we hope that our blog can help you find new quilting tricks and serve as a resource for quilting tutorials. When you’re done learning our Jukebox Float, stop by our store to find sewing machines, quilting fabric, and more!
Our Jukebox Float
Fire, wipe down your table under the machine. Make sure there are no drops of oil that might stain the quilt. Remove everything from the tabletop. Push the machine head all of the way to one side of the table.
Next, measure the length of the quilt (especially the Statler owners who will be doing an edge to edge). Mark the center point of the top and bottom edges of the backing with a pin.
You’ll want to loosen your “Quilt Top” leader and pull it straight back onto the table. Do not pull it around the belly bar.
Align the center of the bottom edge of your backing with the center of the lead (or the center of the tabletop) with the excess fabric extending off the tabletop onto the floor where you are standing. The wrong side of the backing will face the ceiling while the right side of the backing will be toward the floor.
Use the small 2-inch Red Snapper pieces and align the edge of the backing with the edge of the serged fabric on your lead. Snap one of the 2-inch pieces right over the center marks and use two others, one on each end of the backing.
Either start at one end or start at the middle piece and press the longer Red Snapper units onto the lead, replacing the 2-inch pieces as you go. It helps to bend the Snapper up to help it open. Use your palm to make sure that it is pushed down the entire length of the lead. Fill in with the shorter Snaps as needed.
Then wind the entire back around the “Quilt Top” leader bar. Lower the lead from the Take Up bar onto the table, giving yourself 8–10 inches of slack. Fold this lead back on itself so that you can see the serged edge.
You’re almost there! Loosen the Quilt Top lead and bring the backing around the belly bar and over the Take Up bar. Line the center of the edge up with the center of the lead and again use the 2-inch Snappers to hold the center and ends of the top edge of the backing in place. Replace with the longer Snappers.
To finish, tighten the fabric and baste (at one stitch per inch) the batting and top onto the backing using channel locks if desired. Do not use side clamps or over tighten the backing. Baste ⅛ inches from all outer edges and horizontal lines every 10–20 inches. As you advance the quilt, lift the batting and top to make sure backing is smooth/flat. Remove this basting prior to quilting and you’re done!
For additional instruction on using red snappers to load a quilt on an Innova Longarm, click on this link, Loading a Quilt on the Innova Longarm Pro Frame.
Quilting Fabric at Jukebox Quilts
We hope that this walkthrough helped you find a new way to effectively use your Red Snappers!
At Jukebox Quilts in Fort Collins, we ensure that our blog is filled with tutorials and hacks to help you expand your quilting knowledge. Some previous blog posts include:
