Parts and supplies to keep on hand
Small Parts to Keep on Hand
Gammill recommends that you have the following spare parts on hand:
- Check Spring Assembly
- Motor Belt
- Bobbin Case
- Anti Backlash Springs: Circle or Football
- Encoder O-rings
- Thread Guide Above the Needle
- Maintenance Kit
- Run/Stop and Needle Position Switches
- Needles
- Rotary tension check spring
- Bobbin winder O-ring
- Bobbin winder spindle spring
- Needle set screw
Batting
Your quilting system has a built-on batting holder located under the table. This batting holder spans the length of the table and has a design similar to that of a paper towel holder. It easily lifts off the braces holding it in place. Insert the holder into the cardboard tube in the center of the batting and replace the holder. The batting can be dispensed from under the table.
To easily measure and cut the desired length of batting:
Use your long measuring tape to measure the length, being careful not to stretch the batting.
With scissors, make a snip about 1” long to indicate where to cut the batting.
From the back of the machine and with the machine parked off to the side, bring the portion of the batting you will cut off, up and over the pick-up roller. Place the snip along the track on the table and smooth out the batting.
Use the track as a guide to cut the batting straight across.
The most common batting size on a roll is 96” wide and generally comes folded and rolled. This makes the roll of batting about 48” wide. If you have a 12-foot table you can store two of these rolls underneath it. A 14-foot table can store three of these rolls.
Pins
Pins can be used to attach the quilt layers to the fabric leaders and in some cases to baste certain areas of the quilt as it is being stitched. One example is pinning the sides of the top to hold it in place.
Since the leaders are made of thick canvas fabric you will need long, strong pins to pin the layers to the leaders. The longer pins mean that it takes fewer pins for each quilt, resulting in less time to complete a quilt. Corsage or hat pins have a nice large head that are easy to grip and a long, thick shaft to hold up to frequent use.
A pin cushion or magnetic pin dish that is handy and easy to work with might also be needed.
Scissors
Two types of scissors are recommended: one pair of long, sharp scissors for cutting batting and one pair of small, blunt-end scissors for clipping threads as you quilt.
The long-blade scissors make quick work of cutting batting and the small, blunt-end scissors are easy to use when clipping threads near the quilt. The blunt end lessens the chance that the fabric will be cut while trimming threads.
Measuring Tape
A long, 120” measuring tape is useful for measuring large quilt tops, backings, and battings.
Machine Oil
When oiling the machine, use only a clear oil that is made specifically for sewing machines. Sometimes this oil is called “White” oil even though it is clear. Oil that is yellow should be discarded.