Kathy Quilts! Block Rockit 15R User manual
The Joy of Quilting with Your Long-Arm Machine
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With Your Long-Arm Quilting Machine
The Joy of Quilting with Your Long-Arm Machine
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Index
Introduction ..................................................................................... 4
Purpose of this book ........................................................................................5
How can YOU benet from reading this book?......................................6
Lesson One: Basics of the Quilt Frame.................................... 7
Make Sure your frame is level and straight..............................................8
The importance of frame height..................................................................9
Setting up your leaders from Kathy Quilts...............................................10
Setting up your work area..............................................................................12
Cleaning your frame’s tracks and wheels..................................................13
Lesson Two: Basics of the Block Rockit ................................... 14
Installing Encoders ..................................................................................................15
Setting your Block Rockit on the frame.....................................................16
Breaking the Machine in before quilting..................................................17
Bobbins and Bobbin Tension ........................................................................19
Threading Your Machine.................................................................................20
Thread Type.........................................................................................................21
Machine Thread Tension.................................................................................22
Thread Breakage/Skipped Stitches.............................................................23
Machine Needles...............................................................................................23
Oiling and Warming Up Your Machine ......................................................25
Machine Controls ..............................................................................................5
Quilting Modes...................................................................................................5
Installing and using Rear Handles...............................................................5
Adjusting the Hopping Foot .........................................................................5
Keeping Your Machine Clean ........................................................................5
Machine Timing .................................................................................................5
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Lesson Three: Getting Ready to Quilt...................................... 4
Preparing your Quilt.........................................................................................5
Loading a quilt on the frame.........................................................................5
Floating a Quilt Top...........................................................................................5
Tradition Method of Pinning on the Quilt................................................5
Rolling your quilt and keeping Quilt tension..........................................5
Movement of your machine while quilting .............................................5
Securing your stitches .....................................................................................5
Your First Quilting – Free Motion quilting................................................5
Getting into a creative groove......................................................................5
Learning from Mistakes...................................................................................5
Parking your sewing machine ......................................................................5
Lesson Four: Quilting Above and Beyond!............................ 4
Practicing with Perseverance........................................................................5
Setting Goals.......................................................................................................5
Proper Techniques ............................................................................................5
Skill-building Designs......................................................................................5
Designs and Idea Brainstorm........................................................................5
Quilting with a Laser and Pantographs.....................................................5
Practicing Precision Quilting.........................................................................5
Using Rulers, Templates, and Pattern Boards ..........................................5
Borders..................................................................................................................5
Ideas to quilt professionally...........................................................................5
Summary ........................................................................................... 4
Utilizing this book .............................................................................................5
Why should you read this book?..................................................................5
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Introduction
Machine quilting has been a part of the Kathy Quilts family for many years. We are
excited to share our passion for quilting with you by oering the Block Rockit Long
Arm Quilting Machine. For the past 20 years, because of our commitment to quality,
we have exclusively sold quilt frames from the Grace Company. Recognizing a
need in the quilting industry, we began working with the Grace Company to design
and create a quality, long arm quilting machine that would be aordable for every
budget. After 5 long years of engineering and testing, the Block Rockit was ready.
We are truly grateful for the opportunity to present a quilting machine that is more
accessible to everyone. We absolutely love the Block Rockit and we know you will too!
Traditionally, long arm quilting has required both a lot money and space in your home,
making it dicult to have as an everyday hobby. The Grace Company developed
its frames to meet the increasing demand for smaller, more aordable, home quilting
machines. Initially, they were designed to be used with a domestic home sewing
machine. However, it is very dicult to quilt large quilts when the machine has a small
throat space. The Block Rockit ts on these frames with the added bonus of having
enough throat space to quilt full size blocks to the very end of your quilt.
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Purpose of this book
This book is divided into four lessons:
1. Basics of the Quilting Frame
2. Basics of the Block Rockit
3. Getting Ready to Quilt
4. Quilting Above and Beyond
The Block Rockit and frame users manuals will give
you very good details on the dierent parts and
functions of your set up. It is very important to
read everything in your manuals BEFORE you set up!
THIS book is a supplement to the manuals, adding
a candid perspective from Kathy Quilts. Referring to
this book often will help give you new insight as you
improve your quilting skills and learn how to better
care for your quilting equipment.
the easy to follow
Block Rockit users
manual
is always good to
have
near your work
area.
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How can YOU benet from reading this book?
We want to help you improve and master your machine
quilting skills. Whether you are new to machine quilting or you
have had your frame for a while and feel like you haven’t
progressed past stippling or meandering, we are here to help
you become a more skilled machine quilter.
At times, stippling has its place as a way to ll empty space. But your handcrafted quilt
is not just empty space to ll; it’s an expression of your creativity. Your quilting should
bring out the personality and beauty of any quilt you are working on. More than simply
stitching thread on fabric or creating a unique design, machine quilting requires that
you know the proper care of your machine and frame and how to develop the right
mindset and work environment that will enhance your creativity.
Like any skill, quilting requires practice, problem solving, patience, and stretching
yourself in order to see steady improvement. Our goal is to help you understand the
dierent aspects of quilting and help you nd more enjoyment as you learn new ways
to express your creativity in each and every quilt.
In Lessons 1 and 2 we describe how to set up, use, and care for your frame, your
working environment, and Block Rockit. In Lessons 3 and 4 we describe the basics of
quilting and we dive deeper into quilting with your own personalized style.
Remember to learn from your mistakes! Consistent practice and a positive attitude
can change quilting problems into quilting perfection. So become familiar with your
new Block Rockit, and prepare to quilt better!
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Lesson One:
Quilting Frame Basics
Having sold thousands of Grace
quilting frames for over the past 23 years,
we really understand what features a quiting frame should have
to help enhance the quilting experience. The Grace Company is the world leader
in quiling frame manufacturing. Grace has three quilting frames that oer a great
quilting solution for almost any situation. We are proud to oer them on KathyQuilts.
com. The Q-Zone Queen, Q-Zone Hoop are entry level steel frames and the Contiuum
is a professional grade steel frame that is available in 8, 10, and 12 foot lengths. Click
the links for more information on these frames. Each frame has unique characteristics
to t dierent quilting needs. The Contiuum is the frame we recommend most but if
you can’t t at least a ve foot frame in your space you might consider the Q-Zone
Hoop frame which require about ve feet of space.
When considering which frame you want to purchase think of the largest quilt you
might ever do so your frame won’t be too small. Space is also a factor when ordering
your frame. Measure your quilting space so that Kathy Quilts can help you decide
what will work.
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In this chapter, we will discuss how to properly set up and care for your frame, leaders,
and work area. Doing so will help remove distractions, increase your comfort, and
make your quilting experience much more enjoyable.
Make sure your frame is level
Your frame should be level, meaning it must be completely at across the top, and
the rails and ends should be completely parallel with each other. A level frame will
help you avoid many potential problems while quilting, such as losing tension, skipping
stitches, or a drifting carriage on the frame. If you are experiencing any of these
problems, be sure to check that your frame is level. The Gracie Queen, Gracie King,
and Launch Pad frames have height-adjustable legs to help level the frame. After
adjusting the legs, use the manual foot levelers that come with all the frames for micro
adjustments to ne-tune your frame’s height.[1]
We recommend using a level to check all sides of your frame to see where
adjustments might be needed. If you do not have access to a level, you can test to
see if your machine/carriage drifts in any direction when you let go of the handle.
Move the machine toward each end of the frame, and also the middle of the frame,
let go of the handle and see if it stays in place. Adjust the foot levelers so that the
machine will stay in place if you nd it is drifting one way or the other.
HELPFUL VIDEO: How to Level Your Frame
KATHY SAYS: Having your quilting frame
perfectly level is very important to your
quilting experience. You will know how level
your frame is once you put your machine
on it. It is really easy to level up your
frame. If your machine coasts to one side
or another raise the foot levelers on the
corrisponding leg of your frame. Watch
the video when in doubt.
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The importance of frame height
It is important to adjust the frame to its proper height for ergonomic reasons. Working
(especially sewing or quilting) can be hard on anyone physically, so it is important to
have optimum comfort while you quilt to avoid stress or injury.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), “Tables
should be adjusted so the work is at elbow height and wrists are kept straight. If the
table is too low, workers will have to hunch forward, putting strain on the back, neck,
and shoulders. If a table is too high, workers will have to raise their shoulders to get
their arms high enough to work. This posture tires the neck, shoulder, and upper back
muscles and may result in muscle pain.” [2]
Precision work while standing should be done about 2 inches above elbow height,
allowing your elbows to have support when needed. Precision work is usually specied
as writing or small assembly. Thus, precision quilting (smaller/more intricate quilting)
could fall under this category if you are planning on doing very detailed and intricate
quilting.
Achieving the proper height of your frame for your body type may take time to be
perfectly adjusted. If you are having any pain from quilting, have someone watch you
as you quilt, or lm yourself and evaluate. Watch for any awkward neck, shoulder,
elbow, or wrist movements. Even the smallest wrong movement performed over
and over can cause a lot of pain, and you should always have a pain-free quilting
experience.
consider these
guidelines
as you decide the
height
to set up your Frame
LIGHT
WORK
HEAVY
WORK
ELBOW
HEIGHT
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All of the current model Grace Machine Quilting Frames come with height adjustable
legs. However some of the older frames are not height adjustable (The SR2). In that
case, you can nd bed risers to t under the legs of your frame or have some sort of
risers built for your frame.
If the frame is too high for you even on the lowest height setting possible, it would be
wise to stand on some sort of platform that spans the entire length of the frame so that
you can comfortably quilt for extended amounts of time. You may also try stacking
ergonomic standing mats instead of building a platform.
Frame Height Checklist:
[ X] You can see what you are quilting.
[ X] Your body position is natural and comfortable (you don’t feel like a contortionist
when you quilt).
[ X] You are not hunched over or your neck is not straining forward.
[ X] You can see your workspace. Consider wearing reading glasses if you can’t.
[ X] Your wrists fell comfortable while holding onto the quilting handles.
[ X] Your elbows are at the right height.
[ X] You don’t lift shoulders repetitively, which would cause pain around the
shoulder blades and upper back.
Remember, if quilting doesn’t feel comfortable now, it won’t feel any better after
hours of quilting. It can be frustrating having to adjust your frame several times, but
in the end, it will really help the quality of your quilting. Please also remember that
we are not professionals when it comes to ergonomics, but we have shared the
information that we have found helpful. If you nd that a dierent frame height works
for you, then by all means, use it! Just always take into consideration how well you feel
when quilting.
KATHY SAYS: Find the frame height that feels
best for you. I had to raise my Gammill several
times before I nally got it right. I nd having
higher gives me better posture and I can see
what I am quilting. :)
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Cloth Leaders
Cloth Leaders allow you to quilt all the way to the end of your quilt. Without them you
would have to have the quilt back be several inches longer so your could quilt all the
way to the end of your quilt. The Grace Company Continuum frame includes Start
Right Cloth leaders.
If you make your own leaders, make sure to get leaders made of sturdy, durable
fabric that will maintain the tension on the quilt. If the leaders stretch excessively, the
quilt will not be tensioned evenly.
Some Grace frames, like the Continuum, have leaders that are installed by being
glued and taped onto the rail for use (the rst time you install them). Older Grace
frames come with the Fabri-Fast system for cloth leaders that allow you to slip a tube
into one side of the leader, which then clips into the groove of the rail. After your
leader is clipped into the groove of the rail, you can pin a quilt on.
Pins
Quilt Back
Quilt Batting
Quilt Top
Take-Up
Cloth Leader
TAKE-UP
RAIL
QUILT BACK
RAIL
QUILT TOP
RAIL
Read the
instructions that
come with your
quilting frame so
you know the sizes
of the leaders for
each frame rail
HELPFUL VIDEO:
Installing Leaders on Continuum
Installing Leaders Fabri-Fast Rails
KATHY SAYS: Before you put your leaders on the frame,
mark the center of your rails and the center of your leaders.
Make sure these centered markings are always aligned,
especially when you will be pinning a quilt to the leaders.
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Setting Up your work area
Organization and comfort in your workspace help to have a better quilting
experience. Here are some suggestions for your workspace:
• Space: Make sure you have enough space to move around your frame freely. For
many people, this is not possible simply because their frame is in a room that does
not have much available space. However, using casters or furniture movers can
help move your frame further into the room while you are quilting and then
allow you to slide it back to where you store it when you
are nished. Also, the right frame can help you when
you’re limited on space--the 12 foot Grace Continuum
frame can be set up at 5, 7, 10, or 12 feet so it might be
a frame to consider. You only need to be able to get
around one end of the frame so it is best to have at least
two feet more space than the length of your frame.
• Pressing Station: Use an ironing board or a pressing table to press the quilt before
pinning it on the frame. If you do not have a pressing table, you can make one by
using an old door, or piece of wood and placing it on a table, dresser, or ironing
board. Cover it with 100% cotton batting and duck cloth for high heat resistance.
Remember that well-pressed seams are easier to quilt over.
• Wastebaskets: Keeping a wastebasket at each end of your frame will keep you
from walking across the room every time you need to throw something away,
allowing you to stay more focused on your work.
• Floor Mats for comfort: Standing for long periods of time while quilting can be hard
on you physically. Some sort of anti-fatigue mats laid along the length of your frame
will help reduce stress on your limbs and joints and allow you to work and stand for
longer periods of time.
• Footwear: Wearing the right shoes is key. Shoes should give adequate arch and heel
support and cushion, providing comfort for the wearer.
KATHY SAYS: When you are on your feet for 12 hour
stretches, shoes are all about comfort over cute.
My personal favorite shoes to quilt in are Crocs :)
Tight on
space:
Adding
casters makes
your frame
mobile
so you can use
it,
then move it
:)
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e Internet is full of
amazing quilting ideas!
Check out
our Pinterest boards for
some
added inspiration!
• Quilt staging area: A quilt staging area is where pressed quilts can be hung so they
do not wrinkle. If you plan on working on several quilts, you can press the quilts all
at one time and then drape them in the staging area. This will keep them pressed,
lined up, and ready to be pinned on the frame. A clothes-drying rack can be used
or you can build a staging area that is wide enough for your quilts and that ts in
your quilting room area. Lynn used an old ve panel door that works great!
• Batting Storage: Make sure your rolls of batting are accessible but out of the way of
your working area to help keep your workplace organized. Storing batting under
the stairs or hanging it from the ceiling are some of the dierent options you have.
Get creative in storing your batting.
• Get inspired: Keep an inspirational work environment. Create a space that will
help your creativity start owing. A space where you love to be and where you feel
happy and comfortable. Have artwork that will motivate your quilting designs and
give you inspiration to quilt beautifully. Have a place near your frame and machine
where you can sit, relax, brainstorm, and design. Check out our Pinterest boards
for inspiration!
• Keep a record of your quilts: Be sure to
take photos of all of the quilts you nish.
Keep a journal or notebook of how and
why you designed the quilting on that
specic quilt. It will be a great resource
to you for ideas as you progress in your
machine quilting.
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Note From Kathy:
I LOVE my quilting room. Whether you have just a tiny corner of your spare bedroom
or whether you get to quilt in a dedicated quilting studio, you can still ROCK that
quilting area.
First thing, if you are quilting a quilt, make sure it’s nice and square. PRESS that quilt!
Your nished project is directly related to how well you prepare beforehand. So get
yourself a nice pressing area. I personally use a very old, sturdy ironing board of my
grandma’s, and I purchased an inexpensive at door to put on top of the ironing
board. I covered it with cotton batting, and covered it with some heavy duty cotton
fabric (duck). I stapled it onto the door, and now I have a nice at area to press my
quilt. Once my quilt is pressed, I put a pin in the center of the top and bottom of the
quilt top and back. Then, I need a place to put the quilt while I get ready to mount
it on the quilting frame. I’m so blessed to have a great husband (Lynn) that will build
me cool things to help me with my job. He took an old ve panel door that we had
in our old house, added a newel post to each side, and made me a beautiful“on
deck” quilting station. It’s a door turned on it’s side, so that I have a spot to lay all the
quilts carefully until they are ready for their turn. Since I quilt professionally, I’ll press all
my quilts for the week on Monday morning, then lay them on that door while I get my
quilting machine ready.
Next to my ‘on deck’ pressing door is my quilting frame. It faces north, and there is
great natural light while I’m quilting, which really allows me to see the true colors of
threads on each quilt. To the side of my quilting frame,
I have a bookcase where I keep only quilting
books. I keep all my reference books there, so
if I ever get stumped for ideas, I can just pull out
my books, look at my reference pictures and
go through the handwritten notes I’ve made.
KATHY SAYS: Whenever an idea for a
quilt pops into your head, stop what
you’re doing and write it down or make
a sketch of it. These moments of
inspiration come to us for a reason :)
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My computer is also in this room. The computer is a great quilting tool. You can
watch videos, get great quilting ideas, or even design quilts on this fantastic tool. I
have pictures of every quilt I’ve nished saved on my computer for quick and easy
reference. One hint that I give to everyone is to take pictures of every quilt you nish
(front and back depending upon if ou can see the stitching or not) and to store these
on the computer or on the Cloud, so that you can go back and reference them.
Then there are my machines! (you don’t even want to go there!) I’m able to sew and
piece (and embroider, etc.) Love my quilting room!
My favorite part of the room is in the very center. That great husband once again
made me my dream cutting table. It’s 4’x8’, with a rotary cutting mat of that same
size. There are drawers on both ends of this table to store my stabilizers, rulers, patterns,
pens, pins, etc. Underneath the table, I’m able to store three rolls of batting and it is on
wheels, too, so that it can be moved if I need the oor area for some reason.
I also have great things in my quilting room to look at while I’m working to give me
inspiration when I quilt. My walls are painted a cool pastel blue/green. Very calming.
And I need windows to gaze out. Of course I have a clock on my wall in my quilting
studio. A BIG one with easy to read numbers. I have a few framed antique quilt pieces
and a display rack for my Fat Quarters - arranged by color of course. On an empty
wall, I have a quilt hanger where I can change the quilts to match my moods, or the
seasons, or my favorite color at the time, or just my newest quilt.
(currently I have a Wizard of Oz quilt on it,
with beautiful pastel prints). I also have
many smaller quilts on the walls for variety.
My ‘jelly jar’ cabinet (closed,
to reduce dust) is where i store
my hundreds of cones of thread.
they are sorted by color - lightest
colors on the top shelves with
darkest colors on the bottom. my
bobbins are also stored here so
they don’t collect dust in case they
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On top of my quilt hanging shelves I display things that
make me happy--little baskets and quilting and sewing
nick knacks like a jar lled with my mother’s buttons and
an old sewing kit. I have mini antique toy irons, a set of
Gumby and Pokey gures from the 60’s, a few quilt kits
that were arranged so pretty that I display them, and
of course pictures of all my children at dierent times
of their lives. Lynn and I travel a lot so we have pictures of
our o-road adentures, cruises, and other fun places.
Cleaning and Maintaining your Frame
Keeping your frame clean will lengthen its lifespan
and help you produce higher quality quilts. Dirt on the
wheels and tracks of the Block Rockit, carriage, or frame
will make quilting less smooth or even cause bumps or erratic stitches as you quilt.
To keep your frame clean, dust it often and remove lint, especially
from the tracks and the cogs of the rails. Wipe down the tracks and
wheels weekly with a damp cloth or small alcohol cleaning wipe to
keep your machine moving over the
tracks smoothly.
Checking the hardware on your
frame once or twice a month is essential in preventing any unseen problems from
happening. Ensure that the nuts and bolts are tight as the vibrations from the machine
may cause them to loosen. Take time to really study your frame, its design, and
mechanics. This will help you understand how it works. The more knowledge you have,
the easier it is to x and troubleshoot any problems or concerns that may arise.
Keep the tracks on your
frame clean and lint-free.
is will help you
keep that smooth Block
Rockit feel that we all
love!
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Lesson Two:
Basics of the Block RockiT
The Block Rockit 15R is the rst high-quality quilting
machine with built-in stitch regulation to be oered
at such an aordable price. It is a simple, smooth,
lightweight, powerful machine that produces a
beautiful stitch. It is the perfect machine for beginners
working on their own quilts or for more advanced quilters starting out
in the quilting profession. This lesson on the Block Rockit serves as a supplement to the
instruction manual and give you advice on how to care for your machine so that it,
too, will continue to perform well over the years.
Remember, please read the entire instruction manual before you do anything with
your machine. This is very important. It will save you time in the long run of working
with your quilting setup. We’ve had many customers contact us with simple questions
that would already be answered had they read the manual before calling us.
So please, we cannot emphasize enough, take time to read the manual and you
will not regret it.
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First Install Encoders
The encoders of the machine
enable the stitch regulator to
function properly. This is done
by a set screw that holds a
spring in place which gives the
encoder wheel pressure as it
moves along the track. This
secure connection to the track
lets the stitch regulator know
precisely how you are moving
the machine. If the encoders
are not installed correctly you may experience a variety issues with your stitching.
Before installing the encoders you need to rst read the user manual describing how
to install them. Next, we suggest watching our helpful video that demonstrates how to
properly install them.
KATHY SAYS: This section will provide
some additional guidance to help you
properly install the encoders. If you still
have questions after reviewing these
resources, please feel free to contact us!
Encoders are quite simple to install, even
if it may seem difcult at rst.
MATERIALS:
- long cord encoder (for the frame) - 4mm Allen wrench
- short cord encoder (for the machine) - 2mm Allen wrench
Encoder For A Dual-Wheeled Carriage (Launch Pad frame)
INSTALLATION
• Remove the back, right outside wheel with the 4mm wrench
• Grab the long cord encoder.
• Before putting the long cord encoder on the carriage, rst loosen the set screw.
HELPFUL VIDEO:
Installing Your Encoders
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- IMPORTANT: The set screw will make the wheel of your encoder have pressure
pressing down onto your track. Without this screw, you will not have the pressure
on the wheel that is needed for the encoder to function. If you don’t loosen the
set screw before you put the encoder on the carriage, the spring of the screw will
break. Loosen the set screw rst with the 2mm Allen wrench.
- Remove the cord.
• Put the wheel onto the encoder.
- NOTE: One side of the wheel has a
raised portion called a “spacer.” It
looks like a washer that is actually
part of the wheel. The other side
of the wheel is at. You want the
spacer closest to the carriage, not
the encoder.
• Use the 4mm Allen wrench to put the
wheel back onto the carriage with
the encoder hanging from the wheel
(for now).
Encoder For A Single Wheeled Carriage (Q-Zone frames and older Grace Frames)
INSTALLATION
• Remove the back right wheel.
- NOTE: If there are any spacers on the wheel, make sure to put them back on
when you put the encoder on. You’ll have to use a 10mm open-ended Allen
wrench to remove the single wheel.
• Grab the long cord encoder
• Follow same instructions as above for the dual wheeled carriage.
Encoder with
Black Spring
Rubber
Track
Spacer 1
Washer
Spacer 2
Double Track Wheel
Lower Encoder
Upper Encoder
Lock Collar
Lock Collar
90 degrees
up
90 degrees
up
Encoder Spring Tensioning
Set Screw
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Encoder for Machine:
INSTALLATION
• Carefully set the machine on its side
• Use the 4mm Allen wrench to remove the back outside wheel
• Grab the short cord encoder
• Before you put it on the machine, you need to loosen (but DO NOT completely
remove) the set screw with the 2mm Allen wrench.
• Grab the wheel and make sure the spacer is facing toward the machine
(away from the encoder)
• Tighten the wheel and encoder to the machine with the 4mm Allen wrench
Setting the Spring with the Set Screw
MACHINE ENCODER:
• Hold the encoder toward the front
handles of the machine (parallel to
the throat of the machine) with your
left hand.
• Insert the 2mm allen wrench into the
set screw.
• While holding the encoder with your
left hand, bring the set screw and
2mm wrench down with your right
hand until it is pointed down (at least
90 degrees from the encoder’s wheel)
and then tighten the set screw so that
it is hand tight (DO NOT over tighten).
CARRIAGE ENCODER:
• Set the carriage on the frame (you will be standing at the back of the frame).
• Rotate the carriage to the right so the wheel with the encoder on it is o the track
hanging o the frame.
• Insert the 2mm allen wrench into the set screw.
Encoder with
Black Spring
Rubber
Track
Spacer 1
Washer
Spacer 2
Double Track Wheel
Lower Encoder
Upper Encoder
Lock Collar
Lock Collar
90 degrees
up
90 degrees
up
Encoder Spring Tensioning
Set Screw
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