APQS Long Arm Machine

       

Long Arm Certification Class

Aiken Quilt Shoppe is thrilled to offer classes on the use of the new APQS Long Arm Machine, The Lenni Complete Quilting System.  Lenni is a smaller, more convenient version of the legendary professional Millennium, with the freehand freedom of APQS stitch regulated technology.  Our Lenni has a 12-foot table which will allow you to quilt a king-size pieced top and a 20” x 8” throat size.  The on-demand automatic stitch regulator will reduce your practice time significantly and get you off to a good start with perfect stitches every time. 

 You will need to complete this class before scheduling a rental session on the Long Arm machine.  The class will cover everything you need to know about using the long arm, including loading your quilt top, batting and backing; threading the machine; loading and inserting the bobbin; changing needles; using patterns and design tools; using the “zipper system”; and other information that you will need to know to operate the long arm.

Classes are held Fridays and Saturdays.  If there is a need for additional classes, we will schedule classes to meet that need.  Cost of the class is $95 for a 3+ hour session.  Included in the cost of the class you will receive your own One (1) Quilt Zipper Set, a set of L-style bobbins and bobbin case, a set of Long Arm Machine needles, flower-head pins and wrist pin cushion, and a printed manual on the machine.  Class size is limited to a maximum of three persons per class.  We encourage you to bring a quilt top with you to practice on after the class, so you can put your new skills to use right away.  Remember, don’t bring the prize or heirloom quilt top – try a donation quilt first until you get the feel of the machine.

Long Arm Rental

The APQS Lenni Long Arm Machine will be available for rental Monday through Saturday, between the hours of 9 AM and 5 PM.  Please call the Aiken Quilt Shoppe to schedule an appointment for your rental session. 

 Rental Costs:  $20 per hour, with a two hour minimum.  $100 for full day rental (10 AM to 5 PM).  The first hour of your first rental is free and gentle coaching will be provided.  Staff will be available to provide coaching during your first few rental sessions, but extended instruction will be charged at $15/hr, 1 hour minimum.  The rental begins when you begin zipping on the backing fabric.  The rental ends after removing your quilt from the Lenni.  Checks, cash or charges are accepted in payment of the rental fee. There is a Cancellation Fee of $30.00 if you call to cancel your session within 24 hours of rental.  Any chronic cancellations will disqualify you for future renting.  If it has been more than six months since you have had a class or rented the machine and require a “brush up” session, you will be charged a mentoring cost of $15 per hour. 

Included in rental fee:

o        Use of a cleaned and oiled, state-of-the art APQS long-arm quilting machine with a stitch regulator.

o        Zippers are attached to the canvas so that you can “zip through” the loading process!  A “quilt” set of zippers are provided in the Certification Class.

o        Use of the automatic bobbin winder to prepare your bobbins.  A set of L-Bobbins are provided in the Certification Class.

o        Your choice of 50 colors of Superior’s So Fine polyester thread.  When using your own thread, it must be approved by AQS staff to ensure the quality of the thread.

o        Pantograph patterns contained in our growing library—you are welcomed to bring you own patterns too!

o        You are welcome to use the cutting table to trim your quilts after quilting, or your backs and batting before quilting, but please bring your own rotary cutter. 

Not included in the rental fee: Needles, backing fabric and batting. You must purchase needles from AQS so that we are assured you have the correct needle for the machine.  A starter-set of needles are provided in the Certification Class.  We do sell Quilters Dream batting in packages, so you may purchase batting from us, or you may bring in your own.  We also carry a selection of 108” wide fabrics for backing your quilt.

 What can you finish in one rental session?  It will depend on how fast and how heavily you quilt. Once you’re more experienced, you should be able to quilt a full-size quilt with an all-over pattern in a three-hour session, using the zipper system!  Some approximate times for all-over simple designs:

Crib Size (36” x 45”) = 1-2 hours

Twin Size (63” x 87”) = 2-3 hours

Double Size (78” x 87”) – 3-4 hours

Queen Size (84”x 92”) = 4-5 hours

King Size (100” x 92”) – 5-6 hours

 What if your quilt isn’t finished at the end of your session?  You will learn in class about how the zipper system can help in this situation. If you are not finished with your quilt at the end of your rental session, and wish to come back another time to finish your quilt, you will simply “un-zip” your quilt from the long arm and make appointment to come back another time to reload your quilt and start where you left off!  You may also be able to extend your session if no one else has reserved the machine. (Additional charges will apply.)

 We encourage you to “bring a friend” with you to your quilting session, someone who has also completed the Certification Class for the Long Arm Machine.  We find that two people working together speeds up the process and allows you to complete your quilt more quickly, and may allow you to complete two, or three quilts during a full-day rental session.             

Long Arm Certification Class – 10 to 1 - $95

Friday, September 17th

Saturday, September 18th

Friday, October 8th

Saturday, October 9th

Friday, November 19th

Friday, December 17th

Saturday, December 18th

Please bring a pieced top with you for practice (not your heirloom piece, please!!) and plan to spend the day using the long arm machine and getting in some practice to familiarize yourself with the machine and the instruction received in the morning session!!