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 Product Review : Grace Z44 No Baste Quilt Frame

The Z44 is top of Grace's quilt frame product line. Touted as the most adjustable frame on the market, the Z44 provides a convenient, comfortable work area for one or more quilters at a time.

The Z44 frame features a durable construction. It is made with premium Baltic birch, hardwood plywood and poplar hardwood. The sturdy poles are made of multi-layered Alderwood laminations. The Z44's design will not warp, break or twist. In fact, Grace is so confident of this frame's quality, it comes with a lifetime warrantee. It was specifically created to withstand years of heavy use.

In addition to durability, the Z44 is designed for convenience. The frame is compact in size. It measures 35" from front to back, providing a tiltable 14" work area. Braces under the frame provide stability without decreasing the ease of access. No matter how the frame is adjusted, quilter's do no need to sacrifice comfort. New ratcheting height adjustments simplify raising and lowering the frame to any level without tools. The ratchet tilt design provides six possible tilt settings from horizontal to nearly vertical. No tools are required to set the angle of tilt, either. The frame's "Z" design locates the pivot point to the front. Leg space is never lost, no matter at what angle the frame is set.

The Z44 frame comes equipped with all necessary extensions to set the frame up for king, queen, twin or crib-sized quilts. These extensions are designed with performance in mind. They include inside connectors so that the rail diameter is uniform throughout. As a result, fabric rolls smoothly without bunching.

Quilters don't have to wrestle with materials while working on the Z44. Each layer of fabric is secured on its own rail, providing a good amount of control. Layers come together in work area, for the optimum quilting conditions. The raised middle rail keeps the layers snug without sagging, shifting or the need for basting.

Features

- 14" work area
- 39" front to back maximum depth
- 65" (crib), 79" (twin), 101" (queen), 129" (king) maximum length
- 57" (crib), 71" (twin), 93" (queen), 107" (king) rail length
- 15" height, 50" depth when folded
- fourth rail comes standard
- smooth rolling ratchet wheels
- fabric-fast rails
- rail extenders come standard
- lifetime warranty against breakage or warping
- additional options : super king extensions, hand applied stain, swing arm lamp, casters, bungee clamps

Pros :

The Grace Z44 is designed both for convenience and performance. It is the only quilt frame equipped with a standard fourth rail. This rail holds batting separate from other layers, providing greater control, especially for thicker or very thin batting. Consistent tension is maintained with extra-large 50-tooth ratchet wheels. The stops feature a double-lock design to avoid tension slipping. The Z44 also features the Fabri-Fast system, providing easy, fast loading of fabric. Tape and tacks are not needed to secure your project in place.

Quilters will also enjoy this frame's adjustability. If several people are working on one project simultaneously, removing rails provides access for quilting on both sides. When it's time for a break, the frame can be completely or partially folded, without removing fabric, and stored. Folding requires no tools at all. The frame measures close to 17" folded and is free standing.

Cons :

This is a high end hand quilting frame featuring top line materials and construction that is priced accordingly. Although the price is competitive when compared to other frames of this caliber, it may be out of some quilter's budgets.

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