AutoPilot Mach 3 Edge to Edge Setup Instructions

1. Turn on machine first, turn on white box, hold yellow button until white box has a green light, you may hear a soft click under the machine. THEN turn on the computer and enter the AutoPilot Mach 3 software.
   

2. Measure dimensions of the quilt top and write it down. 
   

3. Load quilt top and backing.  Baste batting to backing across the top using the machine channel locks, (this gives you an accurate, straight line to align the top).
   

4. Baste top edge of quilt top along basting line from Step 3.  Also baste down both sides. You should do this within the ¼” seam allowance of your quilt. (the closer you stay to the edges; it is less likely the machine can catch on or flip and sew an edge. Also, you won’t have to pick out the basting if it is under the binding!)
   

5. Set your Sew Zone to the size of your quilt backing, the sew zone MUST be larger than the quilt top.  Your backing should be about 4” wider on each side of the quilt.  Follow prompts to create the sew zone.  The top right corner that you mark with the sew head should at least be bigger than the quilt top, ideally you would use the edge of the backing AND push the head all the way to the back roller, to maximize quilting depth. The bottom left corner that you mark should also be at least bigger than the quilt top, again ideally you would use the edge, AND pull the head all the way to the front roller. Click on Full View to see your grid with the sew zone. 
   

6. Position the quilt top so that the sew head can reach the top of the quilt.  You may need to roll the quilt to make this adjustment.  You want to be able to maximize your sew space, push the machine to the back roller and make sure the top edge of the quilt is just in front of the needle.
   

7. To start your project, go to File/New Project.  This may already be up on your screen and be listed as untitled.
   

8. Enter quilt width and depth. You’ll want your grid to be a little bigger than the measurement you made to allow for the imperfect quilt. (You can always trim off pattern, but it’s not easy to add pattern later.) 
   

To enter quilt width and depth:

a. Go to Settings at the top of the screen

b. Select Quilt Size

c. Enter your width and height – enter 2” more than your width (for example, your quilt measures 60”, enter 62”) and 5” or more on the length of the quilt.

d. Click on Enter

9. Use the Pattern Library and Pattern Pad to add an E2E (Edge to Edge) pattern to the quilt. Click on the tiles on the left-hand side of the screen to open Pattern Pad. If the pattern you want to use is already in the Pattern Pad, click and drag it to the quilt or double click. If it’s not, open the Pattern Library to search all your patterns. 

*E2E patterns start on the left and end on the right. You can search for E2E patterns only by clicking “By Tag” – “Any Checked Tag” – “Edge to Edge” – “Search”*

Double click on pattern images to add them to the Pattern Pad.  When in the pattern library, use “Close” in the bottom right to return to your project, this will leave the pattern pad open. 

To close/collapse the pattern pad, click the tab on the left. 

10. Double click to bring pattern you would like to use for edge to edge onto the grid.

11. Using the Transform tool, select (click) pattern so that it is dark green and check size of the pattern in the tool bar on the right side of your screen.   Click on Maintain Ratio before making any height adjustments – this will allow you to keep the perspective of your design.  To adjust the pattern size click on height and adjust the height you would like to use.  

12.  You can use the Actual Size button to see how dense the quilting will be. 

       Resize pattern if desired.

13.   Select the Edge to Edge tool.

14.   Choose Fit or Trim.  If you are unsure which one you would prefer to work with, start out with Trim.

a. Fit will change the height and width of the pattern and make your edge to edge fit perfectly on the grid.  

b. Trim will keep the height and width of the pattern locked and trim off excess pattern on the right edge and bottom. Trim is necessary if you want to use an offset to your pattern.

15. Click on the pattern, so it selected, and it is dark green, then click Generate Edge to Edge. 

16. Check pattern rows for too much gap or too little. You want your edge to edge to look as if it is seamless and does not have space between the rows. Using the Horizontal, Vertical and Offset buttons, adjust to get the edge to edge pattern to fill your quilt as desired. Once you have it looking as you wish, click on Accept.

a. Row Gap – This adjustment works to bring two rows closer together or further apart.

b. Column Gap – This adjustment will allow two columns or blocks to move closer together or further apart (which you don’t need to do for E2E set ups, since you only have 1 “column”).

c. Offset – this will adjust each row to the left or the right depending on the number you put in – clicking the minus move every other row to the left, clicking the plus will move the rows to the right. This will allow you to align designs that  are meant to mesh into each other.

d. Horz/Vert Flip: These will flip the patterns horizontally or vertically and the Alt will allow you do it ever other row. Some patterns look better with some sort of flip, others will work multiple directions and you can change the look of it by playing with these functions. 

17. If you make adjustments and liked a previous setting better than the current one, use the Undo button to go back to that setting.                                                                                                            

18. If you have made any adjustments, be sure to click on Update Edge to Edge in the lower portion of the Edge to Edge tool.

19. Use the sewhead and crosshairs to check that the pattern covers the top and both sides of your quilt top.  You can adjust the quilt by rolling it up or down to be sure that it is completely covered at the top of the quilt.

20. ***** FILE / SAVE PROJECT AS *****

*This is a good time to check your tension by quilting a bit on the side – be sure to use three layers when testing, not just batting and backing.

TIP:  Keeping a journal of the patterns that you use and the settings for that pattern (height of pattern, horizontal setting, offset, etc.) will allow you to quickly and easily refer back to the pattern and set it up for later quilts.

21. In the Group Tool, use Link to link rows that you want to quilt together, linking only the rows that fit completely into the sew zone.  If you link more than will fit in the sew zone you will receive an notice that says “No patterns available to be sewn”. 

22. Now we will Trim the edges to approximately ½” outside the sides of the quilt.  Stitching completely off the quilt will keep you from having a funny looking channel between the binding and the quilting and will also secure the quilting into the binding.  Trim to the outside point of your actual quilt – not every quilt is straight and you will want to trim each section as you go – don’t trim your whole quilt.

a. Select the Trim Tool. 

b. Select Sewhead.

c. Place your Sewhead ½” outside of the quilt and click on the Place button   on the Lighting Stitch screen on your sewhead.  If you cannot see Place, click on Mach 3 on the bottom of the Lightning Stitch screen.

d. Click on Current Selection – remember – we don’t want to trim the whole quilt, just the area we will be quilting inside the sew zone.

e. Be sure Clip Connect is checked.  This will ensure that the edges of your quilting will connect when you trim.

f. Click on Vertical if you are trimming the sides, Horizontal if you are trimming the top or the bottom of your design.  Please see Step 33 for more information about trimming the bottom of your quilt.

g. When you look at your computer screen, you will see your design in two colors.  Yellow is the color of the stitching that will be deleted.  Don’t worry – if you delete the wrong part of your pattern, you can click on the Undo button to get it back.

h. If the yellow stitching is on the part you wish to keep, click on Invert, then Accept.  If the yellow stitching is on the outside part of the quilt, then only click on Accept.

i. You have already saved this pattern – if you save now, you will be saving the trim adjustments that you are making, and will not be able to revert back to the original pattern should you need to.

j. Trim both sides of the quilt.

k. Go back to your Transform Tool.

23. Click GO at the bottom of your screen.   You will see that the pattern is transferring.

24. Click Continue for the machine to move to the beginning of the pattern.  You can click on Continue either on your computer screen or on the Lightning Stitch screen. 

25. Bring up your bobbin thread with a single stitch using either Pick Up on the Lightning Stitch screen or the white button on the left handle.  Tack as desired.  Secure loose threads, if needed.

26. Click Continue for sewing to begin. 

27.  When everything is sewn, roll the quilt, being aware that you will need to put the sewing head on a point of the pattern along the bottom of the last row that you stitched out.

28.  Move your sewhead to the middle of the quilt at the back of the sew zone.  Find a point at the bottom of the last row completed that you can easily find on your grid.  (A point or intersection of the pattern is best, but the bottom of recognizable a small curve will also work.)  Go to the monitor and zoom way in on this point. 

29. Use the Reposition Tool.  Select “Align to Quilt” as the method.  Enlarge the image on your screen so you can be precise.  Use the mouse to click on the computer screen on the grid at the place that your needle is at on the quilt.  This will place a purple x on the screen at the point of the pattern that you’ve selected.  If the purple x isn’t where you want it, select Reset.  You can place the purple x again.  And again, if needed.  THEN to reposition the crosshairs you must click Apply.  This will position your sewhead to the corresponding place on the quilt.  If you are not happy with the position, you can click on the Reposition Tool and start again. Click Done.

30. Link rows again, if needed, and stitch out next section of your edge to edge design, continuing these steps to complete the quilt. 

31. Before stitching out your last row, baste along the bottom edge of your quilt top.  Use crosshairs to check if last row of pattern covers the bottom of the quilt completely.  Complete your last row using these steps:

a. You will want to Link enough rows to completely cover the bottom edge of your quilt, even if the last row of quilting is partially outside of the sew zone.

b. Use the trim tool to trim off the bottom of the pattern, if needed.

c. Complete the sewing of your quilt.

32. For thread break or bobbin change – When your thread breaks or the bobbin runs out, click on the Stop button if you do not have the thread break sensor. If you do have the thread break sensor and it stops with the fault on the screen, choose OK.  Change your bobbin and take threads out to match the type of tie off that you like to do – if you like to tie threads and bury them, take out enough to have three or four inches of thread.  

a. Move the sew head to where you would like to start quilting.

b. If Resume/Edit is displayed choose Resume

i. If Resume/Edit is not displayed - Click on Go. Then click STOP.

c. You will see a message that gives you the choice to Continue or Move. Choose Move.

i. Continue will take you to the point that you actually stopped the machine and it will start quilting.

ii. Move will start the machine at the point closest to where you have placed the machine head.

d. The machine will move to the sewing point closest to where you have placed the sewhead.  Bring your bobbin thread up.

e. Click on Continue and your machine will begin sewing.

33. If you are unable to get the machine to recognize that you have stitched a portion of a row, then follow these instructions:

a. Ensure the row is green. If not, right click on the row that you need quilted, select QUEUE to make the pattern green.

b. Click on Go.  

c. Click on STOP.

d. Follow the steps in Step 32, starting with sub step b.  You will be able to finish the row.