Stargazing...

This is the first quilt I've finished this year.  I'm calling it 'Stargazing'.  It's already been washed and dried and is ready to be shipped out to it's new home.

Stargazing lap quilt

I made the top back in 2005 (I think).  I remember buying the fabric at Walmart while I was visiting my mom.  It was a free pattern sheet and these were the exact fabrics in it.  This is also probably the second or third quilt I ever put together.

The quilt sat languishing in my closet for all these years.  I just pulled it out last week so I could practice long-arm quilting on it.  I'm renting time at my local quilt store, Quilts Like Crazy, and I wanted to practice on something small.  I did custom quilting in each block - leaves and swirly feathers in the stars and a back and forth meander in the pinwheel blocks.

For my first ever attempt using a long-arm, I was pleased with how it turned out.  It took me 3 hours to load the quilt and quilt 80% of it.  I then took it home and finished the rest on my regular sewing machine.  All that I had left was some of the back and forth meandering in the pinwheel blocks.  Another hour saw those completed.

After using a long-arm, I can already see how much quicker it is to quilt with than either my regular sewing machine or my short-arm frame.  I've got another appointment tomorrow (weather permitting) to work on a charity quilt.  Then on Friday, I'll finally get started on Twisted Rope.

I'm sending this quilt to my sister.  She has a co-worker, Linda, who is battling cancer right now.  After my sister, her church and her friends pray over it, my sister will give it to her.  This is the label I printed out and added to the back...

Here are the stats for this quilt:

• Size: 46" x 69"
• Fabrics: Walmart and JoAnns
• Batting: Warm & Natural
• Thread: Superior Threads (80%), Aurifil (20%)
• Quilting: Custom - leaves and feather swirls in the stars, back and forth meander in the pinwheels

Until later...

"Father, everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine" 

Mark 14:36 (NLT)

Trying new things...

Here it is January 3rd and I've already tried something new - to me.  I rented time on a long arm quilting machine today at Whatever's Quilted.  I used the HQ Avante 18" and I had so much fun!

HQ Avante 18"

 I pulled out a quilt top I made 5 or 6 years ago to practice on.  The fabrics in this quilt are from Walmart and aren't a great quality but I wanted to practice the machine quilting on something I didn't care if I messed up or not.  I do really like the pattern though and I'm really pleased with how it's turning out so far.

Stargazing Quilt

It took me almost an hour just to load the top on the frame.  But with practice I figure I can cut that in half.  Then I quilted for a little more than 2 hours.  Another 45 minutes and I probably could have finished it, but my back was hurting too much by then to continue.  I decided to do custom quilting in each block because I wanted to try a number of different techniques.  (The blue ruler on the quilt is for stitching in the ditch.)

HQ Avante 18"

 The whole purpose of this exercise was to see if I'd feel comfortable quilting Twisted Rope using one of these machines.  She has a larger HQ Fusion 24" that I can use for that behemoth.  (It's 113" square.)

Twisted Rope

 I felt so comfortable quilting on that machine that I've already made 2 appointments for next week to start on this one - each for 3 hours.  I've no idea how long it will take me, but I figure I can handle 3 hours at a time.  Although my back right now would beg to disagree.

Until later...

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" 

Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)