The test quilt is off the frame.

The topper you seen on the frame below is finished, but I do not want to show it, and the reason being is that I tried out the patterns and really, the quilting looks funny because it is just all over the place. But it was excellent practice and just what I set out to do. Now that I have gotten the hang of using pattern perfect I feel confident that I can express myself even more with my quilting now. I will be putting another quilt on the frame really soon and I promise it will be worthy of showing.

A new topper on the frame...

I have loaded the frame and have started to learn how to use the pattern perfect. I am delighted that I chose to use an older top that was not in the best of condition because as easy as the pattern perfect looks, I had to remember that I am still operating on a wooden frame which makes curves a little difficult at times. So learning to use the new templates on a topper that would have never been sold to begin with was a wide decision. As you can see from the pictures I have outlined how I loaded the frame and I have now started to quilt using the pattern perfect.
Things are not running along totally smooth, but even so it’s a good thing because I will get to keep this quilt and I have not been allowed to do that in a very long time. Someone usually comes along and snags up the ones that I decide that I want for me and the other I do for sale. So this really is a good thing.
I will post more pictures of the quilt once I get it off the frame.

Pattern Perfect Installed

We have finally installed the patern perfect after making a small modification to the carriage. My next post will be how to load a quilt top, the batting and the backing to start using the pattern perfect.

Ole Miss is ready to go to its new home.

56 Yards of fabric added to stash

Like I really needed more fabric, I really should sew up some of what I have, but I could not resist. I went to Wal Mart to get a couple packs of bating because I was running low. I did get the batting by the way, but I also ended up with 56 yards of fabric to add to my collection. Here is the haul..........

New Leader Cloths have been installed

I installed the leaders today. I am excited about getting a topper on the frame and giving it a try.

Nearly Complete

I am glad to see this udnertaking nearly finished. Here are two pictures of the quilted quilt, I still have to put the binding on and make a couple of throw pillows to go with it. This quilt will go to its new home this weekend.

Now that I have this off the frame I can install my new toys! I am excited about getting the new leader clothes and the pattern perfect installed on the frame. I have already removed the old leaders when I took this quilt off the frame. So I am READY to get it all set up and put one of my UFO's on the frame to play with!

Frustrated with my Juki sewing machine.. and got some new quilty toys today!

Last night I spent a huge portion of the night not quilting, but working on my Juki sewing machine that I quilt with on my Grace GMQ frame. It had been about six months since I had used the machine. The last time that I quilted with it, everything was fine and I did a beautiful job. Apparently, unknown to myself, when I was quilting that last quilt with the machine some of the threads decided to wrap around the race.
Things started out fine with the quilt that is one the frame. But the further I went the more problems I had. I was shredding and breaking threads. So the first thing I did was to put a new needle in the machine. I still had the problem. The next step was to change out the thread thinking that the thread may either be old or not of good quality because yes, even with good quality thread, there are times when you get a spool that is not so great.
I messed with the tensions, and still I was shredding threads. By the time I had gone through all these steps and I still had issues, not to mention I was tired of ripping out bad stitches and thinking how I was going to repair some other places on the back, I had to take the machine off the frame, carefully mind you, not to encourage the quilt to get off track.
To my amazement it was a simple fix. Once I had the machine off the frame and opened it up I found threads from the last quilt I did wrapped all around the race. It is a wonder the machine was working at all.
The good news is, the machine is working like a dream now, it is all cleaned up, blown out and oiled up and I am ready to tackle the rest of this quilt in peace now.
More good news…. I got a package from UPS today. I am the proud new owner of some new Grace Leader cloths, we will not talk about how I ruined the first set *cough* as well as the proud new owner of the Grace Plastic Pattern Perfect. I can not wait to use the pattern perfect templates. I will let you know how that goes when I get the chance to use them on the next quilt that goes on the frame.

Sneak P@@k of one of the projects I have going

I have not completed the quilting on the Ole Miss Quilt yet, and have another project going already. These two snaps are the start of something I really think I am going to get into. I love putting these together. They are a little tricky, yes they are still a lot of fun. I had a ton of squares that I have had for a couple of years now that were just screaming for some attention. I normally do not mess with a lot of colors or different fabrics so I am delving into new area's.

As the project comes along I will post more pictures. I have lots of neat color combinations to work with on this one.

Current WIP Jan 2009

As I meantioned before I am working on an Ole Miss quilt for a friend. I really do not like the design, but he wanted it to be just like the one I did for my husband over a year ago. Since I did the first one I have felt brave enough to try more shapes and patterns so this was really not motivating for me. But I have finally completed the topper and have it on the frame. I know it will look fantastic when it is complete and in his 18 wheeler but I will also be glad to be done with this project and move on to something in my stack of UFO's!

I will post more pictures when I have completed this one.

A little look into my sewing area

I have to use a spare room in our house to sew in. Someday... Sigh... I hope to have a real studio. I want a shop seperate from my house that I can work in. But for now this is where I sew, embroider and quilt. It really is not as cramped as it looks, but I would not dare bring much more to the room except maybe some more fabric! Like I do not have enough of that already, but one can never have enough fabric right???