Another Light Bulb Moment

Well, Duh! This morning, I went downstairs to start putting things away from quilting Louie’s quilt, and to tear the frame down.  As I was taking it apart, somehow, I approached it differently than I normally do. Usually, the first thing I do is remove my sewing machine from the frame, and when I set up the frame, putting the sewing machine on the frame is the LAST thing I do. 

(The old way) When I set the sewing machine on the carriage, I hold my sewing machine on my left forearm like a big purse, pull it up and hold it against my chest, lift the left side of the rear roller with my right arm, let the machine down a little so I can guide the roller through the arm of the machine, lift the machine back up,  set the machine on the carriage, put the left end of the roller back into the slot, then try to get the machine situated on the carriage and non-slip mat…not an easy task.

I am usually standing at the rear side of the frame when I start tearing it down, the same place as where I put the machine on the carriage. This morning, I was on the front side. Don’t ask me why. I think God put me there so he could whack me on the head and say, ‘Here, do it this way…it’s much easier!’

Today, the first thing I did was remove the front and middle roller and put them on the floor….well, here…I took pictures as I tore it down, so I am going to show you pictures in reverse, so you can see how I am going to set it up from now on….the easier way!

Here you see the two end pieces and both of the frame rails.                                                    I attach one end of my frame to one end of the first frame rail.                                             Then I attach the other end of the frame to the other end of the same frame rail.                           Next, I slide the threaded rod on the end of the frame rail down into the slot on both ends of the frame ends.  If you look in the next picture, the wooden braces that are attached to the rail (the bottom end of the wooden braces) have female threads, and I insert male threads which has a knob attached to tighten and attach the second rail.  The knobs on top get tightened too.                                                                Next, I place the frame brace in the center of the rails. On the front side of this photo, (which is actually the rear side of the frame when the machine is on the frame), there are two big cuplike hooks that wrap around the rail. The threads go through wood on the brace, and tighten with wing nuts. The orange ‘wad’ you see attached to the brace leg is a heavy extension cord all wound up. I attached it to the leg so I would always know where it was, and to secure the plug ins at a central location so the cords would not run out of reach when going from one end of the rail to the other.                                                                  Now here is where the new rule kicks in. I will from now on, next, set the machine carriage on the rails….                                      …then set my machine on the carriage. There will be no strain on the back, and I can use both hands! (Look mom! Both hands!)                                        Next I will add my handlebars, lamp, quilter’s cruise control, cord ‘loom’ and attach all the cords, plug them in, and take the machine for a ride down the rails to make sure the cords will not be pulled and bind on the cruise control wheel.                                        Next, I will insert the rear roller into the slots on the frame ends, through the arm of the machine with ease. Oh, so much easier!                                      I’m almost done, and all I have to do is put the middle and rear rollers on the frame, then I am ready to load a quilt!                                                      As this thought had not reached my brain until after I removed the rollers, I will have to show you a photo of the middle roller (top roller) and front roller (lower roller) with the quilt attached. I can’t believe I have been making it so hard on myself for so long!  Geesh!                                                          Now I’ll show you some of my other quilting accessories and how/where I store some of them. My Juki sits on top of my stereo cabinet, and is covered up with a cover when not in use.                     My Cruise Control, lamp, cords, etc are stored in this cosmetic case which is stored in my fabric closet.                       My fishing tackle box holds all of my frame quilting/sewing machine necessities.                                 My sewing machine carriage, and related parts are stored in a drawer in my old seed packet cabinet (thread and fabric cabinet).                      I cover it up to keep it safe from harm.                       My handlebars sit near the fabric closet door behind a chest and next to the end of my stack of suitcases (fabric storage).  I sure hope I can find them when I need them next. Somebody tell me where they are if I cry I lost them, as this is a new place.                                           The wooden frame pieces hang in the garage on big hooks, and the poles also hang on the wall of the garage on bicycle hooks, but they are not there now, so I can’t show you pictures. Sorry.

Oh, one more thing…my kitty got a new necklace when I was cleaning my office the other night. Doesn’t she look stylish?                                 …and my concrete porch bear is all ready for Christmas!                                  Have a great Sunday, and don’t forget to tell God that you love Him.  I do!

Be blessed,

Michelle