Quilting Complete…

Some of my blog friends have been curious, and have asked some questions about my quilting frame, sewing machine, and my machine quilting. I thought since I had all these pictures, I would just show my machine and frame, and the process.  This shows the quilt layers loaded on the frame and ready for it’s first pass.  Click on the pictures to make them bigger.                                                                For my own sake, because it is easy to lose track of time, and how long it takes to quilt a quilt, I took a picture of what time I started to quilt.                                                        At this point, I think I had only made one or two passes.                                                                           I used white Signature 100% mercerized cotton thread on the top, and white Fil-Tec magna-glide pre-wound bobbins for the backing. Have I told you how much I LOVE the magna-glide bobbins? Yeah, I think I have.  I had a couple of thread breaks from the bobbin, but that was right after I put a new bobbin in, and I discovered that I had somehow got the thread wrapped around the post in the bobbin case carrier. As soon as I fixed that, no more problems.                                                             I stopped for something, and while I was at it, I took a picture of the rear of the machine.                        I ‘steer’ from the front side.  Can you see the black handlebars in front of the machine?  I use a Quilter’s Cruise Control stitch regulator, so I don’t have to worry about a foot control, or handlebar grips to compress the foot control.                                                        Here, I am stippling the last pass on Louie’s quilt.                                                                            Louie got home just in time to watch me stipple the last row, and then he watched me cut the quilt off of the frame. I LOVE it when I release the tension on the rollers, and you can see the result of your quilting, and the dimension of the quilt. I just get so excited!  The time was about 5:30 when I cut the quilt off the quilter, so it took me about 2 hours to quilt his quilt.                                                             For a long time, I quilted using loop-de-loops, but the last two quilts, I have done free handed stippling.  Since this quilt was for my sweetie, I just HAD to sew several hearts randomly as I stippled away, and I just HAD to stitch his name on the quilt. Can you see the little heart where the dot for the i is supposed to be?                                     LOVE that texture!                                        This is how I left the basement. It needs cleaned up, the frame torn down, everything put away, then I need to decide which fabric I will use for the binding, cut it, and get it all ready to sew to the quilt. Not sure if I’ll sew it down by hand or machine. Probably machine….Not sure I’ll do it tonight, but I might get the basement cleaned up……….                                                                       I’m going to go find some leftovers for supper. Hope your evening is fun and relaxing. Have a great weekend, and I’ll be back with the finished quilt to show you when it is done.

Be blessed,

Michelle