First Client Quilt!

I was excited, and also a lot a bit nervous to quilt my first client quilt. It's ok if I mess up on my own fabric, but for a customer, it has to be perfect, right? Luckily in my disclaimer at my quilt guild meeting I mentioned that I am a beginner, and that these would be my practice quilts.

So, this quilt did not come out perfectly (practice makes perfect), but it was definitely a step in the right direction. I got to practice my SITD (stitch in the ditch), freehand, as well as using my groovy board templates, so future quilts should come out better! I also learned the importance of quality thread, as the majority of my troubles came from tension problems: thread breaking, seeing top thread on back, bottom thread on top, etc. Luckily I used better thread for my second client quilt, but you're just going to have to wait to see that one!

Closeup of the teddy bear. I used a basic meander/stipple over the bear's body.

Corner detail: crosshatching over yellow background, Groovyboard heart in corner, loopy pink border, freehand loops with stars and hearts over outside border.

Back of the quilt: basic meander over teddy bear body.

Having some fun

Again, it has been a while since my last post (just over a month), but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy. I somehow managed to get my longarm machine and table to my house from my parent's house and I have really enjoyed playing around on it.

Due to size constraints, both of car and house, I have only been able to set up the 8 foot section of the table up, so I can only do quilts that are less than 86" wide, but that should be enough to get me started!

I had tension problems at first as you can see above the bar.

At my last guild meeting I announced my intention of starting a longarm quilting business and offered to machine quilt up to 10 baby size quilts free of charge to get some practice. I've done 2 so far, and my skills really seem to be improving every time I quilt.
Of course I took pictures of the 2 quilts I have completed, but I will save that for a later post.
In the meantime you can check them out, and much more on my facebook business page:
Quilt ME

Happy New Year!

Welcome 2012! Have I got some big plans for you!

So, it's been a while since I've posted last, and I have a reason, I promise!

I have been researching, planning, and scheming a small business I plan on opening, and I made the first purchase today.

This is the HQ Sixteen longarm quilting machine! It doesn't look to special now, but once I get it all set up on its table with its frame and a quilt loaded in I think it will be a sight to see.

Of course I will need to practice A LOT, but once I feel like I can make something beautiful, I will open up shop as a longarm quilter and start taking quilts :)

Finished Quilt!

My log cabin quilt is finally finished! After what seemed like days of quilting, I finally trimmed and bound it and am very happy with the result.

scrappy binding

finishing the binding

 Next on the sewing agenda are Christmas presents for family members :)

Are any of you giving handmade gifts for the holidays this year?

Quilting Class Mega Update

I haven't been able to post a class update for a while because I've been having a hard time uploading pictures, so here's an update of my latest blocks, as well as a sneak peak of the nearly completed quilt top.

Rolling Stone

School Girl's Puzzle

I can't

remember the names

of these

Sashing in.

 

 

 

 

All that's left is the borders, backing, batting, quilting, binding.... well I'm getting there, right?

My Quilting Buddy

This post is dedicated to my quilting companion. She's furry, she weighs about 11 pounds, and you might know her by the name Zoe.

She's always there to keep me company

Or to cuddle with me on the couch

Or to help with my ironing

She sticks around even with all the silly things we put her through

Her special place is curled up on a pillow under my sewing table, out of the way but not out of mind.

I love my little pup.

Quilting Class Update

This is the last week for learning new blocks, the remaining six I am on my own for. I really like that the instructor has taught us new techniques for piecing each week. This week we learned paper piecing and crazy patchwork.

Although I enjoyed the precision and crispness of the paper pieced blocks, but it was definitely time consuming! Sometimes being a perfectionist has its price. But the block came out beautifully.

 The crazy quilting was interesting and kind of fun, but I don't know if I will do much of it. I tend to like symmetry and order too much. A crazy quilt block is typically pieced on a piece of muslin or newspaper to give support to the fabric since it's most often off grain due to its scrappy nature. Well.... I sort of forgot that part when I started piecing. I just ended up sewing pieces of fabric together then trimmed it to a 12 1/2" square.

I hope to embroider something in the yellow center piece.
Finishing my blocks and putting together the quilt top this week. I can't wait!