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 :)