March 15, 2011

Back in the saddle


I'm quilting in my new sewing room for the first time. I'm happy I've learned to prewind some bobbins before I start stitching. It makes me so much calmer when one runs out to have another ready to go.

There's something so comforting about getting the gloves on and placing the scissors around my neck on their elastic. It's my quilting uniform. This time I'm also wearing a tape measure to periodically check the spacing of my lines.

My new space is working really well. This table is much more stable than my old drafting table. It doesn't start shaking when I get clipping along! I also slid my ironing board underneath the table to support my quilt on the left side, which means less battling the weight of the quilt. The ironing board isn't made to sit this low so it's being propped up by a little side table on one end and a drawer on the other!

 
A shot of the back side. Quilting with variably spaced straight* lines and little extras thrown in for interest. My machine Bernie and I are having a nice time of communion now that her pedal is not overheating. She starts skipping stitches to remind me to clean out the fluff. She'll break the thread if I'm putting too much stress on the quilt. I'm 2/3 of the way done and planning to bring it to the Portland Modern Quilt Guild meeting on Thursday. I hope your quilting is going as smoothly!
 
*lines may not actually be straight.

13 comments:

Katie M. said...

I really like your bit of added interest to the straight line quilting.

Kay Lynne said...

I'm so happy that you and Bernie are getting along! Jan and I were hating each other, but the more I get to know her the more we get along :)

Quiet Quilter said...

I like your quilting arrangement. Interesting design also...

Jackie's Stitches said...

I like the little added features to your straight line quilting too! I also like the idea of having an ironing board set up on your left to take up some of the weight. I can use that tip!

Gail Lizette said...

I love that your machine has a name! straight line stitching free-motion-wise is a lot harder than it looks ~ Can't wait to see the finished piece on Thursday :)

Suzanne said...

You answered my question...why the little table...before I even asked it. :-)

Jill said...

Pretty sweet setup! Loving the little squares in your quilting, fun!

Dora, the Quilter said...

Glad you're getting time to stitch.
Although I quilt on a treadle machine, I keep a wooden tv tray table where you keep your ironing board when I'm quilting. Just the support the quilt needs.

Pétra said...

Love the little squares in the quilting. Can't wait to see it at the meeting.

Cheryll said...

Enjoy your work space... actually you already are!!! :)

Three Birds Inspired said...

Just a quick question - I have a very nice, large sewing cabinet on which my Janome DP1600P sits. It has a "table" attachment similar to the one on your Bernina. Finally, the question! How to you get around the drag that seems created by having to pull the quilt up onto the sewing machine's table? I bought a dining room table so that I could make a hole to drop in my machine because it's the drag that makes me fight with my quilts (but the table is still sitting in my basement!) Any suggestion would be appreciated!

Mama Pea said...

Looks like a great set up. It feels good to get the quilting done, huh? Can't wait to see the finished product!

Jeane said...

Congrats on your own space! Now isn't that just how trends go...we worked hard on our FMQ cirles, loops, swiggles, etc. and now they want to see straight lines. Another quilt-along will be needed. Can't wait to see the finished project.

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