Here it is January 3rd and I've already tried something new - to me. I rented time on a long arm quilting machine today at
Whatever's Quilted. I used the HQ Avante 18" and I had so much fun!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXwUKIWqHDhUCsSv2dUYW50b0MwGQSLR1UNb3kXrkGfO7snjxYxYFgIHErNEEd98icGVnFEb977wEPIMxw-zr6N3mnXUE6u2yN0DIiRmPHXsSIMuuFyyVksO8CRdwrr4dOG-hB6532PQ/s320/DSC03396.JPG) |
HQ Avante 18" |
I pulled out a quilt top I made 5 or 6 years ago to practice on. The fabrics in this quilt are from Walmart and aren't a great quality but I wanted to practice the machine quilting on something I didn't care if I messed up or not. I do really like the pattern though and I'm really pleased with how it's turning out so far.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3OqVzqaUTgfoqAol7hzPFhaRnJ-zlkWHplb-yrYb5eniRvO4JrLBGIMKySK8JSNTeKpYrYy6cFMivvkYHrNWqYOLghZYWyJz2bp74nfFheUut8ULGmI0N7xK74Ua5PbVFsdp4iaC6TlU/s320/DSC03397.JPG) |
Stargazing Quilt |
It took me almost an hour just to load the top on the frame. But with practice I figure I can cut that in half. Then I quilted for a little more than 2 hours. Another 45 minutes and I probably could have finished it, but my back was hurting too much by then to continue. I decided to do custom quilting in each block because I wanted to try a number of different techniques. (The blue ruler on the quilt is for stitching in the ditch.)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljZOO7FqZ-NsslfvUt5bS6g5UR7R42uWuMZMSdkWAEg9yMqZGUafS2E1DKmrKyDZP1ShlXxqVZjXrge_QBglnTi_6TeXbKD39UfacZLYFIPekFjYNV4xtlGKe8sQdccvmLCn7sOTgmhs/s320/DSC03398.JPG) |
HQ Avante 18" |
The whole purpose of this exercise was to see if I'd feel comfortable quilting
Twisted Rope using one of these machines. She has a larger HQ Fusion 24" that I can use for that behemoth. (It's 113" square.)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKW91O9bagjvXb0KbN7kGS0V2vel-KfP8ryXCLhyphenhyphenKHN3lwohD8pv8_-j7EzzeSBv5VtmbwGv_Or0qoWFf4cMU8-i3ZxpICS8gF0en_cPI7IaI4okQa1wJK2AA-e-YueBCY1qz-UksycM/s320/Twisted+Rope+%25284%2529.JPG) |
Twisted Rope |
I felt so comfortable quilting on that machine that I've already made 2 appointments for next week to start on this one - each for 3 hours. I've no idea how long it will take me, but I figure I can handle 3 hours at a time. Although my back right now would beg to disagree.
Until later...
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding"
Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)
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