Out With the Old, In With the New

My Pfaff 803 is officially retired as is the old set-up of my studio.  It just wasn't working for quilting as well as business sewing in tandem.   There was too much unusable space and this room is quite small to start so with my new Juki Exceed F600 arriving, my studio got a major remodel.

 

 

 

This set-up is much more spacious and functional.

 

 

I cannot say enough good things about my new machine.  It was worth the wait.  Upgrading from such an old machine, I am certain that nearly any quality machine would have made me happy. However, I did a lot of research on this particular model before purchasing. 

I have a Juki industrial serger as well as a Juki domestic serger that are my work horse machines and this new Juki domestic sewing machine has been a great addition to the "family."  I haven't missed my Pfaff or its back up, the New Home, at all.  In fact, I don't think I could even consider sewing on either of those ever again.  I honestly did not think I needed a machine with all the bells and whistles until I got it.  All the bells and whistles have cut my sewing time down by 1/3 so that is significant.  I would say that a good portion of the time saved on this new machine was spent in frustration on the old.  So sewing on the Juki has been like a dream come true. I think this is a really well thought out machine for a serious seamstress/quilter.  I could go on and on but honestly, I just want to sew and enjoy it and try to let this one truth set in:  it's mine!

Here are a few things I have been doing in the last two weeks since the Juki arrived.

I made this mariner's compass wall hanging first because I wanted to have a project I could not only piece but also free motion quilt.  It came together quickly and FMQ'ed with no thread issues whatsoever.  Read: FAST!  The vast amount of stitch patterns for finishing gave me more than enough choices to finish the binding in a complimentary manner. 

Now that I have room for larger projects, I am working on a Hunter's Star quilt.   I think this will finish around 100x100 and the top is nearly done.  9 more squares to go and I am ready to baste this.

And just because I can, I have another quilt top in progress as well.  This one is the start of a disappearing hourglass.  I am making this one for my daughter who has no idea so...fun!

That's it for now....

Playing Catch Up

I've been busy with projects, not so much with blogging them.  So here you go...

This was a quick table runner for my daughter.  We finished redecorating her room and it ended up that she needed a table runner to protect a dresser top.  She LOVES it.

Next, I made a Strata Star.  It is also a table topper.  I was just testing the pattern to see if I might want to make a bigger version for a larger quilt.  I really love it and may do it on a larger scale at some point future.

Meanwhile, I also made "Regal" who is a wall hanging.  A quick attempt at the stained glass look.  This turned out well.  My daughter wants to own this too.

So for now, all projects future are on hold awaiting a new machine to arrive.  It's tax return season and I've been waiting for about six months to upgrade my sewing machine.  I am currently sewing on a Pfaff 803, literally a dinosaur machine in which I have added three safety pins into the thread path for more accurate tension.  It's not the best and that is putting it mildly.  I've never had a new machine.  "New" to me, yes, but brand new, no.  So in a few days time, I will.  I cannot wait.  Therefore I have put off some things while I wait for it to come.  What I've really done is put off the frustrations associated with my current machine.  I'd like to be creating, and I might be having withdrawals, but I am waiting nonetheless.  This has been a good time to straighten up my sewing studio and brainstorm with my husband on ways to make it more efficient. 

So that's it for now.