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.

Mt. Rainier "Sunrise"

My art quilt is done.

My husband and I do a lot of hiking at Mt. Rainier and as a result, I get a lot of pictures that can only be seen if you are willing to hike.  The inspiration for this wall hanging is from this image.

I hand dyed and/or painted all the fabrics used in my wall hanging and it turned out really well! 

Anna's Flower Garden

It's done and boy am I glad for that.   It turned out really cute but it was a LOT of work.  At one point, I really asked myself why I thought this was a good idea.  That was when I was about 3/4 of the way through putting the hexagons together and TIRED of them.  But I finished it.

With each completed project, I take some time to think about what worked and what didn't.  What I'd do differently, etc.  In this instance, I will readily tell you that it was my first and last "Flower Garden" quilt.  In person, it is really awesome to look at and feel.  But the piecing grew boring and tedious.  And even with an open-toe walking foot, it was hit or miss if the seams would end in the right spot.  As a result, I quilted it heavily so it won't decide to come undone with regular use.   I am finding that there are some projects where I really like the piecing but not the quilting and others work the opposite.  I didn't mind the quilting on this but it would have been better with the regular cotton batting I generally use.  However, I figured it would hide the "issues" I did not fix in the quilt top.  It mostly did.   I don't use extra puffy batting again though. 

After several quilting projects done, I am finding that I really enjoy piecing and quilting "art" quilts and I have one well under way currently.

Nearly There

This is "Anna's Flower Garden."

I dare say this quilt has been my nemesis.  One of those "seemed like a good idea at the time."  Hexagons, ugh!  Putting the individual flowers together was fine.  But putting them all together was tedious!  And they did not come together without issue.  Most of those issues I did not fix.  I thought I'd quilt them out by using a super puffy batting and for the most part, that has worked to hide the imperfections well.  But I hate the puffy batting.  Mainly because of my tiny harp space in which to work with it.  And once quilted, it is very stiff under the arm of the machine.  This won't be an issue in everyday use for for quilting, it is a PITA! 

But as my husband says, this quilt is really adorable and awesome.  I am just thankful it is not huge like my past quilts have been.  And I will be really grateful when the quilting is done.  That part I am enjoying when the batting co-operates.  At any rate, my daughter hasn't seen this at all so it will be a complete surprise.  We have been working to really deep clean and reorganize her room this past weekend.  I was planning to save this quilt to give her for her birthday in late February but now I am thinking I will give it to her when her room is completely finished.   She has been working very hard to clean out and has been a good sport about all the things that went to the garbage.  So this will be a special treat I think.  And I'll just be glad to get it done!

Masters of the Undersea

This is the quilt I made for my 16 year old son for Christmas. 

 

 

 

 

My son has been really interested in the quilting process from the start of my quilting journey.  He begged me to give him "Traveling Stars."  I told him I'd make one specifically for him for Christmas.  He loves all things camo and orange.  The fish entered the picture when his previous store bought quilt with a fishing theme ended up in so many tatters that he packed it away for "memories."  I wanted to make him something that would, in a way, bring that quilt back to life.  This did.  He loves it.  I really enjoyed making it. 

The quilt top only took seven days to piece but the quilting took a month.  I see that as tons of practice and this quilt really put my free motion quilting into a new and better place.

Done

Monsoon = done

Star Canvass = done

 

 

 

Now, on to Anna's Flower Garden, pieced and ready to baste.  Photos coming soon.