My Long Arm

Happy anniversary to my long arm!!! Yesterday (January 19th) 4 years ago in what ended up being a snowstorm, we (my husband, teen daughter & I) drove from southern Indiana to northwest Indiana to bring my long arm home. 

We rented a 12 ft uhaul truck. The table barely fit but we got the door closed. The actual machine rode in the car with me. 

I’ve loved having this machine. I’ve finished so many more quilts than I did before. In 2022 I finished 12, that wouldn’t have been possible before this. 

Time lapse video

Here I created a time lapse video of me loading a quilt onto my long arm.  

And a time lapse of me quilting my quilt.

Beer Quilt - SO close!

Over winter break (from school) I was able to go to the group of crocheters and knitters that meet at the library near me!! It was so nice to be with "my people" and be able to work with everyone.  I took Scott's beer quilt.  I had one border to add (I didn't take enough fabric to Tennesee over break), and the back to sew.  Since I added a little fabric for the border I needed to add some more to the back.

Here is the whole quilt laid out.

And then after finishing it at the library, I went home and put it on my long arm! I really wanted to get it finished for my husband before he came home!

BUT. . .as I was sewing I heard a noise. . .

The motor belt broke :( Luckily it's not super expensive, so we ordered a new one, so hopefully I can get the beer quilt done soon!

Tee shirt quilt - quilting

I got the tee shirt quilt on the long arm!  I chose to quilt it with a meander and grey thread.

I managed to get it quilted in one night!

Up next, trimming and binding!

Scrappy trips

 I finished my two scrappy trips quilts in April.  I needed to use up two bobbins that had purple thread on them (I also need to buy more bobbins!)  So these were perfect.  I used up whatever I had at home to make the back.

The quilting actually didn't take long.  I think it's because I usually make bigger quilts.  But I got this one quilted in under and hour.  (That does not include loading it)

I did wavy lines going the same direction as each block.  Something different than a meander!

Quilting

I put this on the long arm on Tuesday, even though it was a warm out, but the garage is definitely cooler than outside!

I used blue variegated thread.  The quilt took almost 4 bobbins.  I really need to get some more bobbins, but I think thread needs to come before that! I am definitely going through a lot more thread with the long arm!

I chose to do a meander design.

Baby blue quilt. . .still quilting

This has been sitting on the long arm for far too long :/ Since I have always rented space on a long arm, I finish quilts shortly after putting them on.  But I was not able to do that for this one.

Then my machine got piled up with stuff.  Even though it was a little warm (my machine is in the garage) I got the quilt finished! Now to get it squared up and put the binding on.

Quilting blue quilt

I have started quilting the baby blue quilt.  I tried to get a picture of it, but I am not sure if it's the lighting or the color of the thread, but it's kind of hard to see.  In the white I was doing lines going left and right, and in the blue up and down.

Here you can see the lines a little more.  I am sure enjoying having the long arm.  It just needs to warm up a little bit.  I can't finish something because my fingers get too cold.

I am excited that Gutermann thread works on my long arm.  I don't have money to spend on brand new thread, but I have quite the collection of Gutermann thread.

Long arm video

I couldn't wait to play with my new machine! I put some random pieces of flannel on it, and went to town.

I will need some practice with it since I don't have a stitch regulator.

My newest toy!

There was someone near me selling an APQS Ultimate II.  With a 12 foot table!!

We have decided to put the machine in the garage since it's on such a long table.  Maybe we will eventually move it into the house.

I have used long arms in the past, so I am itching to use MINE! but I haven't had time.  Danna has been back for a visit, so I would rather spend time with her. 

I am sure there will be many more pictures of my beautiful new machine & the quilts I finish on her!

Long arm part deux

Here are two pictures of me long arming one of the memory quilts.  I like the first shot because you can see the backing I chose.

 Here you can see the long arm.  Gosh I am so in love with those machines!

Quilting

My original goal had been to finish the four quilts before school started.  Well I wasn't able to do that. But I was pretty close!

Here is one quilt on the long arm.

I just did a meander.  You can kind of see it is here.

 And I outlined some of the designs.

Quilting

Here is Celtic Solstice on the long arm machine!!

 

I just did a meander, with some swirls.

 

I love how accomplished I feel finishing a quilt on a long arm!

Local Quilt shop day

Today was local quilt shop day.  It is hosted by http://www.quiltshopday.com/.  They have asked bloggers to profile their local shops, why they are important and what the shop means to them.  If you would like to see the other bloggers that are involved you can find them here.  I know I am a little late to the party, but work has been crazy busy, I've been spending time with my husband and not had time to blog!

I wasn't able to go the shop today because it snowed (gotta love lake effect snow!).  But I am still going to talk about the shop that I love.  I was introduced to Needle & Thread in 2009.  I visited occasionally, mainly because it's a half an hour away.  I found out this year that they have a long arm to rent, and since then I have been going more recently.  I have wanted a long arm machine for years, but they are quite expensive, and I am so thankful to have the chance to rent one from Needle & Thread.

The ladies that work at Needle & Thread are so friendly and helpful, they will help me with any problems that I might be having, whether it's about thread color or talking about different techniques.  I am hoping to be able to sign up for one of their classes they have soon.

What's your favorite quilt shop like?!

I feel famous!

So I had someone that said they wanted to see some finished pictures of the quilts I have done on the long arm, because they had seen them on the website, well I thought they were talking about my jacobs ladder quilt, which is posted here on their long arm page.

They said no not that one.  It's the one on the front page!  I thought I had looked all over, but I missed it! 

I haven't been able to share pictures of these quilts yet, cause I have been busy with family at Christmas, and now school back is in session, but I didn't have school work to do this weekend, so I finished some things and working on some quilts that I am planning to give as gifts this year. 

Long arm part 2

I got three things finished on the long arm this week. One I already showed. So this is the second.

This actually started as a way for me to practice a table runner. So I basically sewed three table runners together :p

I just did a meander on it.  I love meandering!

Here you can see what the back looks like.  It doesn't necessarily match but it's pretty!

Long arm quilting

Well my UFO list is getting smaller, but my to bind quilt is getting longer!

I made this quilt in 2010, I used all fabric from my stash.

Sitting on the long arm

So I rented the long arm from Needle & thread last night. I needed to finish up a Christmas present and then also to get some UFOs finished!

I finished the Christmas present, and I was able to start another one.But closing time was near and since I'm renting the machine again Saturday they said I could leave it there.

So here's my quilt waiting to be finished!

Long arm part 4

 This is going to be my last post about my long arm practice quilt. 

Bonnie hunter did a quilt with spider webs, so I thought I would try one! it's a toughie (hers was a pantograph)

 Here is some hearts I did along with some fill I practiced.

These last three are my favorites.  I didn't have a pattern for this one, but I did end up seeing it online other places, but I love the swirl and the flower!

long arm part 3

Here is part 3 of my long arming adventures!  I really enjoyed just playing and getting to know the machine.

I really want to be able to do flowers well!! so I will keep trying them!

Here you can see the bumps I did, and the fill-ins I tried.  Then below I tried some loops, again the motion of the machine gives me issues.

I kind of like these hearts :)

Trying more loops.  they ended up more like hearts because when I would go through and to they I would over compensate!