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My sons, Jared (age 9) and Jacob (age 8) were badly in need of new quilts for their beds. Time has not been on my side when it comes to making bed quilts, but with the arrival of cold weather already this year, I decided it was time to take my own advice and make a couple very quick quilts while practicing my panto skills.
Here's what I did:
I selected 5 yards of a very busy quilting cotton print (bug sounds, the yellow print below). After pre-washing, I divided that into two 2 1/2 yard pieces. I removed the selvage edges and pieced them together making a single piece of approximately 84" x 90". The print was so busy, it's extremely difficult to locate the center seam.
Then I selected 2 1/2 yards of 108" wide fabric (the dark blue mottled fabric below).
This process gave me a top of 84" x 90" and a backing fabric of 90" x 108"
Next, I loaded the backing, batting and top fabric on Max (the longarm quilting machine). I selected the "Lounge Lizard" panto by Patricia Ritter of Urban Elementz - click here to see the panto. I love this panto and I loved using it. As this was only the 3rd & 4th time I'd ever used a panto (and it's been months since the last time), I found this design easy to follow and the results were great! To me the density of the design was just right (not too intricate and not too spacey) and the feeling of movement this design offered was a bonus.
Below are close-ups of the front and back of Jacob's quilt. Jared's quit is identical, but blue instead of yellow and I used blue thread so the quilting does not "pop" like this one.
The boys both love their quilts and use them "reversibly" depending upon their mood.
Other details: Top thread used was Glide. In the bobbin I used Magna-Glide pre-wounds -- the blue fabric shows the bottom/bobbin side of the quilting. I used Quilters' Dream Wool batting.
If you have need for quick warmth, consider using this process. It goes together very quickly, looks great and provides needed warmth.
Here's what I did:
I selected 5 yards of a very busy quilting cotton print (bug sounds, the yellow print below). After pre-washing, I divided that into two 2 1/2 yard pieces. I removed the selvage edges and pieced them together making a single piece of approximately 84" x 90". The print was so busy, it's extremely difficult to locate the center seam.
Then I selected 2 1/2 yards of 108" wide fabric (the dark blue mottled fabric below).
This process gave me a top of 84" x 90" and a backing fabric of 90" x 108"
Next, I loaded the backing, batting and top fabric on Max (the longarm quilting machine). I selected the "Lounge Lizard" panto by Patricia Ritter of Urban Elementz - click here to see the panto. I love this panto and I loved using it. As this was only the 3rd & 4th time I'd ever used a panto (and it's been months since the last time), I found this design easy to follow and the results were great! To me the density of the design was just right (not too intricate and not too spacey) and the feeling of movement this design offered was a bonus.
Below are close-ups of the front and back of Jacob's quilt. Jared's quit is identical, but blue instead of yellow and I used blue thread so the quilting does not "pop" like this one.
The boys both love their quilts and use them "reversibly" depending upon their mood.
Other details: Top thread used was Glide. In the bobbin I used Magna-Glide pre-wounds -- the blue fabric shows the bottom/bobbin side of the quilting. I used Quilters' Dream Wool batting.
If you have need for quick warmth, consider using this process. It goes together very quickly, looks great and provides needed warmth.
Click images to open a larger image in a pop up window.I gave Max (if you are new to this blog, my longarm is named Max) a really good workout this week.
I'm not working on anything special...just a practice muslin piece, using red Glide Thread and a coordinating red MagnaGlide Bobbin. I've had almost no breakage or tension problems and the ones I did have were related to operator error (silly me, I didn't notice that my thread had come out of one of the guides). I just *LOVE* this thread. The picture doesn't do justice to the sheen.
This
practice piece is all scribbles in red thread, punctuated with random scribble stars. Here's a close-up.
My goal is not to make a masterpiece out of this. Everybody has to start somewhere. I've read many places that longarm quilting is a lot like dancing and I think that is very true. We weren't born dancing. We have to learn how to crawl and walk before we can dance. The same goes for longarm (and even domestic) quilting. My goal *is* to get really comfortable with quilting on Max. This exercise has been exceedingly successful in doing that. I'm much more at ease as I quilt.
If you're new at longarming, my tip for this week is to put on a small practice piece (just layers of muslin is fine). Now quilt! Just lay down a LOT of thread. Practice, practice, practice. Feel the machine, watch the thread, just let it flow. Don't be afraid. Practice movements in all directions, circles, squares, swirls and anything your heart desires. Then when you're done, scribble over all of it until you can't see any recognizable designs any more.
This exercise has been very therapeutic for me and I've had several small "ah-ha!" moments! Try it--I bet you will too.
My goal is not to make a masterpiece out of this. Everybody has to start somewhere. I've read many places that longarm quilting is a lot like dancing and I think that is very true. We weren't born dancing. We have to learn how to crawl and walk before we can dance. The same goes for longarm (and even domestic) quilting. My goal *is* to get really comfortable with quilting on Max. This exercise has been exceedingly successful in doing that. I'm much more at ease as I quilt.
If you're new at longarming, my tip for this week is to put on a small practice piece (just layers of muslin is fine). Now quilt! Just lay down a LOT of thread. Practice, practice, practice. Feel the machine, watch the thread, just let it flow. Don't be afraid. Practice movements in all directions, circles, squares, swirls and anything your heart desires. Then when you're done, scribble over all of it until you can't see any recognizable designs any more.
This exercise has been very therapeutic for me and I've had several small "ah-ha!" moments! Try it--I bet you will too.
There really is no substitution for practice, practice, practice. Don't be afraid--get in there and just do it!
The last few weeks have been so packed for me it has been really difficult to spend bonding time with Max (the longarm).
Finally, I was able to work on (and FINISH) another practice panto piece earlier this week. I chose Wild Horses by Deb Geissler.
Click here to see this panto on SALE at SewThankful.
Click here to see more pantos by Deb Geissler.
I used the large (12" design) panto and Superior King Tut #925 Caravan thread with Fil-Tec Magna-Glide bobbins to practice edge-to-edge quilting on muslin again.
I LOVE this design and once I got the hang of where I was going, it was no problem to complete...though I did "motion practice" the design several times before I started quilting. I love how the variegated thread turned out and I have very almost zero issues (LOVE those Magna-Glide bobbins). I'll definitely use this panto again! Jeff and the boys love it too.
Here's how it turned out (click each image to open larger image in a pop up window):
I still have a LOT to learn, but I'm feeling good about it because I can definitely see progress in my work. FUN!
Want to know when I post new panto and product reviews, demos and more? Be sure to join the Sew Thankful eNews -- click here.
Finally, I was able to work on (and FINISH) another practice panto piece earlier this week. I chose Wild Horses by Deb Geissler.
Click here to see this panto on SALE at SewThankful.
Click here to see more pantos by Deb Geissler.
I used the large (12" design) panto and Superior King Tut #925 Caravan thread with Fil-Tec Magna-Glide bobbins to practice edge-to-edge quilting on muslin again.
I LOVE this design and once I got the hang of where I was going, it was no problem to complete...though I did "motion practice" the design several times before I started quilting. I love how the variegated thread turned out and I have very almost zero issues (LOVE those Magna-Glide bobbins). I'll definitely use this panto again! Jeff and the boys love it too.
Here's how it turned out (click each image to open larger image in a pop up window):
I still have a LOT to learn, but I'm feeling good about it because I can definitely see progress in my work. FUN!
Want to know when I post new panto and product reviews, demos and more? Be sure to join the Sew Thankful eNews -- click here.
