Sewing Room Flittering

Last Friday I spent four hours with a Pfaff dealer in Ocala. I trust the tech's 30 years of sewing machine experience, and believe she tried everything possible to fix the problem of my machine skipping stitches, but the problem still exists. When quilting from side to side the machine skips stitches... but not all the time.

Quilt sandwich is, from bottom to top:
Widescreen quilt backing; Quilter's Dream Poly Request loft; Quilter's Dream Wool; and Kaufman Kona

The tech even contacted Pfaff HQ and wasn't able to receive help. All the techs are newer than the Grand Quilter!

Even after a good servicing - set to factory standards - and different thread than Aurifil 50-weight, the problem continued. The tech believes my problem lies with quilting double-batting. Oddly enough, I didn't have problems when I double-batt quilted Ad Libbing.

An IG friend recommends that I try a Superior Titanium Top Stitch needle to see if that makes a difference. When I can get my hands on a package, I'll give them a try.

This is the quilt I've been attempting to quilt. It's my own quilt design - called "Make it Easier - used to teach how to sew a variety of quilt blocks.

Since bringing my Pfaff home, I was able to complete quilting one section. How did I do it?

 

I steam-pressed the quilt sandwich! It helps! Only a few stitches skipped. Still, unless the Superior needle works better, I will think long and hard before using double batting again.

I've completed 12 blocks of my "Spinning Wheel" English paper-piecing project. Time to print and cut more papers, and choose and cut more fabrics for more blocks. It's one of those, "Let's-see-where it-goes" projects.

I also cut out clothes. That's a new pair of yellow shorts for me, and another Dress a Girl Around the World dress. Those pockets are gonna be too cute! Mermaids.

With mod quilter-friends at our Central Florida MQG Saturday Sew-In, I worked on this "Rainbow Rounds" foundation paper piecing project. This quilt appeared in Love Patchwork and Quilting magazine, issue 24. What did we do before we had Wonder Clips to hold pieces together?!

Thought you'd like to see some of our modern quilters with our modern makes. Good picture, isn't it? Yep, that's me - lower right. Check out more about our chapter on our Central Florida MQG blog. I write that blog too. 

As I was FPPing, I also sewed 1-1/2" X 1-1/2" leaders and enders to make 4-1/2" X 4-1/2" 16-patch blocks... trying to use up that ever-full basket of tiny cut squares.

And here you have my flittering sewing life. Will I ever get enough of it? Linda

Everyone Needs an Apple

If it has seemed oddly quiet here it's because I was without a computer for five-and-a-half extremely long days.

Last Tuesday, my almost three year-old Macbook went to the nearby Apple Store Genius Bar to have a power cord problem checked out. I learned it would be a day or two repair. However, after the suspected problem wasn't the problem after all, they ordered a part. Apple let me know it would be a day or two more. Then, when that replacement part didn't fix the problem, and other efforts didn't resolve the problem either, I received a surprising phone call. April, my new friend at Apple, let me know they would give me a brand new replacement computer! 

So I went from this 2008 Macbook which is no longer being made,

to this 2011 Macbook Pro with twice the processing capability, twice the memory, a backlit keyboard, and a nifty trackpad that lets me use finger "gestures" to scroll, rotate, zoom-in, and change applications!

This Macbook Pro cost me nothing thanks to the extended service contract I purchased in 2008. But it was close! My warranty was due to expire August 1! What a great decision it was (in hindsight, of course) to purchase that $249 service contract that saved me hundreds of dollars. I'm a very happy Mac-user who appreciates Apple's outstanding customer service.

During the five-and-a-half long days I was frustratingly incommunicado I spent a lot of time sewing. It's remarkable what one can accomplish when social networking isn't possible. 

Small small strips and pieces are the first thing I tackled. More than a year ago I had made 34 "Ezekiel" blocks (based on the Bible story of dry bones come to life: Ezekiel 37). I selected fabrics for a scrappy purple and gold quilt. Because I've been invited to speak to an area quilt guild in October about Stitchin' Mission, I'm sewing to build my quilt inventory. 

From scraps, I "made fabric."  

I used a 6-1/2" square ruler to cut as many Ezekiel blocks as possible from several large fabric hunks.

I've made this "New Life" quilt (Ezekiel 37:5) several times before, but this is the first time I've set Ezekiel blocks on point. The sashing is solid white fabric, and cornerstones are in two shades of purple solids. A wavy stripe print gives interest to the outside setting triangles.

New Life quilt, 54" X 65-1/2"

The quilt back is cobbled from leftover Ezekiel blocks, and several purple prints that no longer make my heart throb.

It's another quilt that I'll be able to sit-down quilt at my Pfaff Grand Quilter. You might like to know that my broken down Pfaff  was an easy, albeit costly, fix. When I bought it (used), the needle threader had been broken off. As I never use one anyway, I opted not to have it replaced. That was my mistake. An internal part of the needle threader dislodged and blocked the stitch mechanism. For $8, I have a new needle threader. Labor was $80.

This new computer is distracting me from quilting. I'm having a great time emailing friends, catching up on blogs, and video Skypeing - with extraordinarily visual clarity! It was dreadful being out-of-touch. Yes, yes, I admit to being hooked on my social network (I don't Facebook though) but that's because face-to-face time with friends is rare. Everyone works, and they're just plain busy.

I intend to remain entrenched in technology. I have wisely invested in another extended service warranty. Linda

A Finish

It didn't take much time spent free-motion quilting for me to figure out I love my new Pfaff Grand Quilter. It's going to see a lot of use!

I used Superior variegated rayon thread in the top and 50-weight Aurifil in the bobbin to quilt this 44" x 56" quilt.

Though I quilted a pretty simple design, it was the perfect pattern with which to familiarize myself with the Pfaff - how it feels - and to work out the proper rhythm.

It's kinda like riding a new bicycle. You already know how to ride one, but you need to feel comfortable on the seat, changing gears, and controlling the brake!

I'll say that it did feel different than quilting on my Bernina, and certainly that's attributable to the Pfaff being an industrial machine. But the difference is definitely in a good way. I seemed to be able to manage the quilt much better, with less hand and quilt repositioning. That surely has much to do with the extra 1-1/2" of throat space. I never would have believed such a small amount of additional space would give me so much more control.
For the first time, I think I am actually looking forward to free-motion quilting, a step in quiltmaking process I usually dread. Gosh, I'm even planning and anticipating quilting the next quilt!

As always, I think spiral binding adds pizazz to the outside of a quilt, especially when the fabrics are vibrant colors.

The quilt back.

On another note... Friday morning I drove about 20 miles north to attend a small quilt show. Of course, I couldn't leave without strolling through vendor booths. I was surely grinning like a fool when I saw this booth, filled with patterns from Australian quilt and stitchery designers! Here are patterns from Kellie Wulfsohn of Don't Look Now.

I also saw patterns by Melly & Me, Janelle Wind Collection, Cinderberry Stitches, and Rosalie Quinlan, among others. These are all sold by Treasured Threads, a company based right here in Iowa! I actually found a $14.50 pattern I purchase for $16 in Australia in May. How could I have known?

Please be sure to visit again sometime this coming week. Here's a big hint why...

I'm hosting a giveaway.

A Machine and Friends

This week has started with a couple fun activities. First, after much research that mostly involved talking with helpful quilting friends, I decided to purchase this three-year old Pfaff Grand Quilter machine through Craigslist. The seller was offering it along with a stitch regulator and Inspira quilt frame, neither of which I wanted, so I was very please to learn I could purchase the machine separately.

Though the needle threader is missing (I never use one anyway) and the telescoping thread holder is damaged, I think both are easily repairable and in no way impact the mechanical aspects of this machine. Since oiling it, putting in a new needle, and making tension adjustments, it's running like a champ. I couldn't be more pleased with my bargain purchase.

Of course, being anxious to free-motion quilt on my new machine, I had to whip up a quilt top! After seeing this one on Rene's blog, I wanted to make it too. The original design is a pattern called "Red Centre" from Material Obsessions. After doing some math, I made my 44" X 56" quilt from 4" (finished) blocks.You can see that I made it with bright, kid-friendly prints, and my all-time favorite "bullseye" white-on-white print from Timeless Treasures. In the past year I've used nearly 7 yards of bullseye in quilts! Sadly, I have only 1/3 yard left.The second fun thing this week was to visit several Iowa quilt shops with my friends. Susan, Michelle, Kim and I went to the Quilting Connection in Ames, Block Party Studios in Nevada, and Quilter's Cupboard in Ankeny.

Being the practical sort, my purchases were needed fabric for quilt backings and binding, machine needles, and a big hunk of Hobbs wool. The latter is for my next new adventure in free-motion quilting with that Pfaff.

None of us went overboard adding to our stashes, but still had a great time together. Chatter was pretty much non-stop, except when our mouths were occupied with lunch or a treat from Dairy Queen. What a blessing it is to have friends with whom you can share your life and be yourself. Thank you, Buds!

Like I said, "Fun!"