Great day to be quilting!

 Back to longarming! I have a Quilt of Valor on today. On the wall behind the frame you see my current quilt top in progress. It's the Circa 1880 quilt I've been working on since last January.

Jelly Roll Project

 I took a break from sewing rows for my Circa 1880 quilt to make something for my quilting studio. I found a pattern for a valance on the modabakeshop site way back in 2013. I bought a jelly roll and some yardage at the time and then it sat on my shelf all this time.  And I decided today was the day it was going to get started!   You can find the pattern by clicking here!  

I made a few changes to the pattern but I think it came out great! I used a jelly roll by 3 sisters called Oasis and some yardage.  It hangs over vertical blinds.

Perfect day to spend time quilting!

 My first quilt on the new longarm is a customer quilt.  I used a basting stitch for the first time and it was a dream!  I'm going to love using this machine.  This weekend it is cold and rainy in NC, a perfect day to quilt!

King Quilter Elite is set up and ready to go

 My new longarm is set up and running.  It took 10 hours total to assemble and level the frame, mount the machine and get it ready to sew.  The shipment weighed 440 lbs and now I know why!  The frame is all steel and is extremely well built.  It is a very heavy frame.  

I bought furniture sliders to place under the frame to make it glide over my wood floor.  If you are buying a new frame I would recommend furniture sliders over the heavy duty casters.  You'll save about $200 and the frame will glide effortlessly across the floor.  Mine does and it is extremely heavy!

The only thing left to do is to attach the cloth leaders to the rails and I'll get that done today.  After that, I'll load a quilt and be off running!

Update:  All set and ready to go!  

King Quilter II Elite longarm is here

 I am happy to say 700 blocks are finished!  If you've been reading my blog you'll know I've been making 2-1/2" blocks for quite some time.  They will be assembled into the Circa 1880 quilt but not for a few more months.  I'll need to assemble the frame and then get to know my new longarm machine that was delivered today.  After that, I have 7 quilt tops from customers waiting for me so it will be awhile before I can piece the 1880 quilt together.

Circa 1880 quilt progress

 I've been filling my time by piecing while I wait for my new longarm machine to be delivered.  It comes this Monday!  I've been working on the Circa 1880 quilt and here are some fussy cut blocks I made during the last 2 days.  I'll place these randomly as I sew the rows together.  I have a total of 600 blocks finished, I need 700 to make a queen size quilt.  Each block measures 2-1/2" and when sewn will be 2" blocks.

Here's a photo of what the finished quilt will look like!  2 friends of mine have finished their quilt!  This is a photo of Pam Buda's quilt, the author of the Circa 1880 quilt pattern.

Ron Archer awesome testimony

 I was floored by this man's testimony, I know you'll enjoy it as well.

Gideon Testimony - Ron Archer from CCF Siloam on Vimeo.

Going into withdrawal

 

My longarm isn't working and rather than put money in to fixing it I decided to get a new longarm.  I bought a King Quilter II Elite made by Handi Quilter.  The day after I paid for it they told me it would be backordered until sometime in November.  So I'm out of work for a few weeks.  I'm going into withdrawal!  The good news is I've been able to spend time piecing quilt tops, something I haven't had time to do in a few months.

I'm working on my Circa 1880 quilt.  This is a quilt with 2-1/2" blocks when sewn are 2".  It a beautiful quilt made with reproduction fabrics.  2 friends of mine from online groups finished their quilts and had them appraised.  One appraised for $5,700 and the other one was $7,000.  Both quilts had custom longarm designs and that's what I plan on doing to my quilt when I get it finished.  

I started the quilt in January.  The pattern designer said if you work an hour a day, 5 days a week, the quilt will be done in a year.  I'm making a queen size, which will need over 700 blocks and I have 375 finished now!