The last row -

 

 

For my Upstairs/Downstairs - Christmas Red -

 

Has been quilted - YAY!! - 

 

I took this photo before I started quilting it - 

But - trust me - it's done - 

 

 

I had some excess batting -

 

So I overcompensated for that part - 

 

And I had enough backing - 

 

So that wasn't a problem - 

 

But I had so much backing left -

 

That I wondered how close I got to the seam on the insert panel - 

 

About 3 inches - 

 

About as close as it could be without it being too close to the edge of the quilt - 

 

And I probably could have left out one of the insert panels - 

But all three panels sewn together measures 22" finished -

And the excess backing measures 20" before the zipper - 

So I couldn't have left it out entirely - 

 

 

Now I have some tidying up to do - 

 

I need to remove the zippers from the backing - 

 

And trim both quilts - 

 

And make some binding - 

 

And think about how I want to quilt the next ones - ;))

 

 

 

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

 

Between the rows -

 

 

I'm trying to carve out some time to make the binding - 

 

For the last two quilts that I quilted - 

 

Simply Woven and Halloweenie Interweave - HERE - 

 

 

And I'm all set up to quilt the third row - 

 

On my Upstairs/Downstairs - Christmas Red - 

I was asked if I had chosen the next quilt(s) I'm going to quilt - 

And the answer is YES - 

Next up will be my Woof & Whiskers tops - 

Woof & Whiskers - Confetti - 

 

And - 

 

Woof & Whiskers - Jiffy Jelly - 

 

I haven't decided yet how I want to quilt them - 

 

But I found a really cute print for the backing fabric - 

And I'll show you that - 

When I "get there" - ;))

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

Second row -

 

 

Of my Upstairs/Downstairs - Christmas Red is quilted - 

 

 

I guess the last needle change worked - 

So far - so good - ;))

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

Fixed it -

 

 

At least I think I fixed it - 

 

I think the thread shredding was caused by the needle being a bit "old" - 

 

When I replaced it with the first new one -

 

There was no shredding - but the needle broke - for whatever reason - 

 

The second "new" needle probably wasn't all the way up in the housing - 

 

And came loose when I sewed a little faster than I normally do -

 

It looked like it broke in half - 

So - I shoved the third one up as far as I could -

 

And it seems to be OK so far - 

 

But now I've probably jinxed it - LOL - ;))

 

 

 

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

 

Not much progress today -

 

 

It was OK until I started shredding thread and breaking needles - 

 

Fixing that was on the agenda for today -

 

I checked how I had threaded the machine - 

 

Cleaned out the bobbin area - 

 

And changed the needle when the thread started shredding -

 

That worked for a while -

 

Then something happened and I broke the new needle -

 

I replaced the broken one -

 

And stitched a couple more blocks - 

 

Then broke another needle -

 

By that time I was on the 5th block -

 

And I called it a day - 

 

 

Now I'm stalling until I feel like dealing with it - LOL - ;))

 

 

 

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -  

 

The experiment -

 

 

Worked - YAY!! - 

 

I'm documenting it here for my own personal reference - 

 

In case I decide to do it again - 

 

I won't have to "reinvent the wheel" - 

 

And in case any of you are interested - 

===

As you already know -

 

I prepared a backing large enough for two quilts - 

 

My Upstairs/Downstairs - Christmas Red and Christmas Green - 

 

And then wondered what would happen - 

 

When I got to the end of the second quilt - 

 

And ALL of the bulk was under the throat of the machine -

 

And I saw that I was in trouble - 

 

In Wednesday's post - 

 

When I finished quilting the first one - 

 

And it looked like I had reached the limit - 

 

As far as throat space was concerned - 

 

The needle was at the edge of the last row - 

 

And the "take-up" roll was right up against the back of the machine - 

 

So I wouldn't be able to quilt complete blocks on the second quilt - 

 

As the "take-up" roll slowly reduced my "workspace" - 

 

So I tried an experiment - 

 

I wanted to take the first quilt off the frame - 

 

Before I quilted the second quilt - 

 

But I didn't want to have to unroll all of the backing from the front rail -

 

In order to baste another zipper to the top edge - 

 

Since I needed to do that at another machine -

 

And the backing couldn't be on the frame when I did it -

 

I could have pinned a zipper on - but that would have been a pain (for me) -

 

And I would have done that - as a last resort - 

 

If my experiment didn't work - 

 

But it did! - YAY!! - 

 

===

 

First -

I rolled the first quilt up on the back rail - 

And laid out a zipper to make sure that I had the "correct" half of the zipper -

 

Then I trimmed the batting off just past the edge of the first quilt -

To "reveal" the backing underneath - 

Using a cutting mat between the batting and the backing - 

As extra insurance that I wouldn't accidentally cut the backing fabric - 

 

Going around to the back of the frame - 

Because I'm left-handed and cut from left to right - 

 

Then I used my channel lock to baste a zipper to the backing - 

BEFORE I cut off the first quilt - 

 

The channel lock kept the zipper straight - 

And I basted the zipper from the center out to the edge on each side -

 

 

And as long as I didn't cut the backing BEFORE the zipper was on it -

I wouldn't have a backing rolled on the front rail with no zipper -

 

So AFTER the zipper was basted on - 

I cut the backing between the new zipper and the first quilt -

 

 

In this photo - 

The cut backing with the new zipper is hanging from the top rail -

And the first quilt is rolled up on the bottom rail - 

 

Here's the rolled up first quilt - from the other side of the frame - 

 

Next step - unroll the first quilt from the top rail - 

And fan-fold it on the table inserts - 

 

Until I get to the zipper attaching it to the leader cloth -

 

Unzip the zipper - 

 

Remove the first quilt from the frame - 

 

Fold it up and set it aside - 

So that I can unbaste the zipper before I trim the quilt and bind it - 

 

Zip the backing for the second quilt to the leader cloth -

Using the newly basted on zipper - 

 

Check that the center markings line up - 

They are not perfect - but they are close enough for me - 

 

Now it looks like it should - 

Ready for the second quilt -

 

And I can pretend that I planned it that way all along - LOL - ;))

 

 

 

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

 

Happy Thanksgiving - 2022 -

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!! - ;))

Today is Turkey Day in the U.S.A. -

 

And a day to Give Thanks! -

And I DO! - ;))

I'm thankful for SO many things -

My family - my friends - my neighbors - my readers/followers/fans -

My stash - my sewing machines - my toys -

And SO much more! - ;))

Here's hoping that you have a very nice Turkey Day with your family! -

And have plenty of leftovers! - ;))



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

 

Quilted -

 

 

My Upstairs/Downstairs - Christmas Green - 

 

Is quilted -  

 

YAY!! -  

 

It looks like I have reached the limit - 

 

As far as throat space is concerned - 

 

The needle is at the edge of the last row - 

 

And the "take-up" roll is right up against the back of the machine - 

 

So I won't be able to quilt complete blocks on the second quilt - 

 

As the "take-up" roll slowly reduces my "workspace" - 

 

So tomorrow I'm going to try an experiment - 

 

I want to take the first quilt off the frame - 

 

Before I quilt the second quilt - 

 

But I don't want to have to unroll all of the backing from the front rail -

 

In order to baste another zipper to the top edge - 

 

I could pin a zipper on - but that would be a pain (for me) -

 

And I will do that - as a last resort - 

 

If my experiment doesn't work - 

 

Stay tuned - LOL - ;))

 

 

 

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

 

Three rows -

 

 

On my Upstairs/Downstairs - Christmas Green - 

 

Are quilted - 

 

And I'm set up for Row #4 - 

 

The clamps finally fit and "stay put" - 

So things are moving right along - ;))

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

First couple of blocks -

 

 

On my Upstairs/Downstairs - Christmas Green - 

 

Are quilted - 

 

 

I decided to use my "go-to" design - 

 

Back and forth lines - 

 

Changing direction with each block - 

 

This time with 3 lines in each row/column of squares - 

The long white thing you see next to the front rail - 

Is a tube filled with rice that I saw on one of Leah Day's videos -

 

It adds a little "weight" at the bottom of the block - 

 

Since it is actually resting on the backing that is stretched between the rails - 

And it seems to be enough to compensate for the missing clamps - 

I probably could have unrolled the backing from the front rail - 

And let it "live" in the hammock with the batting and rest of the quilt top - 

So that I could use the clamps - 

But it was rolled up so nicely and neatly on the front rail - 

That I didn't really want to unroll it - 

Unless I HAD to - 

And it looks like I don't HAVE to - 

So I'm happy about that - ;))

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

Loaded -

 

 

My Upstairs/Downstairs - Christmas Green - 

 

Is the first of the two tops to be loaded - 

 

And now I know why I should only load one quilt at a time - 

 

I got this far - 

 

And tried to clamp the quilt/batting/backing to the front rail - 

 

And the "bulk" was so much - 

 

That the clamps "popped" right off -

 

Guess it's more than they can handle - LOL -  

So anyway - 

It looks like I'll have to hold the layers to the front rail - 

 

To get some tension - 

 

As I go along - 

 

For the first few rows - 

 

Or at least until I unroll enough of the backing - 

So the clamps will "stay put" -

 

This is SO FUN - 

 

I learn something new every day - LOL - ;))

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

Batting -

 

 

For my Upstairs/Downstairs - Christmas Red and Green - 

 

Has been cut to size and trimmed down to 90" - 

 

And has been spread out on top of the backing - 

 

Ready to baste down - 

 

 

The rest of this "cut" is fan-folded in the hammock - 

 

 

I REALLY wish my sewing/quilting mojo would come back - 

 

From wherever she went - LOL - 

 

This has taken me WAAAAAY too long - 

 

To get this far - ;))

 

 

 

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

 

Progress -

 

 

On another front -

 

My daughter finished the puzzle - 

 

A Purrfect Holiday - 

CEACO - 2000 pieces - 

 

There's a LOT of detail in this one - 

And I think she did it in record time - 

 

Working on it sporadically for about four weeks -

 

My contribution was negligible - ;))

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

 

Moving along -

 

 

Again with the backing - 

 

For my Upstairs/Downstairs - Christmas Red and Green - 

 

I cut the batting to size - 

But forgot to take a photo - 

 

Then I loaded the backing on the frame - 

 

So tomorrow I can unfold the batting - 

 

And re-roll it to fit in the hammock - 

 

And go from there - 

 

I also doodled some more possible quilting designs - 

 

But still have not decided yet - 

 

I better decide soon - 

I think I've stalled long enough - LOL - ;))

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

The backing -

 

 

For my Upstairs/Downstairs - Christmas Red and Green - 

 

Has been sewn together - 

 

And spread out on my bed - doubled - 

 

For another "size check" - 

 

It has been deemed sufficiently HUGE to accommodate both quilts -

Tomorrow I'll use it to measure and cut the batting - 

Since I splurged and got a big roll of batting - 

To quilt at least SOME of the tops hanging in my closet - 

I ordered a 96" x 30 yd roll of batting (on sale) - 

 

And it's in a box on the floor next to my bed - 

 

I want to slit the box and the plastic wrap - 

 

So that I can unroll it onto my bed - 

 

To measure out how much I need for my quilts - 

 

Silly me - 

 

I had thought that I could put the roll in the hammock - 

 

And unroll it from there - 

 

But the dang thing came FOLDED on a roll in the box - 

 

So that won't work -

 

I am NOT about to unroll 30 yards - unfold it -

 

Then re-roll it to fit in the hammock - 

 

So Plan B - 

 

Is "in a box on the floor next to my bed" - LOL  - ;))

 

 

 

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

 

And another -

 

 

Insert panel - 

 

For extra insurance - 

 

I did another "size check" for the backing - 

 

For both of my Upstairs/Downstairs - Christmas Red and Green - 

 

And decided to add ANOTHER insert panel - 

To make both "backs" look similar with three panels each -

 

And for extra insurance that I won't come up short at the end - 

 

 

But first - 

 

I have to "unsew" another LONG seam - 

 

To make room for the insert - 

 

Which takes some time - 

 

But it should be worth it - 

 

Then there will be no stress about whether or not the backing is wide enough - 

 

And no stress once it's loaded - 

 

I'll get TWO quilts for ONE backing - 

 

And will eventually get out of my current "turtle mode" - LOL - ;))

 

 

 

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

 

One more -

 

 

Insert panel made - 

But not "inserted" yet - 

 

 

I got sidetracked today watching football - LOL - 

But I have high hopes for more sewing tomorrow - ;))

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

The backing -

 

 

For both my Upstairs/Downstairs - Christmas Red and Christmas Green - 

 

Is all one gigantic big piece - 

 

 

After I took this photo - 

 

I took the backing and spread it out on my bed - 

 

To do a quick "size check" with both tops - 

 

And I'm cutting it a little close - 

 

So - 

 

Before I load it on the frame - 

 

I'm going to add one more "insert panel" to the GREEN side - 

 

Since I'd much rather have a bit extra at the end - 

 

Than come up short - ;))

 

 

 

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

 

Moving along -

 

 

At a snail's pace - 

 

But still moving - 

 

I sewed the two sets of insert panels together - 

 

And I sewed the zippers to the top and bottom panels - 

Since I figured it would be easier at this stage - 

Than it would be when I had the whole thing together - 

 

Then I actually inserted the panels for the GREEN part of the backing - 

 

 

I still have to insert the panels for the RED part of the backing - 

 

And it seems to be taking me f.o.r.e.v.e.r. to do this - 

 

But I have to remind myself that I'm making TWO backings in one - 

 

So it's really not that bad - ;))

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew - 

A little more progess -

 

 

On a couple of fronts - 

 

I made the Label for Halloweenie Interweave - 

 

To add to the Scrap Card and Heart - 

 

 

Then I made the Scrap Card and Heart and Label - 

 

For Simply Woven - 

 

And I stitched together four panels to insert into the backing - 

 

For my Upstairs/Downstairs - Christmas Red and Christmas Green - 

 

I think the two on the left will go in the Red one - 

 

And the two on the right will go in the Green one - 

 

The next step is to actually insert them into the backing - 

 

Then load it on the frame - 

 

And I still have to make the binding - 

 

For both Halloweenie Interweave and Simply Woven - 

So I won't be running out of things to do - 

 

For a while - LOL - ;))

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -