Sunday, August 17, 2008

Locked and Loaded.....


No free time - with the exception of an hour or two at 6:00 a.m. a few days last week. So today - after all chores were done, I decided that it's time to load up the Gracie frame with the purple quilt. Typically this would be a great "hand quilting" project, but I've no time this week. This is one of those "Git 'er done" jobs.

After many (many) hours of fussing, rolling, re-rolling, pinning, re-pinning, shooshing Gizmo off the batting (he likes to lay and roll on it) and BLEEDING (yep - I kept stabbing myself whilest pinning the quilt on to the leaders) I finally figured out how to load 'er up- straight, tight, and even. It took me over 1/2 the day. Good thing is -- you do it once -- and it's much easier the next time.


Before now, I've done only hand quilting (which I seriously enjoy), and machine quilting by bunching and rolling the quilt under the neck -- which is very doable -- but NOT FUN. I know, I'm a whimp -- but I HATE wrestling with all that fabric. I think that's why I like hand quilting so much more.

Sad thing is - it's 5:00 p.m., and I have to call it quits for tonight. We're taking the girl out for dinner as a farewell to summer as she starts school tomorrow and we're going to spend some "quality" time together -- whether she likes it or not :) So I'll have to leave Gracie alone for tonight and hopefully get a chance tomorrow or the next day to work on this as it must be on it's way to Ohio very soon.

Oh so many things in progress -- more on that tomorrow.

Enjoy your week!

6 comments:

Candace said...

I'm very interested in the process, and must say you have a beautiful sunny spot to quilt in.
Good for you for sticking to it.

Darling Jill Quilts said...

It definitely gets easier the more you load! I have started trimming my backing so that it is more straight and easier to load it that way to have it loaded straight. :)

3rdEyeMuse said...

ok - what is that frame thing and how does it (do you) work it?

hope you all had a most excellent dinner and even better time together. :)

Jeanne Turner McBrayer said...

Hooray! Now take a deep breath and start quilting! Looks great on the frame.

Wholly Jeanne said...

well, i'll sure be watching you work with this contraption. i've gotten spoiled with smaller pieces i can tuck in my pocketbook and go.

Pursuing Art... said...

How exciting that you've got it on and ready to go! It is always frustrating trying something new, but after the first time...it will be so much easier!

I hope you had a nice dinner with Sabrina as a farewell to summer! I can't believe she is back in school...already!?!

~Lisa ;-)

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