Quilts

Quilting is one of my most favorite hobbies. I did not start quilting until I was an adult. I had done some sewing in a home economics class in junior high. I felt my sewing projects were a big disaster mainly because it was not a positive experience. I swore I would never sew another day in my life.That has sure changed. I got the urge to sew when my daughter was growing up. So I made a few clothes but nothing fancy.

My first sewing machine was a basic Kenmore with no automatic tension settings for the thread and bobbin. If you have done any sewing when the tensions are off, you know it can be a royal pain in the side. Needless to say I was so angry with the machine I was ready to pitch it out the door. I had one of those flashbacks in time to my sewing experiences in junior high school recalling why I hadn’t done much sewing up until then. I had the machine serviced and started doing some other sewing projects and really got hooked on sewing.

Since I was hooked on sewing, I thought if I was going to continue sewing I wanted a sewing machine that adjusted the tensions for me so I would not have to think about it unless I chose too. Kenmore and other sewing machine companies make several great sewing machines for the beginner to the professional seamstress that have manual only tension adjustments or automatic tension settings that can be adjusted manually if you are so inclined to go down that road.

I went shopping to see if I could find a sewing machine that had automatic tension settings so I could concentrate on sewing. Boy, shopping for sewing machines is like shopping for cars. There are lots of makes and models and the price tags ranged from $100 to over $13,000. I was very overwhelmed and had trouble deciding what features I wanted. After looking at lots of machines and talking to several people that I knew that had sewing machines I started narrowing the list alot. Obviously, price was a big factor in what I looked at.

One day I went into a Viking sewing machine store and told the sales clerk what I wanted in the way of features. She demonstrated several models and let me test drive a few as well. I fell in love with the Viking Designer I. It had automatic tensions and did several of the features I wanted including embroidery work. I love embroidery work but do not have the patience to do it by hand. Hum, is there a pattern here I haven’t noticed until now? Anyway, the machine was expensive enough I told the clerk I would need to talk with my husband first. So I went home to tell him all about the machine. We went to the store so he could see it and needless to say we bought it. I love my Viking sewing machine very much and have named it Vick. Vick has been really good to me. I have spent hundreds of hours sewing with Vick. So far hubby is not jealous and very happy I enjoy sewing

One day I was out shopping for fabric and stopped at a local quilt shop that caught my attention. I had never made any quilts. I thought I could never do that but what the heck I could go in and admire the quilts other people have made. Well, after more than two hours looking at everything I left the store with two quilt kits. I did not have a glue what I had gotten myself into. Quilt kits contain all the fabric to make the quilt top, binding in some cases, and a pattern. I had bought a Halloween quilt kit and a red hat quilt kit. I came home all excited to make them and then realized they were not for the novice quilter. So, I started researching quilt patterns suitable for a beginner. I found a quilt pattern called a rag quilt that was very easy and fun to make.

Several patterns and quilts later I finally made the Halloween and red hat quilts that I bought over two years earlier. Since then I have even joined a quilt guild. The quilt guild has sewing days to work on charity quilts, for socializing and to have fun sewing with other guild members. I enjoy going to those activities but my Viking sewing machine can be quite heavy to be carrying back and forth. So I went and bought a Brother 900D sewing and embroidery machine. It is much smaller and works great to take to sewing classes, friends home to sew, sewing days for charity quilts and retreats. I love retreats. They are like slumber parties for adults. We usually go for 4 days 3 nights to a location that caters to quilt guilds and other group retreats. We sew, eat, visit a lot, giggle, share quilting projects and sew. We do get some sewing done even though we do a lot of visiting and giggling as if we were back in junior high.

I truly love picking out quilt patterns, choosing the fabrics, making the quilt top, choosing what fabric to use on the back of the quilt, quilting the quilt and then binding it. Quilting is very relaxing and I get a real sense of accomplishment when I have finished a quilt. I love making quilts for my family and close friends.

After doing the quilting on my Viking sewing machine I decided it would be very nice to have a sewing machine with a bigger throat (the space between the needle and right side of the machine) so quilting would be easier. I researched the cost of a long arm quilting machine. Due to the space required to set one up and the cost of the machine and frame I decided that was not an option for me. There are some local quilt shops that have long arm quilting machines for rent by the hour. I went and took a class to learn how to use the shop’s long arm machine. I scheduled a day to use the long arm quilting machine for a couple of quilts I had. The long arm qulting machine like other equipment has a mind of it’s own and decided not to work. I was not charged since I did not get to quilt my quilts. After visiting with several long arm quilters on the in’s and out’s of long arm machines I have decided they are not for me. There are several long arm quilters who can be hired to do the quilting for people’s quilts. Due to the cost to have a larger quilt quilted professionally and the fact I love to do the quilting myself I pursued other options.

I did a lot of research and found a sewing machine that met my needs. I bought a Janome Horizon. I really love my Janome. The throat is large and sews wonderfully. It is very quiet compared to my other two sewing machines.

My Janome sewing machines name is Jane. So I spend alot of my spare time sewing with Vick and Jane. When I take my little Brother sewing machine places and a friend happens to be sitting near me with their larger Brother sewing machine I tell my machine it better behave because Big Brother is watching.

I have made several charity quilts as well. I made the majority of the quilts featured on my site for myself, a family member, close friend or charity. Unfortunately, I did not take pictures of all the charity quilts I have made and donated.