design wall Monday 11-26-12

So I tell Frank that he has only 11 days to make sure he has an Emcee for the CAAWS party on the 13th of Dec.  He panics.  But I am wrong, he has just over 2 weeks, more like 16 days.  Not too bad.  I just wanted to let him know because when he panics the day before and wants me to do it,  I can say not enough time, dear.....sorry.  I really need to prepare anyway, I guess.

Africa or African Women

Southwest

So what I am working on is a combination of things.  I have two quilts prepared for quilting, Southwest and Judy's class she taught, I can't remember the name but I call it Africa.


And I have the Spools that I need to get together, but I can do that on Tuesday at the Red Stick.

I made two journals from the BQ Quilt blocks that were leftover from the two quilts for Dan and Amber (this is a good picture of one of the quilts) were made into journal covers.  A very very very very easy method.  More later when I have a full battery in my camera to take pictures of the process.  One block is so large that it made two books!  And I gave one to Swooze when we met.  I will have to do a post on how to do it, so simple!  Maybe an informal class at the Red Stick!

I am fighting with the tension on the longarm.  I think I got that straight and the stitch regulator is not working.  I spent 2 hours working on the tension issue and finally got that figured out, but not before I #$%@*@  up the tension so that I needed to reset it.  Aughhhh!

You want to know what the problem was?

I bought a pantograph that was 11 inches wide.  My shelf is not, it is more like 8 inches wide.  And the thread trailed along the overhang.  So now I have to cut all my panto rolls down to whatever my shelf width is.  I guess it makes sense, that added a "tension" to the thread as it rolled through the machine.  But I think it was stupid of the machine to react that way.

It could have said, hey, trim the panto and I will work for you.  Instead it threw a hissy fit and set out to give me ulcers.  Stupid machine............

Clamp Lamp Clamp Lamp Clamp Lamp Clamp Lamp Clamp Lamp Clamp Lamp Clamp Lamp

I have finally completed the ripping out of the three rows of lizard quilting that had tension problems underneath.  I did a test pattern on the quilt before deciding that it would be safe to begin quilting again.

The test pattern consisted of straight lines in both directions, straight lines up and down and circles and arcs in both right and left configurations.  Sort of an "everything possible" configuration.  I did this to make sure the settings allowed proper tension in all the moves I could make while quilting.

Then, when I was happy with the tensioning.........I ripped THOSE out!  LOL.

One thing that came from the whole process was the placement of my lamp.  Previously I had put clamp lamps.......too funny "clamp lamp" -- say that 5 times fast.....on the ends of the frame.  That gave me some light so I would not be working in my shadow.

One thing about Frank Parks, he is a problem solver.  Whether you want him to solve the problem or not.  Forget about him LISTENING to you, while you are talking he is working on the solution in his head.  But I digress.........

All you have to do is express irritation about something and Frank will come up with a solution.  Some are not really workable, but he has fulfilled his life's destiny by providing you with that solution and he is happy.  Well, he actually did solve a problem for me.  And it was simple.  He moved one of the Clamp Lamps (clamp lamp clamp lamp clamp lamp--it just is funny) to the cross bar on the front handle of the machine.  Now it shines directly on the area I am working, bright (and HOT - so I need a cool bulb in there) so the whole space is well lit, I am not in my shadow and it is perfect.



Did I say HOT?  That called for another solution.  Two in one day and he was in ecstasy!  He brought a stupid looking primary colored plastic miniature fan and put it on the sideboard.  The fan walked all over the surface of the sideboard and off the edge.  Oh, my, he was ready with yet ANOTHER solution!  Ankle weights!

So now, he is like the happiest man in the universe!  Three solutions, all working, and a happy wife.

Can't beat that with a stick.

glen

I'll Show You Mine if You Show Me Yours

Here is the offending machine.  It is a Husqvarna Mega Quilter.  Currently it is set up in my dining room at the 10 foot span.

It has always had a problem with the tension and I thought I had conquered it.  I brought it to a Sewing Machine person who was supposed to be the best around and it came back in exactly the same shape it left.  I am not sure he even did anything to it for the $120 he charged me.

It is complicated to thread, although not impossible.  You have to be a contortionist or be left handed, which I am neither.  When it sews correctly, it does a fabulous job of quilting.  I wonder why they have all those twists and turns when you thread the thing.  Like this, why not just make it go straight into the tension thingy. That way I won't twist it incorrectly and mess up a whole row of quilting......duh.

I bought it second hand with the idea that I would decide if I liked a long arm and then become proficient at it.  But since it has the tension problems, I have not become proficient at it.  That and my mom and Dutch and my life last year.  You know the drill.

I have about 20 quilts that need quilting and I think I will attempt to become proficient at doing this.  I have all these quilts, you see.......

glen:  ohhhh! It is only the 8th and I am already down 7.5 yards!  Whoo hoo!  Good because I will be out of the country for 9 days soon! No quilting while having fun!