free motion quilting

I loaded my first quilt on Spike yesterday and started quilting the first block today! I am very excited. My brilliant friend Vicki from Orchid Owl Quilts recommended getting some plexiglass to draw on and practice designs over the top of the quilt.  Vicki has the same machine as I do, except she has Lightning Stitch – a more advanced regulator.  Yesterday I went to home depot and picked up a sheet of Polycarbonate plastic, not quite the same as plexiglass but it serves its purpose – though I did learn I can’t use Expo Markers on it, they leave a stain, but Crayola brand dry erase markers work fantastically!

I have a doctor’s appointment today and won’t be able to do much more quilting, but I wanted to at least get this design in. I may still do something in the background of the block. This quilt is a sampler block quilt and now it will be a free motion quilt sampler too!

I hope everyone has a very happy Friday and a wonderful Easter weekend if you are celebrating.

Sorry I didn’t post this earlier, I was a bit under the weather, but seeing as today is National Quilt Day, it seemed like the perfect day to introduce Spike to you!

Spike is a 22″ Innova Long Arm with a standard regulator.  He sits on a 12 foot table that is squished into my studio. It is so awesome to have him here.  Anne and I have already been having fun quilting with him!

This is the first thing I made on Spike, really just trying to get my quilting legs under me. Trying out lots of different designs and seeing what I like best. I have my first quilt picked out that I want to do on him, it is a sampler quilt so that I can try lots of different designs out and one that is for my home so if it isn’t perfect, no one will know but me!

Last night I loaded some white linen that has been sitting in my stash for 4.5 years to practice on. Capri, my Innova Rep and wonderful new friend recommended drawing out an 8″ square grid to practice in and helped me a lot, less blank canvas feeling. Having a defined space to work in helped me a lot. Here is some of what I stitched last night.

I am having so much fun and Anne is too! I will post a video tomorrow of her on the long arm. As soon as it was set up the first words she said to me were “Mommy, can I please go first?” She had to wait and go second, but she was super excited that she go to long arm quilt. This is the beginning of awesome things for both of us!

Have a great National Quilting Day! Make something cozy!