Meet Phoebe!

She is here and we have been working together for a couple of weeks.  I'm so exited!!  I finally have a quilting companion.  She's great.  She's a hard worker and pretty quiet.  And as a matter of fact, she's actually quite pretty.  She's doesn't fight me or make my work harder, although she absolutely will stretch me in my craft.  We have gotten a lot accomplished together.  I think I'll keep her.

This is Phobe!

This is my new Q'nique and SR2 frame from Grace Company.  I am in love.  This is a very simple machine to use if you are familiar with sewing machines in general.  I did need to use my manual to thread the machine and use the bobbin winder although neither one is very difficult.  She came with a stitch regulator, so we needed to put on the encoders necessary.  Between the manual and especially YouTube, we got it done.

Phoebe on her frame.

When you order something like this while trying to stay in budget, you begin to second guess your original choices.  This is the bottom line metal long arm frame from Grace Company.  I wouldn't call it cheap.  But their other frames appear to be better for loading up quilts.  My personal opinion?  I absolutely love this frame.  It is very solid and very easy to use.  Now, I purchased a Handi Quilter table top frame years ago to use with my Juki TL98e.  I learned to float my batting and quilt top on that frame.  That is my favorite way to quilt.  It allows me to be closer to the machine and more importantly, the needle and area being quilted.  I could not be more pleased.  Phoebe and frame make  great quilting partners.

I did load a practice piece when she was first up and running.  Although I machine quilt on a Husqvarna 140C, this is different and has a learning curve.  I'm not expecting the learning curve to be as great because I already understand FMQ.  It is just getting used to how the machine feels as I move around.  It is very different.

Working on loading the frame, almost there.

Basting the side down

Quilt has been stabilized with stitch-in-the-ditch.

Note the clamps on the front rod holding the quilt in place.

This made it easy to keep the quilt squared.

The quilt was made in the 1980s around four boys heading into their teen years and free time was scarce.  I did have some time after all were in bed to sit and hand applique the (Dresden) plates onto the background squares, but never had the time to hand quilt.  The fabric is some of the last scraps from the Massachusetts Mills in Lowell, MA. not too far from my house.  I bought those scraps for $3 for a grocery bag filled.  Although my applique skills weren't great in the mid to late 1980s, I love this quilt top.  I decided to quilt it by machine so that I could finish it and use it.  The top is roughly 30 years old.  This will be an accomplishment.

So please to get Phoebe into my journal.  She is a huge gift and encouragement from the Lord and my husband to continue quilting.  I hope I have many years to work with her.

Enjoying my blessings!

dianne