Quilting & Designing

I've really enjoyed learning how to use my Pantovision. Pantovision is basically digital designs hooked up to my longarm. I still steer and operate my machine; it's not run by a computer, but I have the ability to steer from the front of the machine and follow the digital design. For anyone who has done pantograph work from behind the machine, you will know how hard it is. But steering from the front of the machine, where you can actually see what is happening as you quilt, is a wonderful experience! It's so much fun! Let me know if you're interested in learning how to quilt your quilt using my longarm, either free motion or using a digital design to follow. I teach lessons!

Here are some quilts I've finished recently for customers:

This one is the mystery quilt our guild did this year. I love the color choices! Here's the back. . . .

and the front. . . 

This was really fun to quilt because of the 3-D pinwheels. Basically, I only quilted on the white to help the colors really pop!

I'm really proud of this next quilt because not only did I custom quilt it, but I also designed the quilt. Here's the back. . .

and the center section. . .

and the front. . . 

Star Bright Beginning Quilting - from start to finish!

This Star Bright class was super fun! The quilt pattern is based on Swim Bike Quilt's pattern. I had four students, three of which were able to completely finish their quilts. The fourth student just needs to finish the binding and quickly make another complete quilt before Christmas for two of her boys who share a room!

Here's my sample:

Here are the quilts my students finished. Aren't their color choices amazing?

A Quilted Panel

This was a fun panel to quilt. It was small (baby quilt size) and went quickly. I used a "calming water" pantograph, which I think fit perfectly with the safari theme.

September Classes Roundup

September classes were super fun! Unfortunately, since the Carpenter Star was the first class I taught, I forgot to take pictures. I had five eager students ready to learn and work hard. We had a great time learning a "magic" way to create eight half-square triangle units all at once! It was really fun to take a break half way through the class and enjoy a light lunch together. . . chicken salad croissants, chips, and watermelon. Everyone got their blocks finished and laid out to sew them together. We needed an extra hour or so to sew the blocks together and get the borders on. I'm learning so much as I teach these classes!

The second class was a beginner's Ric-Rac Receiving Blanket. I had five students, although one student decided just to help her daughter get her blanket completed rather than work on her own. We learned a little about machine and needle maintenance, thread choice, sewing a straight and curved seam, pressing, and top stitching. Here are the finishes. I love seeing the variety of the students' choices in fabric and accent ric-rac! Sew fun!

A Few Summer Accomplishments

With my son coming home after being away for 2 years, I wanted to make a quilt that he could take to college. I followed Rob's tutorial from Man Sewing (sponsored by Missouri Star Quilt Company). I LOVE the gradations of the colors and the geometric primary and secondary designs created by how the blocks are put together. I made the quilt bigger than the tutorial instructed because it needed to fit on a twin size bed at college!

My friend's daughter got married at the beginning of August. I was asked to make a "signature" quilt, one that everyone could sign. I attended the reception, and it was absolutely beautiful! It was so neat to see all the signatures on the quilt. Everyone signed in the cream areas.

Back to School - Open House and Class Registration

I held a Back to School Open House to introduce customers to the classes I'll be offering in September.

I'll soon be posting new classes for October, November, and December. I'd love to hear your ideas on what classes you'd like me to teach.

Here's what we're doing on Wednesday, September 9 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. (luncheon included!). I have 1 more spot available in this class. Cost is $30.

And here's what the beginner sewists will be making on Saturday, September 19 from 10: a.m. - noon. I have one more spot in this class. Cost is $15.

Busy Summer. . . and a Table Runner

Wow! It's been a super busy summer between our son coming home from France (he was there for a two-year mission for our church), getting him off to college, and just the normal business of summer gardening and yardwork.

I've done a few quilts but have forgotten to take pictures before returning them to owners. Bummer. However, I did remember to get a picture of this beautiful table runner I finished today. My friend has completed a table runner for every season/month for her niece, except for Christmas. This Christmas one finishes her niece's set! I just about jumped for joy when the owner said, "I love lots of quilting!" So I went to town on the quilting and had a lot of fun. The snowflake wasn't sewn on yet. I quilted it on for her. I used 2 layers of 100% bamboo batting. The amazing thing about bamboo batting is you can quilt it pretty heavily, but the quilt still stays flexible and soft.

Hansen Wedding

I just finished this beauty! I didn't want to quilt over the beautiful piecing that my aunt did, so I tried to pick a design that would enhance it rather than overwhelm it. It's the first time I've done ruler-work, which I really enjoyed. There were lots of thread starts and stops, which I didn't necessarily enjoy. I also changed the thread color. It's red in the center of the quilt and black in the borders. Next time I would just keep it red throughout. I used a double bat, one layer of 80/20 cotton/poly and one layer of 100% bamboo.

Go Cowboys!

I finally got my longarm set up and ready to go, and here's the first quilt I completed on it. . .

Swoon Baby Quilt

My friend Amy asked me to quilt this for her. The minky on the back is to die for!

First Quilt!

Actually, it's not my first quilt ever, but it is my first quilt since I started my quilting business!

A young girl completed the quilt top a few years ago when she was taking sewing lessons. I have to add that she had a very good instructor! Her corners and points and seams all matched up very well!

Now that young girl isn't so young anymore, and she is graduating from high school in a few weeks.

Her mom decided to get the quilt finished so she can take it with her when she goes to college in the fall. Her mom added the borders and then delivered it to me to be quilted.

I chose an all-over design called the Baptist Fan. I love how it adds soft movement to the quilt which has so many straight lines.

At the owner's request, I quilted something different in the border. The swirly wave seemed to be the right fit.

The hot pink flannel for the back will be perfect for those very cold winter nights in Cache Valley!

I used a cross-cut double binding and attached it to the back of the quilt by machine. I also sewed it to the front of the quilt by machine. I know the quilt is going to be well-loved and used at college, and I wanted to make sure it will last for many years to come.

Thanks, Rowberry family, for being my very first customers! I hope you are pleased with your quilt!