On the Longarm

A friend's request had me suggesting a selection of whole cloth pieces, and I'm now quilting her choice. I love quilting what I've printed, as the road map is already there. Hope to finish soon, and am looking forward to staying in for the snowfall expected tomorrow. 
 

Additional Trick

Missing a bit of the bottom, I've sewed a piece on with the longarm to the last edge. I'll sew starting and ending with a turned edge, then straight stitch, then flip, then sew along the bottom edge. Hope it's worth it when I get to the final trim!
 

Little Scissors

My Gammill longarm has seen a handful of owners, and the last one before me made a spot to keep a small sharp pair handy. With a good snip I can clean the end of the thread and manage to thread it with little trouble. Here is also a peek at what's next on the machine.

 

Staring at the Top

This quilt was loaded before my Tahoe trip. This weekend I planted in front of the longarm and quilted. Glad that the weather was stinky -- cold, rainy, snowy -- and being inside was easy. Tomorrow I'll try to square it up, trim it, face it, and get it on the table to sew the facing and sleeve. Movies!!

 

Getting a Start

I've had this one set on the machine for over a week, and gosh, if I can stop whirling about for a while, I might get it quilted. As I got to this figure on the work, all I could think of was 'whale' and maybe the spooky of Halloween is on my mind, but there it is. My harpoon is there, too.
 

Under the Needle

My Gammill is not in constant use, and it jumps into action when needed. I've got a small work for the members' show at Rochester Contemporary due in a month, and October is full of 'other'. So, best to get the queue taken down a few. No name yet, I'll have to live with it for that, perhaps.
 

Details

Entries to exhibitions often ask for details, particularly if it is fiber work. I contend that the image of that detail should be compositionally interesting, and show some facet of the work in the medium as well as the finishing. Above is all right, but doesn't show the color work of the piece. Below better.

 

A Quilting-We-Will-Go

I'm happy the dark and cold keep me indoors, I can stand to spend hours at the longarm without the yearning to be outdoors. I've climbed about 1/3 of this piece, saving some for tomorrow. I split my time between studios today, stopped for groceries, then hunkered down to tackle this. Good day all 'round.
 

Quilting , Mindless Quilting

Most of yesterday was spent quilting fabric to make a coat. I've great hopes for this one, and I've prepared about 100" of 43" wide fabric. Went fairly smoothly after I ripped out the part that wasn't threaded properly, and opted for one thread color. Then it was mindless.
 

Back to Longarming

It was a marathon longarm sprint. I got it set up Friday, and finished Monday evening. Yes, I was gone a day for welcoming the fall, and pleased that this step is finished. Tomorrow I'll trim it and add facings and sleeve. My deadline approaches for installing in October. 
 

Back to Gammill Time

It's a slow reboot for quilting these next two pieces. But, steady will win, right? I luuuuv drawing around these marks, and in that imperfect way only this wild machine can do. 
 

Tools of the Tirade

It happens. The tension on the logarm acted irratically. So, time to rip out the bad, and for that i've got a seam ripper and a ripper with a little curved blade. I'll be back on the machine tomorrow. Gonna rain anyhow.
 

Start Your Machines

You would think there'd be a garden of pastel petals in this next quilt, bit it will read as quiet color. Still, I'll be using most of these to quilt on the longarm the Atmospheric River. I might have maybe twice this many cones, not the full spectrum. So, a close match will have to do.
 

Close Up

A close up of the quilting shows that I often fill in a missing shape with quilting. I also like to use thread color to match the color of the fabric. I switched around now and again, but used the light blue gray and deep blue more most of this piece. My machine is an old Gamill, I may be the fourth owner. 
 

Details, Details

The annual portrait show will get these two gals in dialogue. I wanted to show you the quilting stitch as well as the absolute raw edge layering of the piece. I always have fun stepping to one side of my usual techniques, and you should try it for a change. Doing something different, that is.
 

End of the Run

Split over a few days, this way of adding the quilting is great. I can load the longarm and it will wait for me to return to add. This one was longer than I thought as I switched out the top color frequently. I like to match the thread to the color beneath. And I'm using wool batting. It's light and forgiving.
 

Under the Needle

It took a few sessions, but this latest piece is now quilted. Next trim, then finish. I'm gearing up for a solo show set for late August. More on that later, of course. Just feels good to have this part done. Buy, oh, I've not got a name!
 

Yes, I Found That Hour

Finally got that machine riding over the last quilt I made, and it's so easy to grab and hour here and there. One reason I have the machine at the home studio and not away. I do love to do this drawing on the work. 
 

Getting Started

No one likes setting up the quilt on the frame, I suspect. The joy is running the machine over the quilt, deciding where, how, pattern and repeat. My morning glued me to this, and I'll get back tomorrow. It's one I'm eager to see back on the wall. 
 

Half Way Quilted

What I'm working on this weekend, and I never tire of quilting the line's I've made. I'm on a longarm Gammill, about 12' wide.