GOAL SETTING. One: Quilt Frame prep

I have had one goal lately: get the Bailey set up and stitching.  What is the Bailey?  It is a mid arm quilting machine created by Chuck Bailey of The Bailey Sewing Center in Leicester, NY.  http://www.baileyssewingcenter.com/test.html

I bought my 17Pro in 2010.  Just before I went wacko with SMAD.  It has been sitting and waiting for me to start my recovery.  I think I may be ready. 

Setting this up is a process.  I started by sewing zippers to the pink cloth leaders that you see in the photo.  This will enable me to more easily attach the quilt back and top to the frame.  The original design calls for pinning the back and top to these leaders.  Let me tell you.  That is a PITA.  I have done it and I don't want to do it again.  EVER.

Supposedly you can sew one side of the  zipper to the cloth leader and baste  the other side to the edge of the quilt, thus allowing you to zip the quilt on quickly to set up for machine quilting.  I thought about that and decided that I did not want to fragment the cloth of the zipper each time I removed the zipper from a quilt.  So I sewed the other side of the zipper to some narrower cloth leaders on Friday so that I could accomplish my goal for that day: get the practice quilt set up on the frame.

There are four rails.  Rail One accepts the quilt top, batting, and quilt back.  Rail Two holds the quilt back.  Rail three holds the quilt top.   In order to keep it orderly, I basted the top and back together in the sewing loft BEFORE I basted on the zipper.  Then I basted one zipper each  to the opposite edges of the quilt top and the quilt back.  I did this all in the sewing loft.  Far away from the quilt frame which is in the guest apartment over the shop (It's the only place the sucker will fit).

I traipsed out to the apartment just before dinner on Friday.   Steven was OOT so I did not have to worry about time.  The dogs could certainly wait.  I discovered, much to my chagrin, that I had sewn the zippers to the quilt backwards.  Luckily, I had basted them on. 

The dogs got their supper, but not until I had removed the zippers from the quilt top and back.  Then I got a bright idea.  Take a machine out to the GA (Guest Apartment) and make sure you do it right this time, Lizzy.  So I did.  I took Duane with me.  That's how I knew he had a dead spot in his motor.

OK.  Once I got the zip leaders all set up correctly I zipped the quilt on.  Worked great !  But something was wrong  It just didn't look right.  Something was backwards.   Intuitively I thought that the back should attach  to rail number three, one edge of the top to rail two and both back and top, with batting in between should attach to rail number one.  I was 33% correct. 

I got out the instructions and discovered my error.  It is counter intuitive, but the back attaches to number two, the top to number three and both attach to number one.  Surprisingly,  I did not swear.  I just ripped the zippers out and attached them correctly.

Rail number four (I bet you can figure out which one that is) will hold a roll of batting.  This is practice and there isn't much fabric so there isn't much batting.  Also, I would pay much more attention to getting out  those wrinkles a real quilt. 

I accomplished that goal with three hours to spare.  I celebrated.  Yessir I did.

Next goal: Service the Bailey.
 

Daphne Throw by Valori Wells

My friend Melany has a lovely store; Project Anthologies http://www.facebook.com/ProjectAnthologies.  She has some nifty project kits all made up but no EXAMPLES.  So I volunteered to sew up one of her kits so that she can display it.

I want to tell you; the fabric is FABULOUS!  I decided that I would sew everything together first and then run the pieced quilt through the wash BEFORE I make the sandwich.  I know that we are supposed to wash the fabric FIRST but I wanted to get going on this project SOON.  So I cheated.  I am glad that I did.  I just love the smell of warm, steamy fabric finish wafting up from the iron as I press seams.  It brings back memories of.....something.....wait......oh yeah.....warm, steamy fabric finish.

Melany and I decided that I should make the Daphne Throw

 She has coordinating fabric and thread bundled nicely, all cut in the required yardage.  I had to cut the pieces, anyone with two healthy thumbs can do it pretty easily.  I managed.  Don't worry about me. 

It is a 65 X 65 inch quilt.  I plan to quilt it on the frame.  Might as well.  The frame is set up and it will be a perfect size for that frame. 

I love the colors

The directions are pretty easy to follow but I still might put together a little tutorial on how I did it. 

I have to finish piecing it tomorrow morning and then I will wash the backing and the quilt top.  Once they are dry I will set it up on the quilt frame.  That means that I must finish this practice quilt that I have set up on the frame.  Or I could just take it off.

It's been a while since I pieced a quilt. I could have used the Kenmore 158.1760.  It's all set up and ready to go.

Kenmore 158.1760

Or the 158.96

 Kenmore 158.96

I am, however, piecing. I therefore decided that I would use every quilter's dream machine.  One of my Featherweights.

It was a good choice.  The motor, however was lurching.  I think it was likely a loose belt.  But it could have been the fact that I was wearing my "Aging Rock Star Boots" as I was sewing on the button foot controller.  The controller had been re-wired by a Certified Sewing Machine Technician a while back.  The wire to the controller is a bit short.  Betsy said "Well it least it doesn't slide away from you!"  I said "Nope, it dangles."  I guess The Certified Sewing Machine Technician will have to re-do that job!

From the looks of the photo on the pattern card, she did not bind it.  I think that I may have to.  I think I have enough of Fabric B to make a bias tube... Oh won't that be fun.

Now, did anyone notice the double spaces after my periods?  Well, I know that I put them there.  I have decided that it is just too much work for an old lady like me to try to learn that typing rule.  Where will it get me?  Will I be happier?  Richer?  More content?  Will it ensure me a space in Heaven?  Probably not.  So, there. Max doesn't read the blog. He will never know.