Machine Basting Abbeygate!

This is one thing that has me smiling ear-to-ear with great anticipation!

I was able to get Abbeygate loaded into the long arm and do some very simple machine basting.

Why machine?

I guess just like the cheeky 10 year old I can say out loud “Because I Can!”

There are many reasons. But mostly because it is easy. It’s secore. There is no shifting.

And there is no aerosol glue or adhesive of any kind inside my quilt as I set in to hand quilting.

Since having Intelliquilter installed nearly 2 years go (Time flies!) I have worked with the pre-loaded designs to choose one that worked well for machine basting.

Choosing something with V’s or points makes it easy to advance to the next rows of quilting, so I have found I like using this “Cloud” design.

I set the stitching design about 6” tall, and the rows of stitching are roughly 5 to 6” apart.

I set my stitch length longer than I usually machine quilt, making it easier for me to use the seam ripper to remove the basting as I move the hoop from plaste to place during the hand quilting process.

The basting stitches will be completely gone by the time the quilting is done.

Click to Play:

It didn’t take long to baste this big quilt!

Can you see the basting stitches?
I use a curved design rather than straight lines of basting because it really helps stop shifting in ANY direction.
And since the basting all comes out anyway, what does it matter?

Hand quilting about to begin!

Choosing thread –

At first I thought I would use a cream color – but it looks a bit too light against the reds, don’t you think?

To choose the best color, unwind a bit of the thread and let it drape over all of the fabrics it will be stitching through.

I think this one will be a much better match. It’s not so stark against the reds.

We went to town with friends last night to grab a bite to eat, and I was too wiped out when we returned to start in on the hand quilting, so that might happen tonight.

This also happened at the QPO yesterday.

My electrical panel inside the QPO is now generator ready. The Electric company came and replaced by meter and we have added this.

Generator plug here!

All we need to do during a power outage is plug the generator into this spot and it will power the whole QPO. Internet will run. Lights will work. Orders can be filled and shipped. Life will go on!

Each year we pick a couple of “Big Projects” that will make life better either at home, or at the inn, and this includes my QPO studio.

It’s not pretty or exciting, but I know Ill be grateful for it when it comes time to use it.

For those asking if we went to Liberty –

Yes, we did!

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Did I buy anything? Yep. But not like you would think. No yardage came home with me. Instead I bought a zippered pouch made of Liberty of London fabrics that was already complete, I knew I would never make one, so this was a win for me and it was 20% off.

I also bought a small pair of gold thread snips – and I don’t have a photo because they are at the QPO and I am writing this at home, so I’ll get a photo later today and share it in tomorrow’s post.

Today? Back at the computer working on Part Five of Old Town. My rescheduled mammogram is tomorrow morning with some other errands that need doing, so my Thursday desk time will be at a minimum – so today it is.

But tonight – watch out! I’m planning on putting some hand quilting stitches in!