Enchanted Forest Quilt Complete!

It's done!  My VERY FIRST quilt completed on my Handiquilter Capri is finally finished.  It took me a while to get around to binding it.  It features Island Batik's Enchanted Garden collection

I had a blast quilting.  I did swirls, mushrooms, arches, continuous curve...

I used Glide thread and Hobbs Batting (my favorite 80/20 blend). 

Oh how I love that my machine can keep up with me!  And I can do huge swirls and not have to overworry about stitch length.

I hope you get to quilt today!
Suzy

Handi Quilter Capri -- My first quilt is done!

I just got a new Handi Quilter Capri and I'm loving it, but it is a bit intimidating to learn.  Tonight I tried stippling for the first time.  I learned a couple of things.  First, you need to set the stitches per inch to a higher number to get tighter curves.  Second, I can do it!  No microscopic stippling yet, but I'm happy with the results.

I also finished my first quilt!  The fabric is Island Batik's Enchanted Forest Collection.

Here you can see my stippling.  I'm having fun which is the goal, right?

I'll post a better picture once I get the binding done.

I hope you get to quilt today!
Suzy

Handi Quilter Capri Learning for the Day

I finally had the time to really sit down and play with my Handi Quilter Capri today.  It can keep up with me when I do big swirly feathers which is just fantastic and I don't have to worry about stitch length when I'm in regulated mode!  So freeing.  

That being said, it's still a HUGE learning curve.  Here's what I've learned so far:

1.  Keep the bottom and top thread the same.  I tried to use some thread that came on one of the bobbins and my tension went crazy, so I went back to the same thread I was using before.

2.  You have to wind the thread around the bobbin winder tension disk TWO times and make sure their is a LONG thread tail wrapped around the bobbin before it winds nicely.

3.  I like the foot pedal better than the go button.  I didn't expect this, but it's true for me.

4.  I'm still not sure how to adapt to not being able to make the tiny locking stitches I'm used to doing on my Bernina.  Time will tell how this one shakes out.  For now, I'm not doing show quilting on it, so it's fine, but we shall see what happens as I get used to my Capri.

5.  I love that it can keep up wiht me!

6.  I like a speed of about 375 so far.  

7.  It's fun!

Here's what I've been working on (the fabric line is Enchanted Garden by Island Batik)

Used up my first complete bobbin!

My lovely machine got some new artwork I purchased from Helen Godden hanging on the wall next to her.  It's so beautiful and such great inspiration!

I hope you get to quilt today!
Suzy

State of my Worktable

Well, my downstairs work surface is clean.  Don't ask about the floor or the rest of the room where I have to dodge and step over things.  BUT I can go downstairs and quilt without having to move anything.

My downstairs cutting table?  Um...it's embarassing!  Totally covered in stuff.  I really do need to spend some time down there over Christmas break and clean it up.  Maybe.  There's too many other fun quilting things to do and family to be with.  I might get around to it.  And maybe not.  Only time will tell.

My upstairs machine is all clean and new and shiny!  I'm quilting my FIRST quilt on my new Handiquilter Capri!  It is of course made out of Island Batik Fabrics.  All my upstairs work areas are clean due to the arrival of this new toy.  That's probably why the downstairs is such a mess...it migrated down there.  

I hope you get to quilt today!
Suzy

My Machines!

It's Day 3 of the 31 Day Blogging Challenge and today I'm talking about my machines.

I am a Bernina girl and own four.  Okay, okay, yes I own four Berninas.  We also have my first sewing machine, a Pfaff, and two Janomes my children won in the house.  And I'm getting another one soon.  Is that too many?  Nah....I have friends who own many more (okay, granted a lot of those are vintage, but it still counts, right?).

My travel machine and the one that I use most and that sits on my kitchen table most of the time is a Bernina 570.  It is such a blast to use and I adore her.

I do all my show quilting on my Bernina 770 which sits in it's own Tracey's Table in my sewing room down stairs.  I use this almost exclusively for free motion quilting.

This ad for the new Handi Quilter Capri is hanging on my wall.  It's on order and they're supposed to start shipping this month.  Fingers crossed that I'll have it to play with over Christmas break.  I'm sew excited!  I have four quilts pinned and awaiting it's arrival.

I hope you get to quilt today!
Suzy

International Quilt Festival Day 2

I now have pictures of my five quilts hanging at International Quilt Festival!

A Formal Garden

Spring Gems

Ziggedy Zaggedy

Whirligig

Hexie Flower

Island Batik fabrics

Lunch today with the amazing Sarah Ann Dmith

I decided to play with new machines....here is some of my test stitching.

My final purchase! A new Handiquilter Capri! I'm sew excited!

I hope you get to quilt today!
Suzy