Well, after receiving a couple of emails asking for more details about the quilting templates that I got from Sue at http://www.doodlingdesigns.com/order.html I thought I would explain them a little better. These wonderful templates are made for use with a long arm quilting machine and frame, the easiest way to explain is in pictures...
Now for those of us who are just hobby quilters, a long arm is pretty much a dream, so I have a short arm machine (9" throat = 4-5" of quilting room) on an old Grace frame. Here are a few pictures of my machine and frame....
This is just another shot of my machine, you can see the template on the table, part way under the carriage. You can also see the stylus that you use to trace the template, you simply drop the stylus into the groove and follow the lines!
Here is a closer look at the stylus in the groove.
And one more while I was actually quilting with it. you may notice the grid on the table, I marked that out in 1 inch increments so I could line up the template, so make sure it was square on the quilt. for the quilt I was working on in these photos, I simply placed the needle in the center of the block I was working on, lined up the template under the stylus, squared it up, and away I go, it took me about 2 hours to do this quilt, I am doing two different repeating patterns, with many starts and stops. But got done fairly quickly.
This is a long shot of my frame, you can see the quilt I am working on is not super big, since my frame can handle up to queen size. Before I got my frame it would take me forever to get the darn quilts quilted as I had to baste and sew them at the dining room table I HATED the quilting process... now I LOVE it!!!
Anyhow, so that is how you use the templates, If you have a table top machine, then these are not for you, but if you have a frame, and even a short arm like mine (or a long arm) Please check out Sue's site, these really are nice and she has a pretty good selection, and I was amazed at how fast she ships out, now granted, she lives just one state away from me, but I ordered a whole set of templates, and no joke they were here in less than two days!!!!
Oh and I will be posting pictures of the ones that come today, I got 3 of the 4' templates and another 2 footer too!
Well, that's all for tonight, I hope I was able to clear up some confusion.
Nighty Night all,
Ginny
That was awesome, great pictures and wonderful information....I am drooling right now..have to go and get a klenex...
ReplyDeleteGinny, that looks like a lot of fun and pretty quilting from the templates. You have to love those new rulers.
ReplyDeleteOh no Millie, compared to your quilting and Karen O's quiting, mine is just ok, I love your quilts they are so beautiful, even you simple string quilts are pretty awesome! Mine, well, they turn out OK, but I will NEVER be mistaken for a pro like you two, that is why when I write I call myself a hobby quilter, because, well, that is what I am!
ReplyDeleteThank you though, and oh yea am loving the new templates!
Ginny, can these templates be used with a pounce and powder to transfer the design onto a quilt top? Are they cut all the way through the template?
ReplyDeleteThanks for clearing that up! I was wondering how that all would work! Lucky you to have a quilting frame! Me? One day..... 8-)
ReplyDeleteHadn't heard of these templates, they do look fun! As far as pro vs hobby -- girl, the whole idea is to get them finished! Don't be so hard on yourself (grin) enjoy the process and proudly proclaim "it's finished!" and then scoot off to show and tell at the guild or blogville! We'll all celebrate with ya!
ReplyDeleteI am so jealous you have this machine!! I hope to someday get one! Did you do alot of research on these to know which one would be best for you? Your quilting patterns look very nice and neat. Love it!
ReplyDeleteJennifer
http://wewouldratherbequilting.blogspot.com