Longarm Practice

The studio is not yet put together and my dining room in still a cluttered mess and completely unusable as a dining room. But that didn't stop me from getting some hands on time with Millie.

Millie

 I finally got to eek out some time to play with her. I am by no means ready to quilt for someone else but I am learning. I am getting practice at repairing patterns, picking out stitches, bobbin thread pulling, placing patterns, and advancing the fabric.  I have filled a 2 yard practice piece and am torn between putting another practice piece on or putting a quilt on.

I have decided on a couple of quilting patterns for specific quilts. I am kind of in favor of trying it out on a practice piece before doing it on a quilt. I do enjoy the machine. I can get a lot more done in a much more convenient amount of time. I enjoy watching it go but I also enjoy being able to start the next project with Millie stitching away on the previous project.  My son walked in while the machine was running and he exclaimed that is really neat. My husband thought it was cool. It is fun to watch. It is fun to play with. It is definitely worth the investment.

shamrocks

Some of the patterns I've tried on the practice piece. I like this Shamrocks pattern. I plan on using it on my daughters wedding quilt. I may actually get it finished before their fourth wedding anniversary.  Still I think it will go perfectly on their quilt.
 

leaves

I like the flowing leaves in this pattern. I actually flipped every other row so that the leaves go back and forth across the quilt. I plan on using this on a around the rail quilt.



I am not sure about which quilt I am going to use this on. I just really like the flowers.  I am going find one to use it on though.


I find that I really like most of the patterns in the quilt path but sometimes they don't look as neat stitched out as I thought they would. Plus there are some definite themes I want for certain quilts that are not in Quilt path. I am sure we are going to find some more online. We will have to pay for them. But that is okay, This is an investment.

Some of the patterns are pain to repair the pattern when a thread breaks or a bobbin runs out. I think I will need a lot more practice before quilting for others but I fortunately have enough quilts to do for myself.

This is going to be a fun learning process. Plus I am actually getting some quilting done. Which goes along with my goals. I will continue to work on getting the studio in shape. But I will also keep practicing on Millie. Some thing will go on Millie tomorrow either a practice peice or a quilt. but she won't be standing idle.  Practice is the key to improving.