Timing my Longarm

 If I had to give a recipe for how to time a longarm, I'd likely list the following:

• 1 part tools (having the right tools is key to any job)
• 2 parts determination (since you likely won't get it right on the first try)
• a dash of flexibility (you may need to be a contortionist if you try to time it while it is on the frame)
• a sprinkle of hope (I think I can, I think I can, I think I can)
• a good chunk of luck (that will determine how many times it takes you to get it right)

When I got a massive thread jam in my longarm (not sure exactly how that happened), I started with clipping out as much as I could with the access I had.  The challenge was having the needle in the down position.  I could not rotate it out of the way to open up the access hatch on top.

In a fit of desperation, and attending a study period at YouTube university, I found that I should try to drop and pull out the needle itself (which I did), then I put LOTS of oil on the case, and pull hard on the dial/fly-wheel at the back of the machine to manually get the bobbin case to turn.  IT WORKED!  But it also threw off the timing.  

I sent my machine to the local shop who did me a solid of getting it to reset and fixing the timing for me in short order.  At least, I thought that's what they did.  I soon realized the timing was still off enough to cause issues.  In the shop's defence, this could have happened on the drive home as I live 45 minutes away and there were some bumpy roads.

I was able, with the help of my best friend and her tools, to figure out how to do it myself.  If nothing else, it has given me a better understanding of how the long arm machine works and what is involved in the timing.  You could have everything aligned perfectly, but when you tighten things up, you mess it up again.  I think it took me almost a dozen tries, but now that it's done, I have so much more confidence in my machine and look forward to continuing to get to know it better. 

Thank Goodness for Bonnie Hunter!

 Have I not already mentioned that I'm a quilting magpie, someone who loves to start new projects?  So even though I have 3 unfinished Bonnie Hunter mystery quilts, of course, I decided to jump in and start this year's mystery "Rhododendron Trail".

If you've never tried one, they are an exceptional and challenging gift from an amazing quilt designer.  Bonnie is known for her scrappy quilts and every year for a number of years now, she has released a mystery quilt pattern to her followers.  Starting with US Black Friday (last Friday in November), and weekly until sometime in the new year, she releases a clue a week for the legions of fans to complete using either her recommended palette of colours or your own choices and either as scrappy or with yardage (so many choices!).

Her instructions are always clear and your piecing will definitely improve through the course of completing the clues.  While many people are completing Clue #6 at present, I'm still back on Clue #2.  It's not a race for me, but an enjoyable journey.  I am trimming flying geese tonight (and distracting myself from my longarm woe's (see my previous post).

4 of a lot of flying geese

The key is the quantities.  You may see something like, make 3" half square triangles - a relatively straightforward block for many quilters.  Now repeat 982 times (ok, slight exaggeration on my part) and you'll get a new clue in 7 days!  😟  That scares off many, but I promise you that making a lot of whatever the block is, based on Bonnie's instructions, the quality of your piecing will improve every time.  Some people elect to make half the number of blocks as most of her quilts are queen size when done.

I encourage you to check it out for yourself and I'll keep you posted on how my efforts go in the coming weeks.   You can go here to check it out:  Quiltville 2021-2022 Mystery Quilt

Happy Quilting!

A frustrating start to the new year - Welcome 2022

I hope, if you are reading this, that you have enjoyed a wonderful holiday season and are looking forward to your quilting adventures in 2022.

I am off to a frustrating start with my new-to-me longarm HandiQuilter Avante.  After getting a massive thread jam in December that could only be cleared by throwing off the timing, I had it in to the local shop to get the timing adjusted 

On December 23rd, I got my machine back and the needle moved up and down beautifully.  I got the machine home and realized I had company coming for the holidays and needed to house someone in my long-arm room.  (OK, technically, it was my daughter coming home from college for the holidays and looking to sleep in her own room, but let's not get caught up on semantics here).

After Christmas, I got the machine set up once again on the track, with a new needle, and oiled and threaded, it started to move like a flowy dancer and my heart was filled with joy.  Ever hear that sound of a balloon deflating slowly, that was me when I realized that not a single stitch was actually being made.  I sent an email to the store, thinking they were closed for a holiday break, but within 24 hours they called me to try to help.  They had me reseat the needle, check the needle was at 6pm position, rethread the machine, change the needle.  I finally got it to lock a stitch - hooray.

Hang up the phone, push the machine back while in regulated mode (as it had been before).....and no stitch lock.  I have tried everything I can think of and I suspect I'm back to some kind of timing issue as I can get a locked stitch going back to front, but not front to back.  The machine will stitch nicely going from back to front, but it won't stitch from front to back and side-to-side is hit and miss (mostly miss).

I've inserted a photo for any brilliant ideas you may have but my husband is looking at this thing as a very expensive and very large boat anchor and I'd love to change his opinion.  

Avante Timing Issue?

I have tried all I can think of and have reached out to an online HandiQuilter community to get some advice and will see if they can assist.

In the meantime, I have started in on "Rhododendron Trail", the 2021-2022 Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt and I'm looking to the month of January to finish by "Triad Fiesta" (it's "on" Elm Street Quilts - see picture below).

A new quilting chapter - The "new-to-me" Avanté Longarm

 For many years, I have looked on with a dreamy glaze, of those people who made the leap to a longarm quilting machine.  I had almost resigned myself to not ever buying one.  When you think of the price per quilt, it really is an expensive investment with questionable payback.

But sometimes, the heart wants what the heart wants.  I had kept one eye open for a chance at a used machine and when one became available, I decided to take the plunge and buy it.  I am now the proud owner of a Handiquilter Avanté machine!

Now, where to put this monster!  My daughter is in her last year of post-secondary education, so I asked her if I could put a quilting machine in her old room.  It's still her room, but the reality is she is on the verge of a new chapter in her life that likely will have her living closer to wherever her job ends up being.  Her response to my vague description of "Any objections if I put a quilting machine in your room?  It means I have to clean your room from now on." She said yes without asking questions about this quilting machine.  That's how good a heart she has.  Still, do you think she'll be shocked when she comes home for Christmas and sees this:

My new-to-me long arm

I am fortunate to have enough friends with longarms who warned me of two things - you will need to practice as this is a whole new style of quilting, and you will have issues with tension.  It pays to have wise friends!  I got some cheap cotton fabric in a bargain bin at a local fabric shop and have it a whirl!

First attempt - Topside

The first attempt was fun and terrifying.  It was fun to see the potential, but terrifying to see how much my quilting skills were impacted.  I even did a quick pantograph pass and it was not great.  Then, I turned it over:

First Attempt - Back Side

YIKES!  Tension disaster.

So, stay tuned as this new chapter begins and let's see together where it takes me!  

PS - Did I mention that Avanté means "Forward"?  How appropriate as I begin to move forward on this journey of longarm quilting.

What did you say today's date is?

Are you like me and losing track of time through the COVID-19 pandemic?  It took me a moment to realize today is September 1st (double-check the year, yes, it's 2021!).

September starts off my favourite time of the year as we have many events this year and we've hit that sweet spot in the weather where it is warm enough to still wear shorts but cool enough to open windows at night, turn off the air conditioning, and let in some fresh air.  It also represents that time of year I like to refer to as Elf Overtime.  

I have a tendency to over-plan all the wonderful homemade gifts I will give for Christmas and traditionally I'm lucky to complete ONE.  Why would a global pandemic change that approach (she says, dripping with sarcasm)?

This year, I have 6-8 quilts that I'm eyeing to complete by Christmas.  Most are in progress UFO's and goodness knows my UFO list is long enough that finishing that many would make a dent.  Of course, September also means the launch of my local quilt guild's annual mystery quilt and the annual Bonnie Hunter mystery is just on the horizon.

September is the month where my optimism is at its highest and there will still be hope even at the end of this month.  Still, I hope you'll come along for the ride and maybe, if you are like me, we can encourage each other along the way.

One way to help myself to have an incentive is the Elm Street Monthly Challenge.

My one monthly goal for September is the completion of the Summer Swag quilt I'm working on, based on a workshop I took with the pattern's creator, Krista Moser.  Krista is returning to our guild this month as a guest speaker, so I'm feeling a little pressure to get this quilt done.

What do you look forward to now that September is here?  Any special projects you're working on?  I'd love to hear about it.

It's been a hot minute!

It has been both hot and a while since I last wrote.  I've been off working on a complete rebuild of my local quilt guild's website, including building a members-only portion, a members forum, and an e-commerce platform.

It also happens to be a summer of extremes and we're experiencing near-record heat, with daily heat warnings.  I count myself as lucky as many people are dealing with so much more - forest wildfires burning out of control, record flooding in the eastern US from back-to-back tropical systems, and of course, no one could ignore the situation in Afghanistan at present.  Quilting is a refuge from all of it that I have been happy to immerse myself into once more.

I have two projects I'm actively working on right now, with two more on the sidelines, and I anticipate up to 3 more starting before the year is out.    The two in my immediate view are a mystery quilt from our guild and a Krista Moser pattern that is from a workshop I attended with that charismatic lady.  Our guild launches its new season of meetings in September and Ms. Moser will be our keynote speaker, and the big reveal of the guild mystery will occur.  Nothing like a deadline to get one very focused.

Two projects at once!

Since I'm still piecing, I'm using the guild mystery as a "leaders and enders" for the chain piecing I'm doing.  I have not cut my thread and started over with something on the machine in, what feels like a long time.

I'm looking forward to a very active quilting season and pursuing both my own projects and some extras as well.  

What have you been working on lately?  I'd love to hear about it.

Virtual Quilt Canada 2021 - Opening Day Anticipation

Today is the day the Canadian Quilters Association is launching their annual celebration of all things quilting in Canada, appropriately titled "Quilt Canada".  This moving festival of inspiration, education, celebration, and of course, shopping, is normally held in a different city across this vast country.

Last year's event, planned for Alberta Canada, had to be cancelled due to COVID-19.  This year's event, scheduled for Toronto Ontario, had to be converted to a virtual event.  Today marks the very first Virtual Quilt Canada.

The organizers have gone to tremendous lengths to make this a wonderful event.  The next four days will be filled with all the things that make Quilt Canada what it is - inspiration, education, celebration and shopping.

I plan on sharing my perspectives on this amazing event with you here and I hope you enjoy it too.  I should note that attending Quilt Canada requires registration and the registration deadline has now passed.  If you have signed up, feel free to reach out to me on the Networking tab.  If you missed the window, allow me to be one voice sharing their perspective on this national event.