The quilt is now loaded on the frame and I started to draw the stencil design on the border – here it is in process of getting on the frame – the top goes on the back rail first –
then the backing goes on the middle rail – you pin all the way across then roll it up and attach the backing to the front rail as well – then roll it all back up to the middle
Then started on the middle rail again you pin the batting to it on top of the backing and roll it all up – it sounds easy but once you get the batting and backing all rolled up it doesn’t always fit exactly and you need to loosen it and gently pull the batting to front and pin in place which then gives you excess backing – but not really – you start rolling back to the middle again and keep adjust the backing and batting smoothing it all out. Sometimes you have to roll back and forth several times to get it right. Stopping frequently and smoothing out walking back and forth to fix all along.
finally once you have the backing and batting smoothed evenly you roll it all to the middle and pull your top back over all of it pinning the quilt top to the front rail. Doing a large quilt by myself takes about 2-3 hours depending on how much you have to adjust it – this one took about 2.5 hours – believe me my back was aching by time I got done!! (in comparison the Christmas quilt took me about 45 minutes)
Ready to draw the stencil to the bottom border and get to work – this border stencil fills up the whole border!
The thread – #12 Aurifil color number 4650 – I have two spools of it from an on line shop called Hawthorne Fabrics I think – something like that I had never ordered from them before and they were fast although all I got was thread, I don’t know if they would have been fast if they had needed cut yardage.
The treadmill looking odd in the living room but lets hope by the end of the year I am in shape LOL no excuse not to use it – I did twice yesterday and didn’t get in a whole hour total but I hope to soon. I took all my decorations off the ledge that divides the living room from the kitchen – I was afraid I would accidentally knock some thing over and breakage occur. The things you need to do during a pandemic to stay healthy!!
And me – on my early morning trip to the grocery store before it got busy – really there are not a lot of people at Wal-Mart if you go early and about half the people wear mask and my hand sanitizer is waiting for me in the car. I don’t take my time looking at things like I used to – I get what is on my list and get to it. If an isle has a lot of people in it I skip it and go back later before I leave the store.
More tomatoes turning red
And the little tomato plants growing from seed in the little pots are doing ok – it will be time to transplant them soon into larger pots
Linking to Small Quilts and Doll Quilts —
Yes I can see how it would be back breaking getting the quilt on the frame! Looks like a substantial treadmill. Is it positioned by the kitchen so while you bake, mike can be on the treadmill? Goodness that’s very sexist of me! You could be on the treadmill while mike bakes! LOL
Getting your quilt loaded on the frame is quite the process! I like the way the stencil covers both borders, and I love the look of the thread you’re going to use. It looks perfect.
Your tomatoes are huge! Mine are still very small, but I’m always hopeful I’ll have something by labor day. There are lots of blossoms on the cherry tomato plant in a pot.
That’s quite the process. The positive is time is saved as you do not have to baste. All 3 layers have nice tension/tautness that produces even stitches. Putting a quilt in a frame would meet your exercise goal for the day. I have a similar style mask, yet my glasses fog.
Wow – 2.5 hours to load Alaska. I hope you take breaks to ease your back! Looks like you found a good spot for the treadmill. I have ordered fabric from Hawthorne as well as thread and been very pleased with them, but I haven’t ordered from them during COVID, so I don’t know if their shipping is affected by that.
Getting a big quilt ready sounds similar to stringing up a loom, a lot of work. I often order from Hawthorne, even recently, and the fabric comes quickly, they have a huge variety of fabrics and they also digitally print their own designs. I grocery shop at 6am and follow the same tactics as you.
Glad you got Alaska loaded on the frame! That is quite the process, but worth it in the end, to have everything smoothed and tight for the quilting process. The thread looks perfect for the colors in the quilt! I think that looks like a great spot for your treadmill! Can you watch TV while walking? We have lots of little tomatoes, but none turning yet!
Thank you the explanation and pictures for loading your quilts. I figured it must be somewhat similar to loading a long arm. I shop just as you do….if the isle is crowded, I skip it and come back. The treadmill doesn’t look overwhelming in that spot, but as you say a little out of place.
Your strategy and mine at Walmart sound a lot alike. I hit Walmart every couple of months… If my local Library was open as early as the grocery stores I could be out, about and back in by 8 am. The Library dose not open till 10 now but I am sooooo glad they are. I was able to phone in a order and pick it up at the back door in a plain brown bag before they reopened but its not the same at all.
That is quite a process to get your quilt ready for stitching. I’m excited to see this one quilted. Your thread will be beautiful on this quilt.
Even on a longarm loading the quilt is the worst part. But once it’s all basted the fun can begin! I occasionally baste quilts for a friend who hand quilts.
Oh, again, I just love that quilt! Who knows if or when I’ll ever get to making it. Will you use the same thread all over or will you switch out when you get to the lighter parts? You can tell I don’t do hand quilting (or much of any kind of quilting). I like using varigated threads for wool work. Now that its loaded, you can do the fun part.
Loading and pinning quilts are my least favorite part of the process… but once done things tend to go pretty quickly. Good spot for the treadmill… I had a bike ages ago in my bedroom and it became a clothes rack!
I didn’t realise it takes so long to load a quilt onto your frame, quite a job, isn’t it.
Our shopping exhibitions here in New Zealand are back to normal now, with no restrictions.
I have had some wrinkling noted in this batting layer on my quilt in the frame… next quilt will be smaller but I will try your way of loading next time and see if I can control the tautness of the batting layer better… thanks for sharing 🙂
I love alaska on the frame and love your outer border design and thread color… you look so cute in your mask.. we use the same strategy for shopping too … quick and to the point and back out the door for alcohol wash down and get back home.
I hope you both use the treadmill and it doesn’t jostle things as you walk / run on it.. my son’s was upstairs but had good cushioning on it so wasn’t too bad when he used it.
Have a wonderful day.. Kathi
Loading the quilt is quite the process, isn’t it? I love the thread you’ve chosen to use! I think your treadmill looks fine there, and agree it was smart to move the glass objects off the ledge.
Wow–I never imagined it was so labor intensive to get the quilt loaded! Looking forward to seeing what happens next.
I love that red fabric you chose for your border.