Two weeks ago my computer was attacked while I was visiting a quilting board to look up information about my Horizon 7700. While I was sewing the LCD screen started flickering and I wanted to see if others had the same issue. The virus left me with no computer for 4 days and although my service tech has since removed the virus, I'm still having headaches. My laser printer drivers are not working and now all my USB ports are dead so I am unable to upload any new material.
With my Horizon acting up and my computer limited, it has been a worrisome couple of weeks. Add to that some major issues I had with my quilting set-up. With my three quilt tops ready to be quilted I decided to start with the Secret Garden quilt because I knew which pantograph I wanted to use. I loaded the three layers on my Grace frame. My machine (1600P) had just been serviced and everything was in place. I did some test stitching and things looked good. However, the quilting session did not go well. It made me feel like all the progress and skill I've achieved over the last year was completely wiped out. I was so frustrated and disappointed.
The first row of stitches I sewed were in a straight line across the top of the quilt to allow me to pull up the quilt top evenly. When I looked underneath, the bobbin thread was hanging in deep loops! I proceeded to adjust and fiddle, doing test pass after pass, using scrap fabric along the top of the quilt back and batting. I got some improvement but when I went to do my first row of pantograph quilting, it was just unacceptable. After spending the morning loading the quilt and the afternoon trying to get the tension right, I got so frustrated I abandoned the whole thing. The stress of fighting with that machine to get and maintain good tension and the limitations of the quilting field take all the fun out of the experience. I felt completely defeated.
I unpinned the quilt top and it was such a mess. In my attempts to get things right I had quilted about 5 rows of stitching, along with many areas of loop-de-loops and meanders. It took me about 4 hours to unpick it all, which I had to do because I inadvertently used up too many inches in the backing fabric, making it too small for my quilt top. Thank goodness for the Seam Fix ripper, which was a huge help in getting all the stitches out. I love that thing!
I got my husband to break down the frame as much as possible and push it out of the way (it's too long to store anywhere in our house). I took off the machine and brought back my folding tables. I couldn't even spray baste my quilts to prepare for the Horizon because the garage is full of mud, dirt, and clumps of salty, icy snow from the winter. Can you sense my disheartened state of mind??? I felt so frustrated because I WANTED to quilt a pantograph on this particular quilt. I WANT to have the option of doing free-motion stand-up quilting because it's so fun, I'm getting good at it, and it's so nice not to have to fight the quilt under the sewing machine on a table. I also enjoy the option of using rulers. The frame set-up offers a different quilting experience than stitching on a regular sewing machine. Plus, I spent a (relatively) big chunk of money on the setup - the 1600P is a beautiful machine and off the frame I get gorgeous stitches and it flies! That machine is a heavy piece of machinery and it is fast!
After settling down and doing my research, I realized that I will not be able to afford a long-arm machine for quite a long time. I also HATE to give up and the next day I re-assembled my Grace frame, loaded up my quilt AGAIN, and tried once more. I was able to finish my Secret Garden quilt with the pantograph I wanted and the 1600, frame, and I are all friends again. I guess I lost my patience and was at a low point of tolerance when I gave up. I should have just taken a break!
I will share my photos when I can upload to my computer again. At least I have one problem sorted...
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