Ever since my Sweet was delivered I worried about not having it covered. If there had been a dust cover available for purchase from Handi Quilter I would have shelled out more money for it but for some reason they don't offer one. I don't like the idea of my machines, especially ones with electronics attached (like the control touch screen), being exposed to the dust, lint, and dog hair that float around my workshop. I have been throwing a sheet over the front end of it until I could figure out a better solution.
The ideal way to protect my investment would of course be a fitted, quilted, dust cover and thanks to the amazingly talented Jasmine at Quilt Kisses, there is one! Jasmine adapted a pattern for the HQ Avante to fit the Sweet 16 perfectly. She also generously made her tutorial available on her blog for all to use - such a kind gesture! I was a little intimidated to make my own cover but with Jasmine's detailed instructions and accompanying photographs, I was able to do it.
I'm not experienced at this kind of assembly sewing but I learned as I went (with several 'help!' emails back and forth with Jasmine!), with a few mis-steps, backtracks and unsewing along the way. The first thing I had to re-think was my initial fabric purchase. I picked a cute sewing themed print but discovered when I got home that a) it was directional (not a good choice), b) I hadn't bought enough yardage, and c) I promptly started to cut it up before realizing I needed to quilt it first! Fortunately, I had some fabric from the Canning Day line in my stash and even though it was not my preferred design, I had enough to make the cover.
The first step is to layer the fabric with batting and backing and quilt it. I thought I would use some poly batting to add some extra support and I had a small bag of Mountain Mist from a trip to Jo-Ann's a year or so ago. I've never used this type of batting before and I don't think I will buy it again. It was difficult to smooth out and I didn't like the coverage. I used 505 spray to baste the layers together and it really didn't hold well on the synthetic batting. I decided to stick with it anyway and use it up for this project which didn't require a soft and cozy batting.
This was the first bigger quilting project I've done on the Sweet 16. I quickly realized that the support tables needed to be re-configured from what I'd used with my domestic sewing machine. While a table in the back of the machine is no longer necessary (because the throat of the sit-down mid-arm stops the quilt at the rear), one to the side of the machine is a great help. I naturally found myself sitting in a 'u' set-up, with support on either side of me, and that worked very well. It was a bit of a change to move the quilt under the needle and I was a little surprised how different it felt. That being said, it was also very comfortable to quilt this way and the visibility with the Sweet 16 is amazing! I felt I had better posture as a result and much less fatigue in my shoulders and hands. However, I did not like the feel of quilting through this batting! I guess I just confirmed I'm a Warm & Natural 100% cotton girl forever!
The quilting went along at a good pace anyway and I had no issues at all. Tension was good using my beloved Aurifil thread and I had no breakage or snafus at all to report. I had the 1-1/3 yard sandwich quilted in no time using an all-over loop-de-loop design as suggested in Jasmine's tutorial. When the fabric is cut into the pattern pieces there is no way to know (without a lot of planning and work) which piece will end up in what direction so an all-over edge-to-edge was definitely the easiest way to go.
So this is part 1 of the dust cover post. I really enjoyed quilting on my Sweet 16 and was sad when it was over. I can't wait to quilt an actual quilt but these smaller projects are allowing me to get comfortable with quilting on a sit-down mid-arm and I'm learning a lot about different techniques along the way. Tomorrow I'll show you the actual construction of the cover and after that I'll share the beautiful embellishment I made for it.
Thank you for the extra work you did posting pictures on your Sweet 16 dust cover! I have seen directions, but your pictures inspire me to give it a try. You did a beautiful job - I love the roses.
Posted by: NCMaggieD | April 23, 2015 at 07:47 AM
I also love the view with the sit down quilting machine. :) I recently read a tip that if you are spray basting with a polyester batting that it helps to spray both the fabric and the batting. I have yet to try it, but it may help if you ever give the polyester batting a try again.
Posted by: Jasmine | April 23, 2015 at 04:29 PM