This is what I finished up last week.  Its for DH as he is involved with a dirt track race team and is always saying gears matter.  It is an adaption of Rob Appel's Gears pattern.  None of the picture I took show it but a doodle quilted race cars in the dark grey area.  I stitched "gears matter" in the top blue and "green flag drops: now" in the bottom lt blue.  In the border I used the same color thread and you can only see it up close, I stitched some of the sponsors.

I hope everyone is finding a little time to relax b sewing and finding joy in life.

Jo

TA DA!  Introducing my  newest sewing machine!  It's a Babylock Jazz II!  I LOVE IT!

Her name is Suzy Q!  It is not computerized and I have to use a foot pedal but that's okay.  It has a deep throat of 12.5 inches so it is ideal for quilting larger quilts which is what I've been looking for a long time.  My Brother only has a throat space of 4 inches and that is just way too small a space for quilting and takes a lot of time wrangling the quilt under it.  I had my first lesson at Kiki's today!  Thank you Doug!  Best part is that she was on sale for under $1000, comes with a long warranty and free classes!  She is very heavy so I won't be taking her to classes and I think, unless Doug helps me move it, that this is her permanent home!

She sews like a dream!  I'm so very happy and excited!

Jo .. that is absolutely outstanding!!   Love the colors, love the composition.   I'm glad you described the quilting and other details.

Congratulations!    You are going to LOVE having that extra space in the throat area.  

You didn't mention installing it in a cabinet, but if you can have a table top surface level with the bed of the machine, it will make quilting SO much easier.  Also, if you can arrange your furniture so that you have most of your sewing space to the LEFT of the machine, you won't have your quilt dragging you down on that side.  Additionally .. and this just may not be possible .. if you can arrange to have extra table top space BEHIND your machine, that will also help take the weight and reduce dragging.  But having more horizontal space behind the machine means that the cabinet with the machine sticks out further into the room ... so logistically speaking, you might not be able to arrange that.

If you can get one of those "slippery" slide things .. oh, I don't know what you call them ...  they are thin, flexible, slippery "mats" that you put on top of your sewing surface that reduces the friction between your quilt and the surface.  That will also help you.

Good luck and keep us up to date on your progress!

Thank you!  

Thank you Pirate for the helpful hints.  No cabinets, just a dresser that has my thread and other goodies.  The table that it is on is up against the wall and is Formica, a very strong table.   It has a lot of room in the back for sewing.   My room is in a U-shape and I can't move the furniture any other way.  My cutting table is in the center of the room and cannot be moved.  Hubby had to make the table in the room and is very heavy.  But if I need to I can move Jazz up there and sew , the table will support her weight. 

This is my cutting table that also doubles as my quilting area.  I think they are called friction mats.  I need to check the price on them.  

The quilt for your DH shows the reason most of us love quilting .... we can make such personal gifts for people, special gifts that have original touches that mean a lot. You did a great job with this quilt, Jo.

Thank you.  There is only one color in DHs world and that is blue but needed to use some grey to give the impression of track and fence.

Jo

Thanks Judy.  I really do enjoy putting personal touches on gift quilts.

I have been enjoying seeing your clay work, keep up the creative garden work.

Jo

I had read where a bungee cord and clamp could help reduce drag when quilting this last quilt I quilted I gave it a try.  I was amazed at have much difference just a little lift made.  I tied a heavy piece of cord elastic to the window shade brace and tied the other end to a giant clothes pin, than clip it to the quilt.  Wasn't the ideal location as it was on the right side and behind the machine would be better.  It was good enough to convince me that it would be worth investing in or rigging something better from the ceiling.

Glad you have a bigger machine, I also have a machine with a very small harp space.

Jo

wow..neato!!