Starshine Stitches

Charity Quilt

So what sort of quilt do I as a quilter put together for my guild boutique?

I was given a bit of pink fabric, so why not a whole-cloth?  I have a wonderful new stencil, and no time to decide what to piece!  I can give those interested in my stencil table a demonstration too.

Fabric is loaded, Stencil and pounce pad in hand.  I marked the whole 40" length. 

Click on the picture to get a better look.  The half image near the leader is sewn, and the marks are still visible! 

I rolled the table under the area for the photo.  Of course you would move it off to the side to stitch.  It is also helpful to load quilts 10"-12" to the left of center to increase the working area without removing the table.

Now for a peek after the chalk has been removed.   Some little one will hopefully love this quilt. 

I really do love to make quilts for little ones!  If my kids decide to read this- please don't give me the opportunity to make them for a good Long time!  I am OK with the random quilt for a kid I happen upon. 

Longarm Stencil Table

This post will be of interest to those stand up quilters who use stencils!

The unique problem we have on stand up quilting frames is "chalk bounce".  The darn stuff doesn't stay put long enough to complete a motif.  If you started with domestic machine quilting, you know that a firm surface under the quilt is a must. 

One fine day I had this idea.  (There on my table sat my old wheels.)  I had the perfect stencil for the quilt on the frame.  I carefully marked the quilt on my worktable, got the first section done.  All was going well.  Then I advanced the quilt on the frame.  Yikes, all the leaning on the front of the frame removed the chalk markings.  (there were my wheels still sitting on the table)  I thought about my dilemma for a while.  My old option was to shove that big Lucite thing under the quilt and rest it on the throat of the machine.  That gave me area, but not necessarily the right area.  I could use the extended throat plate and slowly move it around until the marking was complete.  (and there were my wheels, by now if the little guys had a voice they would be screaming) 

Off on a tangent I went.  I had a table built that rolled a firm surface under the quilt.  Now I could easily pounce a stencil that I know would last until the stitching was complete!  So many revisions, a patent application, and a wonderful wood guy Tom, it's off and running.