Andee's Schnibbles Obsession

I think that my friend Andee has a Schnibbles obsession!

Here is her ?third Schnibbles [I think] this one in CW-ish fabrics. The Bow Tie block pattern too is traditional, and I like the combination, it's very pretty.

The back is a surprise, what fun to make it so different and totally reversible!

I think Andee intends to use it for a table topper to be flipped over from one theme to the other depending on her mood!

Only problem, how to quilt it appropriately when the styles of front and back are so very different. In the long run, I chose a swirly freehand that compliments the traditional setting and doesn't look out of place with the modern, and a neutral thread that doesn't fight with any thing at all.

Enjoy, Andee and congrats on another cute quilt!

The Picnic Schnibbles Quilt and a" Long Arm Machine"

This one was such fun to quilt with daisies and leaves, that seemed appropriate for the "Picnic" theme and for the prints Angela used. If you click on the picture it will zoom, the quilting is hard to see.

It's a bit clearer on the back.

I already have another quilt loaded on the longarm machine, so I need to go get busy!

PS. For non-quilters, a long arm machine is basically a huge domestic machine! It has a much longer, larger throat, and has handles either end of the machine. There are also mid arm machines that have a throat space of 18" or less[I think that's the approx. cut-off!].

These machines have wheels that run on tracks so that the machine can be manipulated in any direction 360 degrees up and down the length of the "table". Mine is a 14ft. long frame though 12ft. is more common. You need lots of space for these machines because you also need room to walk around them -mine is in our large loft. Most people stand to use a LA but ergonomic saddle stools are available so you can sit for small detailed work; I have one and it does come in handy especially if I have to "frog" some undesirable quilting ["frog"= ripit-ripit, LOL].

Here's a picture of my machine, it's an A-1 Elite- there are many excellent LA machines but this is my preference. I always say that using a long arm is like "drawing with thread" because you can stitch any design that your brain can imagine. Many LA'ers give their machines a name, mine is Ellie, though she seldom is addressed by name!

The quilt, batting [filler] and backing are attached to rollers either side of the table and you stitch across the length of the table then roll the quilt on to the un-quilted area. Some LA'ers have computers on their machines so they can choose a design, or make their own, set up the machine and the machine will sew it [this is a very simplified explanation!] and if you really want to increase your productivity this can be a good way to go though it way more than doubles the cost of the machine.

Personally, I love the creative experience of actually "driving" the machine myself and I am blessed not to need the extra productivity that a computer driven machine would afford.

Finished For Friday, Angela's Schnibbles Quilt

I have two of Angela's Schnibble's quilts to longarm and here is the first. It will make a cute table topper [maybe for Valentine's] or a wall hanging.

Pink and brown are so retro sweet, I wonder what Angela will do with it?

You can check out other Friday Finishes at Litandlaundry.