Dioramarama: I Am a Longarmer, Feel My Power

Last week I took an introductory longarm quilting class from Duck Soup Quilts here in Austin, run by the lovely Deana Everett Tollerton. After taking the class you can rent her machine to quilt your own quilts. I was so giddy I forgot to take note of the make and model of the machine, but it was very easy to set up and use. You get to say goodbye to basting, more or less, and that is a very good thing. Basting is one of those hurdles that keep my UFOs UFOs. And thank god for stitch regulators, is all I can say. There are certain line types that will take practice to get right if you're working freehand -- any sort of measured, precise curve, for instance. You can use pantographs for this purpose, which are long scrolls with preprinted quilting designs on them that you use to guide the machine, but Deana and I agreed that they're not really our thing.

Here are some designs I tried out on my scrap quilt (I pieced together the fabric I dyed somewhat unsuccessfully a while back). It got me thinking that there should be a Flickr group for modern quilting designs, especially all-over, continuous line quilting designs. I don't like many of the standard meander patterns but I don't have too many ideas of my own.

Wavy horizontal lines -- I like this one. Please ignore all the other stray scribbling.

(Seeing a theme here? Get your own signature pattern, and it won't look like a failed attempt at someone else's!)

Oh -- the Flickr group! Wham bam, it's done. I'd love to see your ideas, though I suspect this group won't be a chartburner like good old vintage fabrics!

I love your motifs. I haven't brought my self to use any traditional ones, either, so I either channel stitch or outline. Very boring. And I like the meandering squares. I might actually use it :)

Oooh, I love the meandering squares!

Yay, you! Can't wait to see all those finished quilts! :)

I was going to chastise you about being gone so long but then you come back and stun us with your great ideas!!! Thank you! I have also been looking around online for neat patterns that are not so "feathery" and "old-fashion-y". Thank you for setting it all up for me!
Tricia
P.S. I like your meandering squares!

I like the pebbles and fingers the best. You just can't be stopped now, right?

Wow, these are amazing. They may have been just practice, but I'm impressed!

Wow, these are amazing. They might be practice, but I'm impressed!

I think DS uses a statler stitcher for those Loop-d-loops..
your enthusiasm is evident in your post.. I like the square meander.. and the fingers. I have been experimenting with topographical looking lines and also with flames. Its hard for me to find a way to be modern and still pay respect to the "tradition"
... Hooray for you!... *Happy Dancing*

I think I need a long arm quilter, even just to rent. That is so frickin' cool. I love all of them even the ones you call fails look great. And the idea of no basting....I was just about to do a post on how much I dislike basting but then I thought I wouldn't like talking about it much either.

Love them all, they are so great. I really want to try that out especially the no basting thing. That's always my least favorite part.

I desperately want a long arm - I think I'd actually make more quilts with one. Love the loop-de-loop attempt, that is how I always envisioned mine coming out. :)

ps. I think you need a spam blocker or Captcha for your comments. :) http://www.captcha.net/captchas/

this is amazing! nice work, you are raw power. i can feel it through the keys!