Bring On the King-Size Quilts: My Q-Matic is Finally Here!

Today's big news is that my Q-Matics computer robotics that has been backordered since May finally came in and was installed on my machine yesterday!

Q-Matic Computer is Here, Up and Running on My 13' Long Arm

Now I can finally get to the Queen size quilts in my queue whose makers have been waiting so patiently.  I can now quilt anything up to 120" on my 13' Big Girl frame (Bernina calls it the Large frame, but I am calling it my Big Girl Frame after being restricted to the dinky little 8' frame at the Bernina store that couldn't handle anything bigger than a Twin).  Not only can I get caught up with larger customer quilts now, but I'm finally going to quilt my enormous 120" x 120" California King pineapple log cabin quilt -- if I can only make up my mind about how to quilt it!

It took my dealer about 5 hours to install my Q-Matic, and I managed to piece two more blocks for my Retro '80s Building Blocks sampler quilt while he was working in my studio.

Progress on my Sampler Quilt Project

Since my Featherweight was still set up from the LeMoyne star blocks I made last week, I chose two more blocks containing Y-seams (in the original Moda Modern Building Blocks quilt, these were made with flying geese units, but I redrafted them to have fewer seams).

Another 10 inch Sampler Block Completed

I used EQ8 quilt design software to print card stock templates, marked the seam intersections with my tiny 1/16" hole punch, and then transferred those marks to my fabric patches with a twist of my Bohin Extra Fine Mechanical Chalk Pencil to make a precise, tiny dot where I needed to stop and start my machine stitching.

Card Stock Templates for Fiddly Y-Seam Block

When I print these templates in EQ8, I have them print with seam allowances and the seam lines marked on the templates so I can clearly see those corners where the stitching lines meet up.  I also lay out my templates the way they will be in the finished block to determine which way the fabric grain should go on each patch and mark that on the template before cutting.  When I actually cut my fabric patches with these templates, I put a couple pieces of double stick tape on the back of the template so it doesn't slip while I'm cutting, and I use my rotary cutter and ruler to get nice, straight cuts an exact quarter inch from the seam lines before transferring those little dots to each fabric patch.  It's slow and it's fiddly, but the results are so worth it (to me, anyway!).

5 inch Sampler Block Completed

That little yellow dot marks the spot where I'll stop stitching and take a few stitches in reverse to secure the seam:

Sewing Y-Seams on my 1935 Featherweight

These little blocks just make me happy.

Finished 5 inch Block Finds its Place On the Design Wall

Well, I'm off to load up a beautiful Queen size quilt on my long arm that I'm looking forward to sharing with you soon.  😊. I'm linking up today's post with the following linky parties:

PSST!!  I'd Love to Quilt for YOU!

By the way, if you or any of your quilty friends has a quilt top or two that needs quilting, I'd be delighted to quilt for you!  My turnaround for edge-to-edge quilting is currently running about 2-3 weeks, and you can click here to find out how to book your quilt with me.

I'm linking up today's post with the following linky parties:

THURSDAY

Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation  

FRIDAY

Whoop Whoop Fridays at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Peacock Party at Wendy’s Quilts and More

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts

Off the Wall Friday at Nina Marie Sayre

 SATURDAY

UFO Busting at Tish in Wonderland

SUNDAY

Frédérique at Quilting Patchwork Appliqué

Oh Scrap! at Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework