I Didn't Think I Could Do This
 

I have read horror stories of people trying to load a partially quilted quilt on top a long arm, jumping from domestic machine to long arm quilting. I had read about pleats and tension issues and quilts that weren't square... I had certainly read enough to scare me! I've had this queen size quilt that I've been longing to finish but have also been burned out with it in my small domestic machine! This morning I got a burst of bravery and tried loading it onto the long arm. Obviously I had to load it differently. I put the whole quilt on the backing bar and attached it to the take up bar. I'm taking the pins out as I roll each section up. The top basting row was the scariest, since I had very little backing fabric on my leaders, but that part is done and it's pretty squared, all things considered! One thing I am SO thanking the lucky stars for is that I stabilized the blocks and sashing with my walking foot on my domestic machine years ago, when I first attempted this! That step is helping tremendously now!

I started this quilt in 2018 I believe, finished the top in 2020 (or 2021... I don't remember) and it's time to get it finished and on my bed!

Wow, looks like you're doing a great job!!

Hooray! Sometimes we have to take a leap forward and try stuff.

Sometimes we learn that maybe it wasn't such a great idea and other times we find out that it wasn't bad at all :)

And always repeat -- finished is better than perfect!!

I thinking that your stabilizing really did help. When I took a long arm class, the first thing I had to do was to stitch in the ditch the blocks and other straight lines. I did that with the stitch regulator on and a ruler. Then, I went back and did the free motion I wanted. It does help to keep everything squared up. Good job.

looks great, keep up the great work

Burgoyne Surrounded. Beautiful quilt. Congratulations !

Very nice!

Good for you! Have fun with the longarm and you never really know how something's going to work until you actually do it.

You are a brave lady! Your quilt is beautiful and looks like you're doing a great job!
I laughed at the tubs under the long arm. Looks like my quilting room!

What I can see, it should turn out great.