First Quilt on My Long Arm
04-07-2021, 05:46 AM
#15
Power Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Between the dashes of a tombstone
Posts: 12,716
Oh what fun! And such a cute quilt.
It's been 3 years since I brought my LA in. One thing I don't regret is keeping track of each quilt I finished. I use a simple stenographer's notebook. What I write:
1. Date
2. Short quilt description
3. Size (w x l)
4. Backing (Wide or pieced)
5. Thread type and color
6. Stitch used (FMQ design or pantograph name)
7. Type of batting
8. Problems encountered and/or what I learned
The reason I put in size is I figure total square inches divided by 1296 (# sq in in sq yd) multiplied by $12 to get an idea of what it would cost if I quilted by check. The $12 figure is probably low, but I am also an inexperienced LA'er. I keep a running total of "savings" to see how long it will take to recoup on my investment.
This has been a valuable resource as i improve my skills.
It's been 3 years since I brought my LA in. One thing I don't regret is keeping track of each quilt I finished. I use a simple stenographer's notebook. What I write:
1. Date
2. Short quilt description
3. Size (w x l)
4. Backing (Wide or pieced)
5. Thread type and color
6. Stitch used (FMQ design or pantograph name)
7. Type of batting
8. Problems encountered and/or what I learned
The reason I put in size is I figure total square inches divided by 1296 (# sq in in sq yd) multiplied by $12 to get an idea of what it would cost if I quilted by check. The $12 figure is probably low, but I am also an inexperienced LA'er. I keep a running total of "savings" to see how long it will take to recoup on my investment.
This has been a valuable resource as i improve my skills.
04-07-2021, 06:04 AM
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: northern minnesota
Posts: 2,480
Oh what fun! And such a cute quilt.
It's been 3 years since I brought my LA in. One thing I don't regret is keeping track of each quilt I finished. I use a simple stenographer's notebook. What I write:
1. Date
2. Short quilt description
3. Size (w x l)
4. Backing (Wide or pieced)
5. Thread type and color
6. Stitch used (FMQ design or pantograph name)
7. Type of batting
8. Problems encountered and/or what I learned
The reason I put in size is I figure total square inches divided by 1296 (# sq in in sq yd) multiplied by $12 to get an idea of what it would cost if I quilted by check. The $12 figure is probably low, but I am also an inexperienced LA'er. I keep a running total of "savings" to see how long it will take to recoup on my investment.
This has been a valuable resource as i improve my skills.
It's been 3 years since I brought my LA in. One thing I don't regret is keeping track of each quilt I finished. I use a simple stenographer's notebook. What I write:
1. Date
2. Short quilt description
3. Size (w x l)
4. Backing (Wide or pieced)
5. Thread type and color
6. Stitch used (FMQ design or pantograph name)
7. Type of batting
8. Problems encountered and/or what I learned
The reason I put in size is I figure total square inches divided by 1296 (# sq in in sq yd) multiplied by $12 to get an idea of what it would cost if I quilted by check. The $12 figure is probably low, but I am also an inexperienced LA'er. I keep a running total of "savings" to see how long it will take to recoup on my investment.
This has been a valuable resource as i improve my skills.
It sure isn't apparent that you had any trouble with that perfect minky - it just looks darling. How fun to have a longarm! 
04-07-2021, 10:03 AM
#19
Power Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Between the dashes of a tombstone
Posts: 12,716
I do the same. I also add the measured size of the quilt top, then remeasure after quilting and write that down, and if I remember, I also measure again after washing the finish quilt. That way I start to get a feel for how much a quilt will shrink after quilting and the first washing. Oh, and I also started adding a system for flagging what happened to the quilt. So all the quilts I made for charity are flagged with one color, all the quilts given away to family and friends with another color. It is fun to go back and see. I did think I would give every one out of every five quilts I made to charity too when I started.
04-07-2021, 11:44 AM
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Illinois
Posts: 5,372
WOW you did a great job! I used the same panto on an Elizabeth Hartman Fancy Forest but had to trace it on the backing, so took me much much longer, but it gives great woodgrain texture. Love, Love the birch trees on the front with the fox, and the minkee was a perfect backing.
