As this is my 7th quilt off the longarm I am pretty sure I can still be considered a newbee longarmer. I would look at the pictures of free handed longarmed quilts here on the board and wonder, how did they do that? So here are some of my confessions as newbee free hand longarmer and I hope it helps other newbs along their quilting journey.

Some days we are "quilt whisperers" and some days we are not. Sometimes we are lucky and the quilt speaks to us right away in how to quilt it and other days you just have to coax it out of the quilt. This quilt was a coaxer for me. When my friend Meg sent me this quilt I loved it. I loved the colors and I loved her piecing and setting of the strips. I wanted to do something really special for this quilt. So I drew out the block and the sketches commenced. I did a lot of sketches for this and finally picked a winner. Because part of the design depended on a mirror image of one of the motifs I figured I better make a template of my main reference lines so I could chaulk them on to the quilt and get some semblance of balance once the design idea was set in thread and put to the beautiful canvas that was this quilt top.

I had the perfect thread picked out.... or so I thought. I had a beautiful varigated thread from Superior threads. I like poly threads because they shimmer and shine so I had bought several spools of Superior Rainbows at the MQX. OMG! This thread gave me so many fits. It kept breaking. I changed my needle twice making sure I was using the correct needle size recommended by Superior and rethreaded the machine twice. Still it kept breaking. Finally I decided to really loosen the tension on both top and bobbin. Turns out this thread likes almost no tension. I found that out later after going to Superiors website and reading it. Anyway, with all the starts and stops of breaking thread it was really hard to get a good rhythm going. I perservered and kept at it because I was loving how the thread looked when it wasn't breaking! In the end I am glad I did.

So without further ado here are some pictures of this newb's little journey...

Great job and nice quilt! Your friend wil be happy with the results.

wow...can't believe you're a newbie at it

OH My FF, THAT IS STUNNING! I love it! You need to go into business! That says it all!

This was a very interesting read feline fanatic. I think the fact that you perservered through the design and came up with such a beauty testifies to the rest of us to keep going and it will come out beautiful.

I love it and I hope you let your friend know the story behind this work too.

WOW!!!!!! Your quilting is absolutely stunning! :thumbup:

Wow I think you have def graduated past newbie status bravo

Spectular! Newbee-not! Love the top, and the quilting is excellent, looks great on the back especially.

Awesome quilting and pretty quilt. Marilyn

Well done.

Very well done!! Congrats!

wow.. i think you are a wonderful quilter... keep up the good work !

Wonderful!! And thanks for showing us the process that you used with all the pictures!! Truly beautiful!

great quilting skills, newby or not.....hope to see more of your work in the future.

I am super impressed. I'm still just meandering away, though I have started making my own pantographs.

What did you use to mark the quilt? Beautiful job of quilting

A clover Chalko liner. It is a little tube of white chaulk (the tool comes in other colors as well) with a little toothed wheel on the end so as you roll it along it dispenses a fine line of chaulk. The template is watercolor paper which is just like card stock only textured as opposed to very smooth. I find the texture is better for staying put when I trace around it.

It turned out so, so pretty!

You did a great job quilting. pretty quilt.

OhMyGosh. You're a *NEWBEE*? I've had my midarm for 3-1/2 years and I don't have results like that. Fantabulous job!

I just looked at your photos again. I love your pins ;-)

Woooooow!!!
This is a very professional newbie opinion, and for sure, "there are no warts!!"
It is gorgeous!!!

great job!

Absolutely beautiful! Love it!

It looks wonderful. When you are doing feathers you are no longer a newbee. Truthfully I would think I hope I don't ruin this everytime I got a quilt on when I got my machine. I don't know when that stopped. I am now on my 347th. I've learned a lot and had so much fun doing it. You learn a little at a time and your muscles train in a little at a time. It does look wonderful

Beautiful quilt and quilting you are far from a newbie!

thank you for sharing your tips. I'm areal newbie so newbie my machine and frame aren't set up yet LOL Can't wait to give it a try.

You obviously were not done loading the pictures when I commented. Even more beautiful than I thought at first!

WOW!! it's beautiful, what a fantastic job!!

WOW! The back is as beautiful as the front!
What a work of art!
Great job!

That is a great job. The design is something I would like--as I like curves and not too many angles. Quilt is very pretty too.

Beautiful work!!!

Don't have a LA, just a Janome, guess I have a whole lot to learn yet from you great quilters...you do inspire me. Love the swirlies....

OK, that is WAY COOL!!! I love the quilting design you did on this!

Wendy

Beautiful design!

That is great!!!! You don't look like a newbee quilter. :) Awesome job.

I'm impressed! Good job!

okay, you are no longer a newbie! your work is very professional looking. great job.

Looks amazing!