Quilting The Carolina Christmas – Little Sport Can’t Handle It!

Phfft.

Something happened to my little Bernina Sport during the quilting of this Carolina Christmas quilt.  It started squeaking so bad it sounded like Styrofoam rubbing together.  Jim thought it might have busted a bearing.  I have no idea.  It still sews but I’m going to have to take it in to a shop and have it looked at.

I love that little machine.  Mom bought it for me in 1992 during the time before my wedding when I thought I’d want to make the bridesmaid dresses.  It was used and at a good price and it has served me well these 19 years.  I guess I’ll just have to wait and see how much it will cost to fix before I decide anything on it’s fate.  The quilting was just getting really good with it too!!!

In the mean time, I brought down my Bernina 170 from upstairs.  I didn’t really want to go through the set-up again but I didn’t have a choice.  In fact, what I’ve read and what I’ve learned in class is that most machine quilters suggest having a dedicated machine just for the quilting.  I completely understand why since there is much to do to get the bobbin loose and the stitches in proper tension.  Not to mention the table set-up!  Sheesh!

It took another hour or two of meandering to get to a point where my stitching looked passable. The tension looked good, just a few spots that I’ll need to pull out and fix but all in all the all-over meandering is working really well!

I’m 1/2 way through with the center area already and hope to be finished with this area in a few more days.  It’s funny, the more you do of this the more your mind can’t get the swirling and moving out of your head!! Do all machine quilter’s go through this?  I was meandering in my sleep!

For the border I want to get brave and do a swirl.  Ahhh, what the heck…why not?

~Stay tuned!

Cathy