Best Christmas Present Ever!

New English Quilter set up in Martha's home

 Kirstie came to visit our stand at the Festival of Quilts last summer. She tried our New English Quilter frames and fell in love with it. 

New English Quilter - a side view

Kirstie must have dropped some hints like anchors because her dear husband bought her our 8 foot NEQ2 frame, purpose built table and a set of Nifty Grips to go with her sewing machine for Christmas.

"However, (wide grin now plastered on face), I was an EXTREMELY spoilt Lady this Christmas.  The Husband saw fit to give in to my not-so-subtle pleadings and bought me The Best Christmas Present. EVER."

I think she likes it! And that makes us really happy!!

"...this quilting frame is just the BEST!" 

Making Room

Gill's 6 foot New English Quilter frame

 Gill bought one of our New English Quilter frames at the NEC last summer. She settled for the 6 footer because she knew it would fit in her sewing room conservatory. Doesn't it look like a lovely place to quilt! Gill was thrilled, she really liked quilting on a frame but sort of wished she'd gone for the larger version. The 6 foot New English Quilter fits on a 6 foot table and gives 55 inches of quilting space. It's perfect for smaller projects like baby quilts and charity quilts and single bed quilts too. Here's one of Gill's first quilts completed on the 6 foot frame.

Gill's first quilt on the New English Quilter frame

 At first, Gill was sure that the 6 foot frame would be fine. But once she started quilting she knew that she wanted to do bigger quilts, so she decided to find 2 more feet.
 Gill called me up and ordered an extension; 

a set of three sturdier 8 foot poles

a set of our new seamless 8 foot tracks

a set of side arms to fit the wider poles.

The studio re-arranged to fit the 8 foot NEQ2

 The larger and sturdier 8 foot New English Quilter 2 frame now fits beautifully in Gill's sewing studio. 

It's amazing how you can find the space when you really want to.

Gill's first double bed quilt just off the new extended frame

 I love bright! This quilt definitely has the 'wow factor!' Gill's used So Fine #40 a special one-inch-colour-change variegated thread from Superior Threads that ideal for machine quilting. I really like how all the petal colours are reflected in the black background. Gill's going to exhibit this beauty at the Hever Quilters Guild Show later in the year.

machine quilting detail

Juliet's First Go

machine quilting detail of Juliet Flockhart's Chelsea Blues quilt

I love it when customers send me photos of their work! Juliet had a chance to try out our New English Quilter frame at the Alexander Palace Knitting and Stitching Show last fall. Then she came to visit for a free demo and decided it was just what she needed to move forward with her quilting.

Juliet setting up her 8 foot NEQ2frame

Here's a photo of her 8 foot NEQ2 with the JUKI TL98P lockstitch sewing machine and the Nifty Grip speed control handles. She's just got it out of the box and set up in a spare bedroom. Juliet is happy to be able to leave the frame set up most of the time.

practising the ripple stipple pattern on some scrap fabric

Now Juliet is practising the Ripple Stipple from the La Mer DVD. It's a good idea to spend time on a practice piece before launching out on the proper quilt.

Juliet's Chelsea Blues quilt , finished and just off the NEQ2 frame

I think that Juliet's Chelsea Blues quilt is just gorgeous. The Ripple Stipple quilting pattern worked beautifully with the log cabin pieced blocks. The stitching pattern shows up well on the back in the photo below.

the machine quilting stitches show up well on the back

"I have completed my 'Chelsea Blues' quilt and am very pleased with the outcome. Apart from perhaps having the quilting too close for my taste, the actual presentation is very pleasing.  The tension was nigh on perfect and the back was excellent, which was what I was having so much trouble with latterly on my hand and machine quilting.  It has a very nice 'hand quilted' effect all over which was exactly what I had been aiming for."

Juliet's next project!

Isn't it nice when a plan comes together. I'm excited to see what happens with this one!! After working for a couple of months on her own, Juliet is coming down from Edinburgh for our March Retreat at the Petwood. What fun!

Poinsettia Petal Project

 Episode 3 from our Christmas mini-series is live now on the LineDancing site. It finishes with a quirky see-through-stitching project!

See how lots of different threads play out on a free-motion-embroidered embellished wholecloth project.

Festive designs directly from nature.

Nine Ladies Dancing

One of the great things about the holidays is that they come around again giving me another chance to finish my projects. I call this quilt, Nine Ladies Dancing because of the gorgeous retro fabric. You can read the back story in the link to the previous post. I posted about this quilt last Christmas! So I'm not post early for this Christmas just late from last year! I got stuck on the design part and didn't get un-stuck until a couple weeks ago. So I am very chuffed to be finishing it. My daughter Rosie, filmed  a short video clip of the quilting. I'm quilting a heart design on a chevron stripe in the fabric.I think Rosie did a fantastic job with the filming and the editing, she's 16!  I'll post more tomorrow.

Doing Demo's

I love doing demo's! Lots of our customers who purchase our New English Quilter and Art Quilter frames are opting to come and collect them instead of arranging for shipping. We're offering free tutorials - so new owners can get off to a good start. I really enjoy the tutorials. They provide an opportunity to get better acquainted with our customers. There's plenty of time to go over any questions. We take the frame apart and set it up again. We discuss loading options so that new owners are clear about how to load a quilt on the frame. We go though sewing machines and tensioning and basic trouble shooting. We look at lots of quilts and and try various threads. Finally, we spend a bit of time with pen and paper showing how to create bold and flowing line designs. We pack a lot of information into a few hours! People leave happy and confident with lots of ideas. They come as customers but leave as friends.

Lynda's mussel shell background. 

 I'm so glad to get photos of projects. Lynda has created some lovely texture to go behind the embroidery on these pillows. In the beginning lots of little projects are the best.

Stephanie used fleece to back this little crib quilt

 Loops are one of the best line designs to start out with. They help you to gain fluency as you circle every which way around your quilt top. Stephanie has been doing lots of little projects. It's the perfect way to make good progress. I'm always thrilled to get photos! A big thank you to Lynda and Stephanie!

Stephanie used loops as an all over pattern

No place like home

Source: google.co.uk via Martha on Pinterest

Last week,  two sets of gals came for a demo visit from different parts of the country. Lynda purchased the 8 foot New English Quilter 2 at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham. She came to visit with her mum, Doreen to collect her new frame and get a personal tutorial. Shows like the Festival of Quilts are so exciting and they provide the perfect opportunity to try and compare all the frames on offer. But sometimes people are so focused on purchasing the frame that they don't remember what to do with it once they've got it.

our stand at Festival of  Quilts 2012

 Shows are busy and crowded.  In all the commotion it can be hard to see and remember all the information that you need to get a new machine quilting frame up and running. Coming to collect the frame is the perfect solution. In the comfort of home with just a few people you have time to think. You can ask all the questions you like,  try the frame again,  play with various threads, and see how to load a quilt sandwich. We take the frame and table apart and put it back together, and look at lots and lots of quilts. And yes, we do have cups of tea and coffee and cakes to keep us going!

Source: tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com via Martha on Pinterest

On a personal note, these collection demo's give us a chance to get to know our customers better. It's lovely to have the time for conversation over a cup of coffee or tea and a nice slice of cake. This works both ways. Our customers also enjoy the personal touch. People like knowing the Lincolnshire village where our frames are made. Once we've spent a few hours playing with the frame and sewing machine and talking shop, customers feel much more confident that they'll be able to get everything up and running smoothly when they get home.

Little Houses in the Big Woods machine quilted by Martha Milne

Kate's Ohio Star

All quilted!

Kate sent a photo of her finished quilt. It's lovely! What the photo doesn't show is just how quickly she finished this project. Kate was heading off to Sweden last week to visit her brother's family in their new home. She wanted the quilt as a house warming present. But the flight was for Saturday.

setting up Kate's 8 foot NEQ2

 On Wednesday she had the frame all set up, but realized that she needed a spring loaded hopping foot for her sewing machine. Unfortunately, the local sewing machine shop shuts on Wednesday afternoons. So we had to wait till Thursday. The last time I saw Kate it was Thursday evening. She'd just finished a little practice piece. She'd added some side strips to the quilt top and was loading it on the frame. 

Kate's un-quilted Ohio Star top

Kate said;"Quilting took no time at all - had it finished that evening! Very excited to get more finished now. Got a few planned..."

 Kate used a scalloped mussel shell pattern, the same line design she used last September, when she's been finishing some quilts to take to University.

The great thing about getting a line design in your head is that it all comes back when you need it again.The scalloped mussel shell pattern is a quick and forgiving pattern, easy to maneuver every-which-way around your quilt top. The light travels beautifully across the quilted surface and mistakes just seem to disappear! Kate used a King Tut thread #920 Sands of Time and a 100/16 Topstitch needle. She quilted a present she can really be proud of in just a couple of hours.Not bad after a gap of 10 months. Well done Kate! What a difference the quilting makes!

scalloped mussel shell quilting detail

Denmark

I'm always excited when we send one of our machine quilting frames to a new country for the first time. So I was thrilled to ship our 8 foot NEQ2 to Anette in Denmark. Anette is a very experienced quilter, designer and teacher. She has a quilt shop in Odense, which is right in the heart of Denmark. 

Anette's shop, called the Quilters-Patch specializes in Kaffe Fassett fabric. Anette has been a hand quilter for many years but was looking for a way to complete quilts more quickly without loosing the personal touch. She wanted to keep on guiding the needle, just more quickly. When she watched our La Mer DVD, Anette realised that our Art Quilter and NEQ2 machine quilting frames would enable her to do just that. 

Here's a photo of Anette's showroom/shop. I just love the light and the contrast of the white walls and light flooring with the vibrant colours of the fabric bolts. I can't wait to see Anette's new frame set up here. I'm delighted that our New English Quilter has found such a lovely home. And I'm looking forward to following Anette's progress!

Like Christmas

Source: 01varvara.wordpress.com via Martha on Pinterest

Whenever a Superior Threads order comes in it feels like Christmas! There's the big box to open and all the lovely threads to unpack and admire. Then there's the thread orders to post on. It makes me glad to think that the recipients will be just as delighted to open the box as I was to pack it.

Last week I sent out several large orders to girls who are taking advantage of the bulk buy discounts. Emailing back and forth about the arrangements gives me a chance to catch up with my customers. Karen was stocking up on lots of threads from the So Fine! and King Tut ranges. Karen bought a JUKI TL 98P  to go on one of the first NEQ2 frames in January 2011 She's been machine quilting on a frame for over a year now and is doing some lovely work. Karen likes using pantographs and her feedback helped us to design a better stylus. A few weeks ago Karen bought a new JUKI HZL Exceed for piecing. She's thrilled to bits with it!

the NEW Juki HZL Exceed - a dream to piece and appliqué with 

Karen's been reading lots of blog posts about machine quilting off the frame, sitting down at the sewing machine. So she decided to give it a try. Karen made me laugh when I asked her how it went. With her permission I've quoted her:

"I tried sit-down-free-motion quilting for the first time this week. It was awful! It made me really appreciate my frame. All my lines were jerky! Now I know why I bought my frame. It's so much easier to free motion quilt using the frame! My stitching on the frame is much more flowing and such a better quality. I'll be sticking to machine quilting on the frame for now on!" 

It's nice to have happy customers!

Getting ready

It's been an epic couple of weeks. Last week I travelled from the 'back of beyond' in Lincolnshire to London via car, train and tube to get to the American Embassy to renew my passport. After filling out all the forms I went back home to wait a week for the delivery. London is exciting but I am always happy to get back to the 'shire'. The passport was due to be delivered Wednesday, which meant that I needed to be at home all day. So I decided to use the time to finish an English Flags quilt top, which gave me another opportunity to play with the JUKI Exceed 600.

The industrial type box feed makes this JUKI such a dream to piece with! This English Flag quilt top has been 'resting' for the past couple of months. A fresh look this week made me think that it needed another row of flags. We want to have it at our booth at the Houston show next week. Fortunately, thanks to the JUKI Exceed, the blocks came together quickly and now I'm working on a fun back. I often use fleece but sometimes I really enjoy finding just the right fabric for the backing. More about that tomorrow.

Houston Quilt Festival 2011

We're going to the 2011 Houston Quilt Festival! The dates are Thursday - Sunday, November 3-6 with a preview on Wednesday night from 5 to 10pm. We're listed under Machine Quilter Company Ltd and the Booth numbers are 726, 728. We're sharing the stand with Les Raichert. Les Raichert has been supplying American Quilters with JUKI sewing machines since the 1970s.This year we're bringing the Art Quilter and NEQ2 New English Quilter frames and Nifty Grip ergonomically designed speed control handles. We'll also have our Line Dancing DVD's; La Mer and Beyond the Sea.

Come visit and test drive the new JUKI TL2010Q on the New English Quilter frames. We'll be at Booth 726 and 728. We'll see you there!

Festival of Quilts - F49

School is finally finished! And the Festival of Quilts is just around the corner! We're busy gearing up for our favourite quilt show. The Festival of Quilts runs from Thursday August 11th until Sunday August 14th. You can find us at Stall F 49 near the European Quilter's Cafe.

As usual we will be featuring the JUKI TL 98 P on our New English Quilter frames. There will be an exciting selection of the large cones of Superior Threads ideal for machine quilting.

If you're looking for something small and portable, try our new Art Quilter 4 and 6 foot frames. We've used quintessentially English deck chair fabric for the leaders on the 4 foot Art Quilter.

If larger quilts are your passion we have our new updated NEQ2 built longer and stronger to accommodate the bigger king sized quilts. Martha and Emily and Trudi Wood will be on hand to demonstrate and answer any questions. We're hoping that NEQ owners will pop round with 'show and tell' projects to inspire us all. We look forward to seeing new and old friends at the Festival stand F 49!

NEQ2 Launch!

It sounds like an ocean liner and it is designed to cross the Atlantic! The NEQ2 is the updated version of our original New English Quilter.

We’ve made some changes. The NEQ2 is designed to accommodate larger quilts and larger sewing machines. The poles are sturdier in order to limit bowing, the track joins are seamless to eliminate ‘the bump’ and the arms have been redesigned so you can work from either side! The carriages are bigger too, to handle the larger sewing machines.

We've kept all the great features of the Original New English Quilter. It's still easy to assemble, simple to use, and handcrafted to be beautiful AND useful. We still offer the very best service before and after our sales.

The NEQ2 comes in 2 standard sizes: 8 foot and 10 1/2 feet. We also offer a custom service to your specific requirements. For more information, visit our website. Forget the cruise get the Quilter!