Bev's quilt
On this one we used 9 oz poly and Superior Thread's Monofilament.
Shirl Williams quilt was an edge to edge design. I tried using one of Superior Thread's Rainbow threads and I could not get my long arm to sew with it at all. It broke the thread about every 12 inches. I switched to Magnifico and still had issues but I could get half way across a run before it broke. I had a couple of runs with out any breaks. I was very frustrated. I have had tension issues, on my Innova, off on and on for a couple of years. This causing me to take twice as long (or more) on each job than I should have to. I end up picking out and re-stitching. While Dave and I were up in SLC last month, we stopped by the Innova shop (Quilts on the Corner in Sandy). I picked up all new thread guides, needle plate (throat plate) and a new check spring. I called ABM to find out what size allen wrench it took loosen the tension assembly so it could be removed and we could get the old check spring out and the new check spring in. I had never changed my check spring and it defiantly needed to be replaced. I was told that as much as I use my machine I probably should change the check spring every six months and that you should normally change them once a year. I know the check spring is important, but did not realize that they needed to be changed that often and I sold the machines when I worked for Let's Quilt here in St. George. Anyway.... ABM has technicians that are available to answer questions and walk the customer through problems. When I talked to Michael he told me to call him back before we did anything, after we had removed the old check spring. Well..... we did not call him back and managed to not get the check spring seated correctly. So when I started adjusting the spring it wound back on it's self. I sprung the check spring. I was like a slinky that had been pulled and would not longer work. Michael suggested that I get a new tension assembly. I decided to do that. I called Quits on the Corner and ordered a the new precision tension assembly, 5 of their special red bobbins and 3 extra check springs. We got the new assembly installed and did the adjustments as well as we could. I really have loved my Innova, but I sure wish we had a service person in St. George. I would like to have my machine tuned up, the table leveled and all those kind of things yearly, even if I have had no problems. The machine is to heavy for me to lift and carry to my car to make the track to Sandy, Utah. I don't like doing the fixes myself and my husband really does not like to do it.
I have actually decided if I don't quit having tension issues, I will not be quilting for clients very often. It is just to stressful for the money I make. I am not going to invest in another long arm either (I am entering daily for the APQS long arm give away...... it would be wonderful to win it).
After having the issues I did with Shirl's quilt, I loaded a baby quite of my own, used Permacore in the bobbin as well as the top and it quilted fine..... I quilted fast too. The next client quilt is a Judy Nehmire quilt pattern pieced by Patti V.. It is a red and white quilt, wonderfully constructed. I am just keeping my fingers crossed that I don't have any issues with the thread on this one.
Now it is late, I need to go to the APQS website and make my daily entry into their contest and then hit the sack! This next week is a full week. We will be having two different groups of visitors. I am looking forward to that!
Happy Quilting to you all!
