My birthday present! A Babylock Unity!

I was pretty frustrated with my quilting machine! I have had an Elna Quilter's Pro 7200 for almost 10 years now. It has been a great machine and we have created many beautiful quilts with it. But, the time had come for a new machine.

After looking through reviews and watching YouTube videos and playing with machines at the sewing center, I bought a floor model Husqvarna Topaz 30. I was so excited. It could embroider, it could quilt....I went home feeling good because I got a good deal on it. But my excitement was short lived.

The first time I tried to embroider on it, the bobbin decided to eat thread! What did I do wrong?! So I emailed my sales lady, and she gave me pointers. I got it to embroider a few things, but I kept fighting that hungry bobbin! It kept eating thread. I took it back a few times, but still no luck.

My wonderful, understanding husband suggested I trade it in on a new one. The sewing place said they would give me the full price that I had paid toward another one. So I Youtubed. I read reviews. I mulled it over and contemplated.

I finally decided on a Babylock. I had planned to get the Spirit, which is only the embroidery part of the Unity. But my husband told me to go ahead and get the one I want...the Unity.

It finally came in today on my birthday! I've just started playing with it tonight. I will post more as I learn about my new machine and share some lessons learned plus share my projects.

My project right now is a quilt for my cousin's wife made out of their son's baby clothes! This is a first for me! I've made plenty of tshirt quilts, but never out of baby clothes!

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My New Favorite Toy!

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If at first you don't succeed...

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Coiled fabric basket

I know. I know. I haven't posted in a while. I've been extremely busy and I haven't had the time. But I wanted to share with you a little project that I made this weekend. It took longer than I thought and my sewing machine didn't like to cooperate. But I finished it and it's really cute...more importantly, useful! I decided I needed a basket to keep all of my receipts till I file them. So I used clothesline rope and wrapped scrap fabric around it and made a basket. It's called a coiled fabric basket. There are several blogs and help online. The only tip I can suggest is to sew along the rope with a straight stitch to attach the fabric to the rope and it kind of flattens the rope, making it easier to sew. I used the largest zigzag stitch and a heavy blue jean needle. Don't forget the large blue jean needle. Or you will break needles. Trust me...I speak from experience! I even asked my husband to bring ...

It's A Cynch!

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