Meeting my new friend

Today was my first chance to really play with the Q 24.  I used Red Snappers on my Bernina frame to load quilts.  Basically they are a plastic rod that slides into the hem of the leader cloth and clips that hold the backing top onto the rollers.  It makes loading a quilt very quick and easy.  I was pleased to find the hem of the Q24 leader cloths allowed my to easily slide my rods in, and then I loaded a small piece of test fabric.  I just used something random I didn't care about.  I wasn't thinking about taking photographs, so the fabric wasn't ideal for showing you what I did, but such is life. (Red snappers are available in lots of places - Nancy Notions, for instance, has them here:) http://www.nancysnotions.com/product/quilting+frame+loading+system.do

Once loaded, the first step was to adjust my handles (I wish I had done this when someone else was there to help), and then customize the buttons on my handles.  This is very simple to do.  I am left handed, so I decided I wanted my start stop button under my left thumb.  I put the needle up and down on the other button on the left and then quickly realized that I held my threads with my left hand when pulling up the beginning and ending threads, so I wanted to control that button with my right hand.  So I moved it over, and also put the presser foot up and down on the right side.  I put the tie off button on the other left hand button, although I am not sure how much I will use it.

There are some things I am not happy with about the shipping and accessories of the machine.  Basically, they shipped it before almost anything else was ready.  For instance, my dealer does not yet have extra bobbins.  I often match my bobbin thread to the top (especially for landscapes), so I like lots of bobbins.  But, they are standard class M bobbins, so I can get them elsewhere, and even use pre wound bobbins (the Q24 has a separate motor and spool for winding bobbins, so this can be done without interrupting your machine set-up).  It also only ships with a darning foot (it uses standard Bernina feet).

I really want a true hopping foot that is thick and I can use long arm rulers with.  This is planned as an option, along with an extended base to give you a better surface for using rulers.  To me this is so essential to using a long arm that it should be an included accessory. For now, this is strictly a freehand machine.  That's my first love, so that is OK, but there are also times when I want to be able to stitch a good straight line or true circle, not easy to do freehand.

Along the same lines, eventually there will be a way to limit the machine to only vertical or horizontal motion, but that, too is not yet available.  It would be nice for making grids and basting quilts truly straight.  That seems like something that should have been included.

Someday there will be an option for computerized control, but that has not been released yet.

Also there will be an attachment to quilt from the back using pantographs and a laser light.  Again, not yet available.

Yes, I was eager to get my Q24, but I think some of these things should have been out and ready to put in the hands of the customer as the machines were released (and some should not incur extra cost, but that's Bernina).  Hopefully some of them will follow fairly quickly.  Especially the bobbins.

But meanwhile, I can certainly work at improving my free-hand skills.  So I loaded my fabric and started driving.  My goal was to fill my fabric, just playing.  I used loops, meanders, words, grids, etc.  I'm sorry the stitching does not show up well.  One line was a reminder to me:  "Be kind to yourself".  After all there IS a learning curve.  I need to not get frustrated if things aren't the way I would like them to be.

I had fun creating a train.  I made the wheels from left to right, then created the cars from right to left, designing new cars on the fly. There is even a circus car with a lion.

Since I didn't have a ruler to use, I tried a freehand grid - not bad for a first attempt.  But it will be a while before I try it on a real quilt.

By the time I had filled my piece, I had stood long enough.  I realized it is important to be really aware of posture and relaxation.  Don't tense muscles, and make sure you are breathing.  Don't lock your knees.  I have a set of those rubber giant jigsaw pieces to put on the floor to make standing easier, but I didn't take time to put them down, yet.  My feet were sore after the hour or so I played, so I decided that was enough for the first day.  I think it is going to be a fun journey.