i was off yesterday from the library job so I spent the day quilting. No surprise there, right? I was able to get two more QOVs quilted. I believe the pattern of this first one is called Striped and Spangled. 

It was made by Susan of the Stitching Sisters. One thing that I never thought much about before owning a long arm, is the direction in which the top is mounted. This top was mounted in the frame with the strips perpendicular to the rollers on the frame. I would have preferred to mount it with the strips parallel to the rollers. Then I could have completed the quilting on each strip before going on to the next rather than quilting the strips piecemeal.

So, why did I mount it as I did? Because the backing was pieced with a horizontal seam. The best thing to do in that case is to mount the backing with the seam parallel to the rollers. Otherwise, the extra fabric in the seam creates a big bump of fabric as it is rolled onto the backing bar and it is difficult to keep the backing pucker free. All this is to say, even the backing can influence the quilting design choices. Who would have thought?

If you are still with me, here is the second quilt I quilted yesterday. The piecing was magnificent! 

This one required several thread changes. I used Superior Monoply with black Glide in the bottom for the SID ruler work, the border feathers, and to quilt around the design in the medallion. I used Glide thread in white for the meander in the blocks.  I wanted to make sure the piecing took center stage and the quilting played a supporting role. Here are a couple shots of the back which is black, not gray as the pictures show. 

Have a happy Tuesday! Linking up with Free Motion by the River and I Have to Say….