Another Quilt Of Valor

This top had been in a to-be-quilted stack at Magnolia Park Retreat for the Alabama Quilts of Valor.
Facebook : QuiltsOfValorAlabamaChapter
They have an HW Sweet 16 sitdown longarm machine there, so last weekend, while I was there, I helped them get this one quilted.  I think they are presenting it tomorrow.

I really like this string pattern with the white stars.  It's forms such a striking pattern.  Plus, it's perfect for using up scraps.  You can find the book/pattern on Bobbie and Ginger's website : Strips and Strings.

Here's a closeup of the front quilting.  I wanted to use something that is masculine and compliments the top's design.  Simple stitch-in-the-ditch and outlines of the white stars, then waving lines in the strings.   The navy border needed some fireworks for fun and pizazz.

Here's the back side.  I like the design that the quilting stitches made.

So, after using my frame and their sitdown machine, I've decided that I really love my frame.  With the sitdown machine, at first I fought gravity as the quilt slipped off the small table.  We set up 2 tables on either side to form a U shaped workspace with me sitting in the middle.  This helped a lot and the quilting went easier after that setup, but the frame quilting supports the weight of the quilt entirely and the machine glides so effortlessly on its wheeled base.

Also, when I quilt my machine, I use the stitch regulator.  For this quilt, I did not use it (although we could have read instructions and set it up).  It took a little while to get the hang of not speeding up too much in the middle of the waves since I slowed down at the ends to stitch down the straight lines.  It's not perfect (and neither is my stitch regulator), but it turned out pretty nice.

An online order for some quilt backing just arrived, so I can get busy quilting a few tops I have stacked up here at home too.  Maybe a few of these will end up under the tree next month.

Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars