Shirt Quilt 2017 almost done, and HAPPY NEW YEAR....

I Finished Quilting the quilt, and have made the binding, so now it's countdown until midnight tonight - my self-imposed deadline for this quilt. It is a 2017 quilt! :)  I used a large curve all over pattern. At one point I repinned the last third of the quilt to start from the other direction as the fabric slid just a bit as I went....that was a good move. The last third quilted beautifully as well, and this will be a warm addition to my son's bed. It has been so cold here this month that this is going to be needed in the coming months I am sure.   I just rimmed off the edges and am about to bind the quilt.

Meanwhile I have done more stitches on the sampler on the XR9500PRW. That will be followed up next year! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Brother XR9500PRW Saga Continues and Sampler...

This machine stitches really nicely - few noises here and there, but overall, quieter than I first thought, and my sampler is coming along. I used two layers of a light cotton, with stabilizer ironed in. Perhaps a bit too stable but it is working well. It will be all trimmed, and then the edges serged and that sampler rolled up or folded.  Both sides are very nicely stitched. I have used two types of bobbin thread as well. First bobbin was poly sewing thread of normal weight, and the one in there now is a Class 15 Superior Threads So Fine #60, rather a fine thread in poly.  No problems at all - using the Metrosene on top.

Meanwhile, I added BONLUX lighting to the harp. such a small harp! I now know to angle the strip and it doesn't fall off as easily. ANother view of the machine sampling stitches!

Shirt Quilt Moves Along and New Baby Brother XR9500PRW...

The Shirt Quilt is coming along really well. I had help as you can see.

It's all ready to quilt now. Wool batting from Missouri Star, as well as red flannel patterned backing from Missouri Star.  Now to get at it. The thread I will use is Maxi-Lock variegated all colors. It should blend in rather well!

My Black Friday purchase. I couldn't NOT buy this. Loads of good reviews, under $200.00, and such a lot of fun to be had. One little alphabet font which will be handy. Now I can have the Elna set up for quilting, the Brother SE400 for embroidery and this is my sewing project machine! :) So far it sews very very nicely. Stitches as well as any machine I have ever used.  Yes, it is light, but the rubber stuff under it works. The table is a nice touch! Comes with 8 feet. The spring FM or darning foot is included with the table and 7 other feet including the regular ZZ foot.  The only surprise, and I would have seen this is all the videos I watched if I had paid attention, is that the S/S button doesn't light up! But that is so minor. :)  I like that it has a vertical spool pin! Not that flimsy horizontal one.

Accessories! A nice assortment. I have a generic 32 piece foot set that Brothers seem to fit most all of, so I am set for feet. SO glad to have the 1/4" foot in the generic set and I tried it and it works well on this machine.

It seems hard to find good pictures of the Brother stitches on the machine, so here is the main set, and the alphabet set.

Below is a nice view of the machine including the spool arrangement. So far I love it!