Eleven years ago, my stepson & his wife were expecting their first child, our first grand child. My thoughts immediately went to making a quilt for the new baby; every baby needs a quilt. I had been sewing all my life: garments & tailoring, window covering & other items, but never a quilt. So, I went to my neighborhood quilt store, found a pattern called “Nine bears in nine squares,” & purchased the pattern & fabric for this quilt. Since I’d never made a quilt, I did not know that I couldn’t do it; I just knew that I could sew about anything. This pattern was appliqué on blocks & very cute. I set out to make this quilt, meticulously following the directions for cutting & sewing. Then the directions became vague (in my opinion) to get the backing, batting & finalizing the quilt with the border and binding. The “pinning” parts of the instructions also were lacking. Since I’d never even talked to anyone about quilting, I assumed using straight pins was what was needed, so I pinned the sandwich & started my version of quilting. Needless to say, by the time I’d finished this darling baby quilt, I had to wash it several times to get out all my bloody spots I’d left behind. At the baby shower where the quilt was to be given, I met my stepson’s mother-in-law, Peggy, for the first time. As the gifts were opened Peggy’s gifts & my gift were opened last. Peggy’s gifts were opened & out came the most beautiful quilts I had ever seen, & they looked perfect to me. Then my quilt was opened, it was cute, but obviously not the high quality of Peggy’s. I knew then that I wanted to learn how to quilt, really quilt, the way Peggy quilted.

Eventually I made my daughter’s first baby a “9 bear quilt”, then a neighbor’s new grandbaby a “9 bear quilt”. I did get better, but I knew I needed more formal instructions, so I started taking beginner-quilting lessons at the local quilt shops. Then I took more classes & joined a very nice quilting group that Peggy introduced me to.
Now, many quilts later, I have improved my quilting skills (I no longer use straight pins), & I enjoy quilting very much. I also enjoy the camaraderie of my quilting friends & the shared techniques & ideas from these friends. Quilts made include table runners and wall hangings as gifts for family and friends as well as quilts donated to charitable causes such as the Adaptive Ski Program for auction and to the Quota Club for raffle in their fund raising activities.

Fast forward to three months ago. One of my quilting friends, Michele, & I went to the Fiber Arts Fiesta in Albuquerque, where we saw the Handi Quilter Fusion demonstrated by Ann Silva’s Bernina. Michele had some experience with the long-arm quilting machine owned by the New Mexico Quilters Association, & I had helped load quilts & observe. This demonstration & trial run was an eye opener. I have had to have large quilts quilted for me due to advancing arthritis in my hands, so this was quite a transformation to have a great stitch regulator as well as a smooth moving machine to quilt with. We looked at each other & said we’d LOVE to have something like this. We were impressed that the HQ is manufactured in the Salt Lake City, not in a foreign country. We were impressed that we have a trained service person in Albuquerque. We were impressed that the machine ran so smoothly & evenly. So, we sat down & talked about a partnership purchase, where the machine would reside, and all the questions we could think to ask each other about sharing this beautiful quilting machine. Ann Silva explained the introductory purchase price (& the deadline of this offer). We went to the shop to see the machine set up there, talked to shop personnel & other quilters in the shop. We consulted with our spouses & quilter friends. We agreed to purchase the Handi Quilter Fusion, & we agreed to put the machine in my home & to split the cost of everything right down the middle.

Having the machine set up by Steve Silva was fascinating. Michele & I went to our private new-owner lesson at the shop. We learned to load quilts, & we have made many, many practice quilts. We’ve practiced quilting techniques & designs. We found the learning curve to be HUGE, but practice, practice we do. We attend the monthly long- arm club meetings at Ann Silva’s Bernina, watch DVD’s & read everything we can find to help us learn more about using the Handi Quilter Fusion. (I am very hopeful to be chosen for the Handi Quilter Story Retreat so that I can observe & learn from this event.)

My niece was expecting her second child, so I made a new quilt top called Alphabuddies. After practicing the quilting with a groovy board (circles), I decided to quilt the newest baby quilt & deliver it in time for the baby’s arrival. Michele & I loaded the quilt, quilted the quilt & filled in between the circles with swirls & loops. The baby was delivered August 11, 2009, in Bowling Green, KY. I was there for the birth & gave this beautiful baby girl, Maia Marie, her new quilt.

Michele & I are still learning about long arm quilting, so we only have “practice” quilts to show our progress. These practice quilts are called “weatherization” quilts. Our local utility company winterizes homes for people who are elderly and/or disabled. A quilt made by local quilters is donated to each of these people. So our practice quilts will find happy owners.

I am reading everything I can about long-arm quilting techniques, taking classes & watching DVD’s & continuing to make weatherization quilts.

Thank you so much for everything you do for the home quilter.

Sincerely,
Margaret Emrick

I own the following HQ machines: