Hi , 

When it comes to buying a longarm machine, what is the most important thing to understand? This is the thing I wish I'd known before getting my first longarm:

Size does matter! LOL - yes, the size of the longarm machine really is important. When I got my first longarm quilting machine, I didn't understanding how that would affect my quilting space or creativity.

You cannot upgrade your machine to get more space because the distance between the motor and your machine needle can't change.

Another thing that's fixed on a longarm machine is the speed. But this isn't as much of an an issue for beginners. Once you are comfortable and confident, you will want more speed so the machine keeps up with your speedy spirals and racing feathers.

Space really is the key and something you should understand before purchasing your first longarm machine.

So how do Grace Company's 3 longarm machines stack up in terms of space? See how the 3 sizes of Grace longarm machines compare in this new video:

Yes, you will need a Qnique 21X Elite to fit an entire 16-inch quilt block. It fits, plus has room to spare for quilting around the heart and quilting in the background as well.

But I hope you can see in this video that even with a bigger longarm machine, the actual quilting process is the same. You will fill the space with rows of a quilting design moving the machine from left to right and right to left.

If you run out of space because your longarm bottoms out against the back rail of the quilting frame, that's no big deal! Simply advance your quilt in the frame to reach the remaining space.

Click Here to compare Grace 16X Elite, 19X Elite and 21X Elite Longarms.

The heart quilt in this video is part of a new pattern that will launch later this year. But keep reading and you'll find another free heart quilt pattern included in this newsletter - the Chain of Hearts Pattern!

February Pantograph Quilting Party

I'm celebrating one of my favorite styles of quilting this month - pantographs!

Our pantograph designs are sold as digital download PDFs. Download the file, print, trim, then tape the pages together to create one continuous line design.

I include two sizes of pantographs in each file so whether you're quilting on a home machine or quilting on a longarm machine, you can quilt with these pantograph designs and know they will fit from beginning to the end of even a king sized quilt.

And yes, the size of your longarm machine determines the size of pantograph you can quilt. Check out this size chart to see how you can mix and match pantograph designs together to create the perfect fit for your machine:

Would you like to learn even more about pantograph quilting? Click Here to find our Quilting Pantographs Guidebook which covers all the steps to quilting with pantographs on all styles of quilting frames and with all types of machines.

This Guidebook also includes the Leafy Meander Pantograph so you can give this method a try and see if you like it:

Free Pantograph Accessory Kit

Through February, we're including over $200 in pantograph quilting accessories with all Grace longarm machines and the Little Rebel sewing machine.

This pantograph accessory kit includes:

• Laser light to fit your machine
• Pantograph Quilting Guidebook PDF
• 10 Downloadable Pantograph Quilting Designs

Click Here to find all Grace Quilting Machines. These are affordable longarm machines, designed and built for home-based, hobby quilters. 

I love the variety of creative accessories and feet created by Grace Company and, based on the emails I receive from customers of other brands, many quilters buying from other manufacturers end up wishing they bought a Grace Machine instead. 

We offer accessories like ruler feet, couching feet, affordable computerized quilting, and frame wheels that make our machines more functional, fun, and able to do any style of quilting you want to try!

Chain of Hearts Quilt Pattern

I shared this Chain of Hearts quilt pattern last week, but just in case you missed it, I wanted you to have a second peek. I've also added a short video with a special tip on trimming the HSTs and QSTs much faster!

Chain of Hearts Fabric Requirements

To make this 60 x 74-inch throw quilt, you'll need 3-yards of fabric in pink and 3-yards of fabric in white, or whichever two colors you like best. For best results, prewash, starch, and press all fabrics before cutting. Click Here to learn all about preparing your fabrics for quilting.

Remember to lower your stitch length to 1.5 mm to create a tight, secure stitch. Unless otherwise noted, please press all seam allowances OPEN to reduce bulk and make quilting easier.

Fabric Cutting

This quilt is so easy to make because you'll cut the exact same pieces in both colors. Follow this chart to first cut the pieces in pink, then again in white:

8-inch Heart Blocks (21 blocks with pink background, 21 blocks with white background):

Cut 21 – 5 ½-inch squares

Cut 63 – 5-inch squares

Cut 42 – 1 ½ x 8 ½-inch rectangles

3-inch Heart Blocks (18 blocks with pink background, 18 blocks with white background):

Cut 18 – 3-inch squares

Cut 54 – 2 ½-inch squares

Cut 36 – 3 ½ x 4-inch rectangles

Piecing Half Square Triangles

Now let's make a mess of HSTs! Stack the following squares right sides together to start this process:

Stack all pink and white 21 – 5 ½-inch squares - Piece to make HSTs and cut them apart, but don't trim because these will be used to make QSTs next.

Stack 42 pink and white - 5-inch squares - Piece and trim to 4 ½-inches square.

Stack all pink and white 18 – 3-inch squares - Piece to make HSTs and cut them apart, but don't trim because these will be used to make QSTs next.

Stack 36 pink and white - 2 ½-inch squares - Piece and trim to 2-inches square.

Click Here to find my tutorial on piecing Half Square Triangles. The steps are so easy and the best part is you get to piece triangles without ever having to cut a triangle shape.

Speedy Trimming for HSTs and QSTs

I love precision piecing so I cut my units big and trim them to the exact size needed for quilt patterns. This can mean a LOT of trimming. 

Click Here to find a new video and learn a quick tip for positioning the units on your cutting mat so you can cut 2 edges of the unit safely without having to reposition your ruler.

I'm cutting on the Dingo Craft Cabinet in this video, which is an amazing storage solution AND cutting table all in one. The storage in 9 drawers is incredible. 

I'm storing all of my Isacord thread, needles, quilting feet and bobbins and still have room to spare. It's built on sturdy wheels so the cabinet can be rolled out of the way, and my favorite feature - the doors lock so if you have a particularly curious kid, you can keep your rotary cutters (and her fingers) safe.

Safety is the idea behind this trimming method. I used to position my ruler and cut one side and then across the top edge of the ruler. That worked until it didn't - my ruler slipped and I cut the tip of my finger off.

That experience was enough - stop trimming dangerously, Leah!

By positioning the units on the corner of your cutting mat, you can cut one edge of the unit, reposition your body, then cut the perpendicular edge. Then lift the ruler, rotate the unit, align it again and cut the two remaining sides.

Piecing Quarter Square Triangles

Now it's time to transform the untrimmed HSTs we set aside into Quarter Square Triangles or QSTs. These are just as easy to piece - basically the same set of steps we did before.

Click Here to find a tutorial on piecing QSTs just in case this unit is new for you.

Stack the following pieces to make QSTs:

Stack 21 HSTs made with 5 ½-inch squares, top with 21 pink 5-inch squares. Piece to make QSTs, cut apart, then trim to 4 ½-inches square.

Stack 21 HSTs made with 5 ½-inch squares, top with 21 white 5-inch squares. Piece to make QSTs, cut apart, then trim to 4 ½-inches square.

Stack 18 HSTs made with 3-inch squares, top with 18 pink 2 ½-inch squares. Piece to make QSTs, cut apart, then trim to 2-inches square.

Stack 18 HSTs made with 3-inch squares, top with 18 white 2 ½-inch squares. Piece to make QSTs, cut apart, then trim to 2-inches square.

Yay - our units are pieced and it's time to assemble our heart quilt blocks:

Piece the 8-inch Heart Blocks

1. Arrange two 4 ½-inch HSTs and two white Background QSTs to look like the image above. Piece together in sets of 2 units, then piece the two rows together to create an 8 ½-inch unfinished quilt block. 
2. Repeat these steps to create 21 heart blocks with a white background and pink heart.
3. Piece two 1 ½ x 8 ½ inch pink rectangles to the left and right edges of each block. They will now measure 10 ½-inches wide x 8 ½-inches tall.

Repeat steps, but this time arrange and piece the units to make a white heart in a pink background. Sew the additional pink background rectangles to both sides to create 21 more 10 ½-inches wide x 8 ½-inches tall heart blocks.

Piece the 3-inch Heart Blocks

1. Arrange the smaller pieces to make a white background, pink heart as we did before. Piece the units together create a 3 ½-inch unfinished quilt block. 
2. Repeat these steps to create 18 heart blocks with a white background and pink heart. 
3. Piece two 3 ½ x 4-inch white rectangles to the left and right edges of each block. These units will now measure 8 ½-inches wide x 3 ½-inches tall.

Repeat steps 1-3 using the pink background QSTs, remaining 2-inch HSTs, and Fabric B 3 ½ x 4-inch rectangles to create 18 heart units with a pink background and white heart.

Assemble the Chain of Hearts Quilt

The final step is to arrange the blocks in rows to match the diagram below:

Piece the blocks together, then piece the rows together to complete the quilt top. Once pieced, this quilt will measure 60 X 74 inches - the perfect size for a couch throw, table cloth quilt, or add borders and you'll have a great twin-size bed quilt too.

That's it for this week, . We had two snow storms back to back so this weekend I'm headed to the beach for sunshine and fun. I might just have to pop in a fabric store to find something new bright, pretty fabrics to play with for spring.

Let's go quilt,

Leah Day