New Location Coming Soon
Home of thee Leatherneck Kilted Quilter and Not Forgotten QOV
Longarm Quilting and Embroidery
The time has come...happily and sadly.
Happily...nearer to our son and grandchildren.
Monday, September 28, 2020 the moving crew will arrive to load and secure the last of our possessions. Once loaded we will be headed for an apartment we've rented for five months in MD, along with three storage garages in Oxford, PA. Then the search for a house to make our new home will begin. Even though, as a result of COVID, who knew, there isn't a huge market to choose from. What we must avoid, like COVID, is the bidding wars that are happening on the those houses being listed. Easier said than done. We have a super-agent out of Newark, DE that has been instrumental in the process and keeps us current as to favorable areas in both South Eastern PA and North Western DE where our efforts are being concentrated and the appropriate values of the homes we choose to make offers on. Like just about everything in life, it is a process. It is a weird market right now to say the least.
Sadly...
We again leave friendships and relationships behind. Our hearts will be filled with fond memories, the sharing of like ideas and a love for longarm quilting, motorcycles, golf, for me and quilting, knitting, crocheting and shopping, for Elaine. We will miss the many that we shared time with at meetings and events with the Tidewater Quilters Guild, Not Forgotten QOV, Different Touch Quilt Shop, Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, our neighbors here on Achilles and in Fairfield and throughout the seven cities of Hampton Roads. Never say never. Because I never thought I would have to leave behind good friends and a house we made into a home like we did in California when we had to venture east to be close to our granddaughter. Oh yeah, and her mom and dad. East to west and now south to north. I can feel the chill of the winter coming and the warmth of family. The latter heavily outweighing the former.
To each and every one of you who we have shared a moment, to our friends, those who allowed me to be a part of their quilts, and all of those who, maybe without knowing, enriched our lives with a smile and some joy...we thank you.
We hope you will keep following us here on the website and Facebook. Our phone numbers will not change nor will our emails...please keep in touch. Thank you all for being part of our lives.
About Us
"We"
Elaine and I will temporarily call Oxford, PA home (our sons), even though the apartment is in MD. The quilting journey all started when my best friend and lovely wife, one in the same, ask me to go to the quilt show...she was in the market for a longarm machine (I had no idea). As it turned out the longarm machine was a power tool attached to a computer tablet with PantoVision (a pantograph software system)...the rest is history. Whether wood working, building decks and patios, framing houses, in my younger years, or a DIY project around the house, I have never shied away from a power tool. She does get to use it...I golf and ride a motorcycle...so I'm not always at the longarm.
Quilts of Valor
The Mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover active service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.
Our Registered Group, Not Forgotten QOV is dedicated to aid in that mission with the commitment and sincerity of those we recognize with this Award. We will forever be grateful for their service and sacrifices to this country and the freedoms they stood and stand watch over.
Longarm Services (Holding Pattern)
We operate a hand guided Innova Longarm for our quilting needs. We have been longarming quilts since 2012. We spent a year researching and testing a plethora of longarms. The selection of Innova came after much consideration due to the financial investment that was being made. Two main reasons Innova was the choice. A computer tablet delivered a "pantograph" system, which moved the operator to the front of the machine and very limited maintenance. Many of the other machines required daily oiling and maintenance...above the quilt. It just seemed, oil daily, the chance of damaging a quilt was greater. The computer tablet pattern system provided a much more ergonomically correct positioning for the operator.
With RARE EXCEPTION we are able to have your quilt back to you in
SEVEN BUSINESS DAYS or less. AVOID THE LONG DELAYS.
Contact Les for questions or scheduling via email... i.longarm@yahoo.com
Embroidery
We use a Brother Entrepreneur Pro 1050X for our embroidery needs. Whether quilt labels or a special request for a shirt, bag, hat or other need, The Brother handles them all.
Not Forgotten QOV
NFQOV is a registered Group with the Quilts of Valor Foundation.
QOVF® originated from a vision of a mother with a son serving in Harm's Way in Iraq. From her vision of a post deployed warrior being wrapped in a quilt to comfort him the Quilts of Valor Foundation formed in November 2003. For information go to www.qovf.org.
Events
Annually We Quilt/Not Forgotten QOV participates in events by setting up Visitor Booths. We award QOV's, collect donations, sell Raffle Tickets. Once reestablished we will update the calendar and post it again on the website.
Sew Days
QOV Sew Day. Currently suspended until move completed. Any question contact Elaine at elaine.navarro-page@hotmail.com.
We recommend Superior's Topstitch
Quilt Preparation for the Longarmer
https://wequilttogether.blogspot.com
Quilt preparation is the first step for getting the best longarm quilting possible.
We operate a hand guided longarm using edge to edge patterns. We enjoy working closely with the quilter to optimize their desires regarding the finished product. Custom work is accepted after a one on one consultation.
Square Quilt and Backing: Your quilt needs to be square (same width top & bottom/same length left and right side) to load on the frame correctly, otherwise it will load at an angle on the frame or flare in the middle or flare at the top or bottom causing waviness. Note: Very often there is a slight difference…¼ to ¾” variance…this is no problem. So, please square your blocks in your top and measure your quilt at the top, bottom and middle – get an average measurement and cut your borders to fit your quilt based on that average. This helps in preventing wavy borders.
If you are piecing your backing, please square your blocks as you piece to keep the seams as straight as possible without puckers. If there are any squaring issues we will contact you so they can be corrected. Backing seams should run horizontally (left to right) This eliminates puckering as the quilt is being advanced on the frame. A thick vertical seam can easily cause issues as the quilt is advanced in the longarming process. Remember…when it is all said and done…the back is 50% of the quilt you have spent hours making. Don’t short change your efforts by cutting corners on the backing. The back should have four, evenly trimmed edges. We would never recommend ‘muslin’. If that is your choice we will complete your quilt as you request.
If you are not putting a border on your top, stitch the perimeter of the quilt as close to the edge as possible to eliminate seam separation when tension is applied when loaded on the longarm frame.
Extra Backing and Batting: To fit your quilt on the frame we need an extra 8” – 10” (10” preferred) of backing. This means 4” – 5” extra of backing all the way around the quilt. If you provide batting it should be 6” wider and at least 10” longer than the pieced top. Currently we charge $5.00 a yard for 80/20. We carry Hobbs or Cozy Cotton from Marshall Dry Goods. We will use whatever you supply.
Pressing the Fabrics: Please press all the fabrics of the quilt top and backing. Press the quilt top so that all the seams lay as flat as possible and press the backing fabric so that there are no deep creases (especially in batik fabrics.) Backing seams should be ½” and pressed open. When pressing the borders, it is good to press the border’s seams open when possible. Before loading we press out creases due to hanging/folding at no charge.
Trim Threads: Cut loose threads on the pieced top, they can catch on the hopping foot of the longarm. Cut loose threads on the back of the top as well as threads can get lodged between your quilt sandwich and show through backing and/or the top.
Batting: There are many kinds of batting available. If you are doing a quilt with very dark fabrics you might want to consider black batting. Please use quality batting, craft batting will not hold up as well.
● If your backing or top is directional, please mark it clearly or mention it during the intake process. Let us know any specifics about your top and back.
● Any quilting issues such as puckering, weak seams/holes, wavy borders, pleats etc. will NOT go away with the quilting, they may be exaggerated. We will do our very best to work with the issues to minimize them in the end product.
● In most instances, we can say we have been able to determine difficulties that may be encountered during the longarming process before the first stitch is applied. In those cases you will be contacted so we can determine how you want to handle the situation. On occasion the problems may be encountered during the process. Again, we will contact you to work out what would be the best outcome for your quilt.
It is our goal, when finished, to compliment your quilt. We will do everything possible to attain that goal. The first step is working with you during the intake process to meet the needs and desires you envisioned.
and remember...all you have to provide for a Quilt of Valor is the top. We supply the backing, batting and longarming at no charge for a QOV that meets the basic requirements as stipulated on the QOV website. qovf.org. In advance we thank you with all of our hearts for your crafting and commitment to our service members and veterans.
Our Longarm Choice...
I'm sure if you had the time you could count the number of manufacturer's of longarm quilting machines. We think we tested them all at one quilt show or another. But when the decision was made that our investment would be in the Innova System someone smiled upon us. ABM International, the Innova manufacturing company, got it right as far as we are concerned. Now after 8 years, with very minor and very few maintenance needs, one software upgrade for our Pantograph system and an upgrade to a stitch regulator that has no competition we are on the verge 1600 completed projects. During the current move to the north having in storage is like loosing a friend.