Efficiency in quilting

If I'm talking about quilting efficiency you know for sure that I'm talking abut veterans quilts. Because when it comes to my own quilts I seem to prefer a more agonized, time-consuming approach. But, my goal with veterans quilts is "volume with quality". I want to get as many done as possible in the shortest time possible. I don't do them sloppy. The tension is good and I do consider the pattern for each quilt. But there are things I can do to be as efficient as possible.

I have 4 that I want to get done by Tuesday and that will get me caught up. I'm sure I'll get more tops at the meeting but, for now, I have only 4.

I finally remembered to take a photo with quilts loaded on the frame to show how I quilt them 2 at a time. The quilts are 48" x 60". We buy wide backing fabric and I cut it in about 70" widths. By loading the quilts along the long (60") edge I can stack 2 on one wide quilt back. In this photo you can see where the first quilt ends and the next begins. It may seem counter productive to bast the quilts but basting really does save a ton of time in the long run. I've tested it so I know.

Our quilt club buys the backing and batting and since I'm the one buying the backing I now only buy white so I can dye the colors I need as I need them. I also get to have a good use for "expired" dyes. The dyes aren't technically expired, but they aren't full strength either so I can't use them for my business. By using them for quilt backs I cut down on waste. I know someone will ask, I get the wide backing fabric at Marshall Dry Goods. It's called Dream Cotton.

I pair the quilts so that I have 2 to go with each backing and I try to use the same color of thread on both quilts.

The second quilt in this set is mostly gray and white but has a red border and I decided to carry the red into the center of the quilt with thread. The red also looks great on the back of the quilt.

I'm using the Burning Bush pantograph and with the quilts being loaded so close together I won't have to break up the last row of the first quilt. I'm going to quilt both as if it's one big quilt. Plus this is a very wide pantograph so there's fewer times to advance and align the quilt.
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So, 2 quilts on one back, same thread on both quilts and same wide pantograph on both quilts.
Efficiency.

The other reason I picked that particular pantograph is that it will work great on the next 2 quilts too! I think I might get these knocked out by Monday.

Today I'm setting up for another epic ice dyeing session Thursday! It's the prep work that takes the longest.