Objective: Run a complete intermediate lap quilt on the Janome MC8200 from pieced top to bound edge using the correct feet, settings, and a time-tracked workflow suited to resale.
An intermediate resale project chains together the individual skills you've drilled into one efficient run. The goal is a consistent, salable lap quilt (about 50 x 60 inches) produced with repeatable settings so you can price your labor. Work in four phases. Phase one, piecing: use the 1/4-inch foot O, straight stitch (pattern 1), stitch length 2.0-2.2, needle in center. Chain-piece units to save thread and time. Phase two, layering: baste the backing, batting, and top into a quilt sandwich with pins or spray. Phase three, quilting: swap to the AcuFeed Flex walking foot, which feeds all three layers evenly so they don't shift or pucker. Straight-line or grid quilting is fastest and sells well; set stitch length slightly longer at 2.5-3.0 so stitches read cleanly on the quilt surface, and use the MC8200's needle-down function plus the knee lift to pivot at corners without losing your place. Phase four, binding: machine-stitch the binding to the front with the walking foot, then finish by hand or with a decorative edge stitch. Throughout, watch two quality signals: balanced tension (top and bobbin threads meet inside the layers, not looping on either face) and even feed (no fabric dragging). If the top thread loops underneath, raise top tension slightly; if the bobbin thread shows on top, lower it. Record your minutes per phase so your resale price covers actual labor plus materials and margin.
Example: A maker runs a 50 x 60 crib/lap quilt. Piecing 20 nine-patch blocks with foot O and chain-piecing takes 55 minutes. Layering and pin-basting takes 25 minutes. Switching to the AcuFeed walking foot, she quilts a diagonal 2-inch grid at stitch length 2.8 with needle-down pivots, 70 minutes. Binding applied by machine then finished, 40 minutes. Total active time 190 minutes (3.17 hours). At a $20/hour labor rate that's about $63 labor; adding $35 materials and a 2x markup yields a resale price near $196.
Try it: Plan one lap quilt on paper before sewing. Write out the four phases, and for each list the exact foot, stitch pattern number, stitch length, and whether needle-down is on. Then estimate minutes per phase and compute a resale price using your labor rate, your material cost, and a 2x markup. Keep this sheet beside the machine and log actual times as you sew so you can compare estimate to reality.