Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Get Over It

I was forbidden to use any sort of machine that would cause vibration in my wrist until yesterday, June 9th.  Forbidden may be too strong.  What he actually said was:
"I don't want you using any weed whacker or chain saw for the next three weeks.  Any thing that will cause vibratory stimulus.  That is bad for the ulnar nerve."

Yesterday, June 9th, was three weeks.  So, after I had coffee, an orange, rode the Vita Master for 37 (count them) minutes, walked the dogs, cleaned the dog pen and did the morning word Jumble, I decided that I should just AT LEAST TRY the Nolting

It intimidates me.  Or, I am afraid of it.  I had a discussion with myself as I walked the dogs.

""You should try it today."

"I know, but I am afraid."

"Of what? You certainly are not going to roll the thing off of the frame again."

"I know.  I just am afraid of it."

"Oh, for Heaven's Sake,  GET OVER IT."

I had started the scrappy quilt three weeks ago. I cheated, I admit it.  But I really didn't think that the Nolting had  the same vibratory stimulus as a week whacker or a chain saw.  I stopped because my wrist did get sore.  Oh, it got sore today, but two hours of quilting is A LOT. 

I finished it.  It is a practice quilt.  I tried different designs and decided that I need more work on the swirl doodle. 

Organic it is.



Novice quilters must never compare themselves to experts.  OK, so I won't.  That doesn't mean that I won't strive to make my swirls more like Angela Walters.  I bought one of her Craftsy classes.  I have been practicing on the white board.  She teaches how to do a feather using a swirl as the base.  Clearly my swirls need work.

It was fun.  I am glad I got over myself and just dug in.   My wrist needs more wrest, but in time I think I will improve.  Practice helps. 


4 comments:

  1. Yep, just keep going for it! I hope the friends who received my first longarmed quilts aren't embarrassed by them. A few months later, most of it seems like second nature--probably in no small part because I love not having to shove a big quilt through a domestic machine!

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  2. I don't know if I will get better. I can draw perfectly. When I move the machine, it is like arm wrestling and the Nolting wins. If I keep doing the same crappy stitching over and over, how does that help me get better? I was quilting today. Straight lines, fine. Diagonals, forget it. Curves, flat spots. Yuck. I think I need a one on one class. How does the new machine feel compared to the one like mine? Does it move better? Which Angela class did you buy? I have three and it all sounds good, but I just cannot control the movement of the machine in a fluid and precise way.

    Rest that wrist!!

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    1. The machine moves fine. It's pretty fluid, though I am wondering if the frame needs some more leveling. I think, that if you are wrestling with the machine, the level is off. I know that was my big problem with the Bailey. I don't try diagonals, yet. I think that would be hard without a ruler.

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    2. The machine moves fine. It's pretty fluid, though I am wondering if the frame needs some more leveling. I think, that if you are wrestling with the machine, the level is off. I know that was my big problem with the Bailey. I don't try diagonals, yet. I think that would be hard without a ruler.

      Delete