Over and Over again.

 I have a quilt READY for the frame.  I just don't know how I am going to quilt it.   It has a fair amount of negative space.  Originally I designed the quilt around a couple of stenciled squares.  I am just very bad at tracing.  I ripped out those squares and replaced them with  15 inch muslin squares.  They are on point in the quilt which means there is that much more negative space.

I thought that I could divide the square up into quadrants and quilt a feather in each one.  I got out the white board and practiced over and over again.

 I have so much flippin' trouble with the bottom of each feather.  I don't like the look.  Then I realized that the Nolting doesn't have enough of a reach to quilt a 15 inch block on point.

I decided to stitch a three inch border on each block.  Oh boy, ruler work practice!

I tried a variation on a scrap moving the bottom to the outside edge so they all wouldn't meet in the middle.  Not happy.  But it was fun playing.  I totally messed up the fourth one and just decided to work the machine over the pattern and played with some inside echoing.  I had fun.  Looks like hell, but I had fun.

So then I decided to just fill the whole middle with the large, flamboyant feather.  I finally was able to consistently draw one I like:

It just didn't come out the same when I quilted it.  I am having trouble at the top now, but the bottom is looking better. 
  Lisa had come by to get some parts for her 128 VS and after we finished in the shop, I showed off the Nolting.  I made her try it out.  She has a good eye/hand coordination.  It took me months to be able to stipple the way she does. ( her example is in the border)

I am actually not unhappy with this feather but I would like the feathers to be less bulky.  It is easy to draw them thinner, but the machine just wants to go

I set up some more practice pieces ( an old sheet and a very thin, flannel blanket.  Oh did THAT affect the tension. Yes it did ) and came up with this:

I am still having issues with the top.  If it's not the top, it's the bottom.  I can fix the top problem, though.  I must start lower and make the last feather above where I start before I come back down to begin the next side.  I tried to make a paisley but it just didn't work out.

Lisa had suggested that I continue the cross hatching in the borders.  That's more ruler work.  I don't have a long ruler so I experimented with curved lines.  I like them a lot.  I will merely draw a line on the fabric and not bother to stitch it when I actually create this design on the quilt.

There are only two large squares in the quilt.  There are some setting triangles.  So figuring out that design is next.  Oh, yeah, and how to do the blocks themselves.  Probably ruler work

RULERS

Linda sent me a Craftsy class last winter.  I did make the practice quilt for the class and had intended to quilt it on one of my domestic machines.  If you recall, I was without a Long Arm for many months.

I never did.  I don't like pushing a quilt (even though it was not very big, at all) around under the needle.  On Friday I put it on the frame.

I thought that I would just play around with some FMQ.  The class is called Dot to Dot and Angela Walters teaches you how to quilt from one point to another to make lovely geometric designs. She demonstrates on a sit down machine and mentioned that ,when doing these designs on the long arm, she uses a ruler.

I bought a few rulers even before the Nolting was delivered.  I knew I would need them eventually.

I put the ruler base on the machine

and checked out my ruler supply.  I thought that I had a longer one but the only one with a continuous straight edge was the small one from HandiQuilter.

 I figured that I may as well just try making a diagonal line with the small ruler.  One would be enough.

So I did . 

I am hooked.

I played around for several hours.  I managed to hit the Stitch in the Ditch ruler with the needle.  Now I know what that feels like.  I damaged the ruler a bit but the needle did not break.  I changed it, none the less. 

I use the standard foot that came on the machine.  It worked just fine. 

 My circles need work.  Remember, bum wrist.

 I used the stitch regulator mode for the ruler work.  I don't see how I could do it without that feature.  I prefer constant speed when I am FMQ, actually, but for ruler work it is very nice to have that consistent stitch length no matter how fast or slow the machine moves.

This was the first time I used the SR mode.   At first I thought it wasn't working because nothing happened when I pushed the go button.  A green light came on but there was no action.  Then there was a beep and the green light went off.  I was perplexed.  I got out the manual and looked for information about green lights and beeps. I was wondering if I was going to have to reset the whole machine.  I found nothing specific but  I found the instructions about the stitch regulated mode.  Aha.  I read: "The machine will not stitch until it is moved. "  Duh. and " If the machine is not moved for 4 seconds, it beeps and shuts off."

So, I am on my way with the rulers.  Holding the ruler properly is a bit tricky.  I am better in one direction that in others.  Going backward is difficult.  I had some wonky, wobbles but, for the most part, the lines are straight. 

ANXIETY relieved. Replaced by F U N

I admit it. The new Nolting intimidates me.  Today, after spending HOURs trying to figure out how to efficiently make HSTs (more about that later)  I fired up the Nolting and practiced. 

The leader/ender scrappy quilt is ready.  Tomorrow is the big day.  I feel pretty good.  I don't know how I will quilt it.  Perhaps I will just simply stipple.  That would probably be wise.  I just need some hours on the machine.  I won't need to use the stitch regulator so I can just relax and have some 

F U N .

TRY IT AGAIN

The new Nolting long arm arrived today via UPS.  Steven helped me switch the arms and rails out on  the frame.  He had to go off the the Fire House for a meeting, else I would have had him help me figure out the encoders for the stitch regulator. 

It is a beautiful thing. 

I found this

in the box.  I think I get the hint. 

However,  I plan to  drill a hole in the carriage at each end and slip a bolt through and fasten with a nut.  It will be less bulky. 
Actually, I think I will ask Steven to drill a hole.  He has the good tools,  remember?