Inspiration vs Indtimidation

I am not so sure why the Nolting intimidates me. I spent much of the weekend getting it all set up with the Arrowhead quilt. 

This afternoon I finally decided to just jump in.  I have been here before.  Once I get started, I gain confidence.  It's that activation energy I have to overcome.

I thought about just developing an edge to edge design.  I think that is harder that quilting the individual spaces (in this case blocks).  My inspiration was a quilt I saw this spring  on the 1893victorianfarmhouse blog: here.  It, too, is an arrowhead quilt and I just love it.

I spent a little time just looking at the quilt once it was installed on the frame.  The more I looked at it the more I liked the idea of a meandering design (Sorry Linda) in the border.

This afternoon I set to it.

I had fun and gained confidence with the machine.  Personally, I like the look.

When I used the Bailey, I pinned side leaders to my quilt.  I hate pinning.

I tried chain stitching extra fabric to the back of the last practice quilt, but I found that quite unsatisfactory.  This time, I made the back about ten inches larger than the top. Still that wasn't enough.   I fashioned some side leaders from an old sheet and some dowel scraps.  I used the small Red Snapper pieces to fasten the leaders to the sides and it works pretty well.  Plus it was free.  I priced side leaders on line.  They aren't terribly expensive, really.  I can afford them.  BUT, I am practicing for retirement and, hence, have adopted an austerity budget.  Double thinking every purchase. (Except a new bike helmet.)

I thought that a Celtic knot quilting pattern would look nice on this quilt.  I tried drawing one, but I am not so skilled.  I have been practicing the "victorian" feather quite a bit.  I can draw it out on the white board but, when it comes to quilting, that's another story.

I have a tendency to flatten out the "fronds"

 It isn't so easy "on point."  I am no ballerina, that's for sure.

So I am at it again with this quilt paying closer attention to rounding out the "fronds" or whatever we should call it. 

I imagine the arrowhead blocks will demand ruler work.  That's ok.  I need the practice.

Practice Practice Practice.