Patrice,

I'm not saying you don't notice the mistakes (?), just that anyone would believe that if something wasn't what they thought it should look like, they'd believe that you intended to do that on purpose!

YES, that was a compliment!

:mrgreen:

The best thing I've ever heard about quilting is, "it's art, not science". My way of thinking is if you want science go back to school, otherwise, stay home and sew!
Another thing is "there are no quilt police", so why worry about mistakes? What freedom!

Shelly

I think it was the realization that I wanted to quilt and if I waited until I knew everything, then I never would start anything.

Most quilters are happy to help when one is stuck or confused. Like one this board all you have to do is ask :D

I am still new but am having a blast. I have given myself permission to try out different things and if they don't work out, I have still learned something. Maybe that I don't want to do that again :wink:

Remember this is supposed to be fun, not work, not perfect

Marybeth

I am finding that to relax and enjoy the art of making a quilt is not easy, but I'll get there.

Unfortunately I took my first quilting class at a shop where the "regulars" scrutinized every seam and corner of the displayed quilts. Believe me they never had anything nice to say. All I heard was, "Well, these seams don't match up!" and "Look how uneven the quilting stitches are!" It made me very self-critical and timid about stretching my skills.

I just ordered the book "That Dorky Homemade Look" that is for quilters. The excerpts on Amazon were hilarious. It looks like it makes fun of this exact subject and will teach me to laugh at my mistakes and worries.

Can't wait to read it!

quiltmaker101,
Your first quilt class experience is so sad. That was just so very wrong of those ladies! Grrrr!

Here is my recommendation for your 'cure' of this horrid experience. Next time you're at a quilt show or even on line. Get up close and personal with some antique quilts. Wow! Our grandmothers and our grandmothers, grandmothers were not always that precise in their quilt making. They were making working quilts and obviously had lots of practice and some are pretty awesome but there are also those that didn't always have the perfect stitch or the exactly matched points. Trust me. I've looked! After checking out other quilts really close I always walk away with the attitude, "I can do that!" and I usually do. Also, those less than precise seams and quilting didn't take away from the overall look of the quilt at all!

Stick with the art. Soon you too will relax and let your quilts be what they want to be! Quilts know best! :-)

and...... if anyone ever makes the perfect quilt, I certainly want to see it! Some people can give constructive criticism and some people can just criticize!

Some funny advice that an owner of a quilt shoppe gave me...haha was when your husband or significant other complains about the cost of the material and sewing items you buy tell them it is cheaper than marriage counseling.