how to I break my quilting block?
 

My problem is I get quilters paralyzis when it comes to cutting out a new project. As long as the fabric is whole, it has the possibility of so much but once I cut it...maybe another pattern will show up tomorrow that would have been perfect for it. So I collect and fondle my fabric and dream quilty things. Arrange it into piles that might go together, then change my mind.

Another problem I have is matching fabrics. I can match 2-3 fabrics ok, but then usually I don't have enough of the fabric so I have to find more fabric to go with the project and when I finally put my blocks together I wonder what I was thinking.

I have a huge stash that I bought on various sales and yard sales where I didn't buy coordinating fabrics or I have ~1/4 yard pieces. I go to my sewing room with great expectations then after 20 minutes of look at fabric I give up.

It's so annoying. I have time to sew now but can't get started.

What do you do when you have this problem?

Sounds like you have a problem committing to a decision.

I have 2-3 pieces of fabric that I won't use until I find the perfect project. The rest get used. Have you thought about doing a sampler with a little bit of a bunch of different fabrics. I would use a solid white like kona and make a bunch of 6.5 inch blocks(all different and each block with a different fabric). You should have enough of each to do a lot of blocks.

Group your fabrics by color and do something scrappy. The first Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt I did required a bunch of string pieced blocks with neutral backgrounds. I had a collection of shirting FQs sitting in a container for years and I was very hesitant to cut them up. I finally asked myself "WHAT am I saving them for?" and started cutting away. It was very liberating. Nothing is safe in the stash now, and I often buy 1/4 or 1/3 yard pieces just to expand a particular color.

I ponder this all the time but if I keep waiting I'll never acomplish anything so I just jump right in. There will be more beautiful fabric to play with tomorrow and other patterns to play with too. Have fun. It's quilting not brain surgery:D.
peace

I used to have the same problem, then I realized that I would never work on anything if I didn't just force myself to use the fabrics I liked. Try a mini quilt maybe.

what is the worst-case scenario? after you answer that, answer this: what is the worst-case scenario? keep answering this question until you can't. THEN you can cut your fabric!

Great advice. Applies to most things in life.:thumbup:

I always buy FQ bundles and a few yards of a couple of the fabrics I like the best or a jelly roll or layer cake and a few yards of the fabric I like the best so I know I can find a pattern to make. The extra yardage is for sashing and borders. But I do have rubbermaid tubs full of FQs that match 3 or 4 of each other and I, too, don't know what to do with them. I've never made a scrappy quilt before and I really want to so I just might do that with all of them.