I just finished a quilt top, and I find that all I can see are my mistakes. Is that the way we all are? The top really looks good, but I am wondering. Do I ever get to a point where I don't see my mistakes right off and can look at the quilt immediately and appreciate it?

(I posted this with pictures, but I am posting it again without pictures, as I really want to know if I will ever get over this. I figure more quilters look at the Main section than the Pictures, which is where my original message got sent.)

So, is this the way I will always see a quilt right after I finish the top? Mistake, mistake, and more mistakes?

Honestly when I first finish a quilt all I see are my mistakes, but when I look at it several days later I am much more objective. I usually put it up for a couple of days then look at it again and say "oh not bad". So you might want to try that and see if that helps. We are WAY harder on ourselves than anyone else will be.

Looks like t he Quilt Police are residing in your head!

With some seriousness ... there's a balance between seeing the flaws and knowing that you did the best job you could, for the skills and abilities you had at the time.

By noticing things that aren't so "perfect" according to your standards is good, as it helps you learn what to do better the next time. With time, you'll see a difference in your quilts ... will be a story telling itself to you, when you compare in a few years.

Regardless .... your new quilt is still Purrrrrrrrrfect!

Part of me thinks it is good, you are learning from your mistakes. Part of me thinks it is bad, you shouldn't be so critical of yourself. Part of me wonders, isn't it more about the journey than the destination?

You could try putting the quilt away for 6 months or so, I know that a lot of times when I take a stored quilt out, I can't remember my mistakes! :)

I so agree with your first paragraph. And you second paragraph make me chuckle. There is an upside to this loss of memory thing!

I'm with Peckish.....it is part of the journey......no one is perfect (only ONE was) so don't be so hard on yourself. I've seen your quilt....It is beautiful!!!

that is what make each quilt unique and special. But I think we all do it.

Some people never start anything for fear that it will not be perfect. Other do the best we can with the knowledge we have at the time. We will see those mistakes and learn from them. Do not be hard on your self at least you did something be proud of it.

Thanks for your comments. I am not a perfectionist, so that isn't my problem. Funny, I am looking at my quilt top, and I can't even find the mistakes that jumped out at me just an hour ago. I don't think I am going to look harder either!!

Maybe I can get this figured out....after I finish a quilt top, I should look at it, get my initial reaction out of the way, and then come back in a few hours to appreciate it. :)

This happened to me this morning!!! I put the top together, looked at it and saw that I reversed two of the blocks. It still looks okay.

I, too, wonder if I will ever get a quilt together without mistakes. Probably not in this life time!