Too much stash and too little motivation!
10-16-2012, 06:13 PM
#51
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 851
I keep singing the praises of the Potato Chip Quilt and variations. I keep going back to it because it's quick and can be varied. I have made dozens for Project Linus and never get tired of it. If you read this post I started, I think it will get your juices flowing and you'll be moving pieced tops instead of fabrics!
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...g-t187679.html
God luck and Godspeed.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...g-t187679.html
God luck and Godspeed.
10-16-2012, 08:35 PM
#52
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Southern Idaho
Posts: 1,171
I am a fairly new quilter. I've only been doing this wonderful work for about 18 months now. I have a simple Singer and a Brother sewing machines. In the beginning before I started working full time, I was so engrossed in my new found love. I was gathering fabric for my stash from the shop on post here, on the Internet and whenever I got back to the States. It didn't help that now with the base closing the shop has a lot of fabric @ 70% off!
I do have a few projects in the queue to get finished before off to my LAQ, but otherwise I can't get motivated to get them done or start anything new. I have fabric coming out of my ears because I was buying in fear of needing it and not finding it, plus I couldn't pass up a fabric I loved at such a great sale price!! Does anybody ever get this way? I'm sure we all do, but I've been like this for a few months now. Maybe I should just find some quick patterns that I can bang out in a day or weekend to curb my stash and lack of motivation! Plus the admission to my peers might just push me on! Thanks for letting me vent. Any advice on what you do when you get it a rut is greatly appreciated.
Happy quilting!
Tanya
I do have a few projects in the queue to get finished before off to my LAQ, but otherwise I can't get motivated to get them done or start anything new. I have fabric coming out of my ears because I was buying in fear of needing it and not finding it, plus I couldn't pass up a fabric I loved at such a great sale price!! Does anybody ever get this way? I'm sure we all do, but I've been like this for a few months now. Maybe I should just find some quick patterns that I can bang out in a day or weekend to curb my stash and lack of motivation! Plus the admission to my peers might just push me on! Thanks for letting me vent. Any advice on what you do when you get it a rut is greatly appreciated.
Happy quilting!
Tanya
10-16-2012, 09:40 PM
#53
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Myrtle Beach, SC
Posts: 8,108
Tanya, yeah, we all get that way! Could be your stash is overwhelming you with choices right now. Plus you're working full time, which may not leave you too much time to get motivated let alone start or finish a project!
Quick patterns are a good idea to get you re-started. What helps me get motivated is taking out one of the fabrics in my stash that I HAD to buy because it was calling to me from the shelf, begging me to buy it. Then I search my stash for fabrics that will go with it. Deciding on the pattern is the hardest part of the process...but once I do, I'm off and cutting. Then I sew nothing else until the quilt top is done! I learned that interrupting one project for another kills all my enthusiasm for the interrupted one.
Good luck to you!
Quick patterns are a good idea to get you re-started. What helps me get motivated is taking out one of the fabrics in my stash that I HAD to buy because it was calling to me from the shelf, begging me to buy it. Then I search my stash for fabrics that will go with it. Deciding on the pattern is the hardest part of the process...but once I do, I'm off and cutting. Then I sew nothing else until the quilt top is done! I learned that interrupting one project for another kills all my enthusiasm for the interrupted one.
Good luck to you!
10-17-2012, 06:07 AM
#54
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 851
Tanya,
I slept on your problem and I think you might try this method. Bonnie Hunter at quiltville.com has a great system from cutting up scraps but I have advanced it for my use. You have probably purchased "borderline" fabrics since the price was so great without any real plan for their use. I am currently cutting up some of these "just because" fabrics into my own personal layer cakes and jelly rolls. I also cut 1.5" strips if the last piece won't cut into a jelly roll. I have been doing this for about a week now and I have several stacks of layer cakes with their matching jelly rolls tied together with the last strip which was too small for my use. I've even coordinated fabrics in my stacks. Left overs will make great scrappies!
I love precuts but their price bothers me. This making my own for the cost of yardage is really, really satisfying to my "I love a bargain" self!
You know, I am DYING to start on sewing these together! I am having to force myself to keep cutting. (My raised cutting table is on the screened in porch and won't be comfortable to use this winter.) At night, when it's too dark for my old eyes to cut out there, I have started several projects and am having more fun than ever! I have my stacks where I can see them and they are uber MOTIVATIONAL!! It could be that the cutting process is slowing you down. I think that has been the hurdle for me.
I slept on your problem and I think you might try this method. Bonnie Hunter at quiltville.com has a great system from cutting up scraps but I have advanced it for my use. You have probably purchased "borderline" fabrics since the price was so great without any real plan for their use. I am currently cutting up some of these "just because" fabrics into my own personal layer cakes and jelly rolls. I also cut 1.5" strips if the last piece won't cut into a jelly roll. I have been doing this for about a week now and I have several stacks of layer cakes with their matching jelly rolls tied together with the last strip which was too small for my use. I've even coordinated fabrics in my stacks. Left overs will make great scrappies!
I love precuts but their price bothers me. This making my own for the cost of yardage is really, really satisfying to my "I love a bargain" self!
You know, I am DYING to start on sewing these together! I am having to force myself to keep cutting. (My raised cutting table is on the screened in porch and won't be comfortable to use this winter.) At night, when it's too dark for my old eyes to cut out there, I have started several projects and am having more fun than ever! I have my stacks where I can see them and they are uber MOTIVATIONAL!! It could be that the cutting process is slowing you down. I think that has been the hurdle for me.
Last edited by mhollifiel; 10-17-2012 at 06:10 AM. Reason: addition
10-17-2012, 11:56 AM
#55
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Knee deep in fabric!
Posts: 372
Thank you for all of this insight! I can see several solutions to my problem. Some of the web pages, blogs and quilt ideas have hit the bullseye for sure!! I did come home tonight and cut out 1 whole kit for a project. Not much, but it made me proud. I was looking at web patterns after and found a few more that I want to try to make into a kit. I am hoping that the kits will cut down on my "all over" stash and knowing that I have all the fabrics to complete a top and binding will really help get me moving along. Feeling better after all of the wonderful advice! Thank you each so very much for helping me with my "problem". Oh and I went to the shop today for 1.25 yds of black kona and saw a red just because fabric. I was going to by 2 yds only for around $12 total,but sure enough it was on super sale!! So I got all 7.5 yards for almost $15 w/ 70% off!! Now how was I supposed to resist a sale like that?? I really need to stay out of that store!!! Lol
10-17-2012, 01:12 PM
#56
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 703
I know what you are feeling. I have several projects but cannot seem to get interested in them. This time of the year I just want to be outside because once the temperatures dropped, there is no going outside. Maybe I just need to let my mind and body do what it wants to do at this time and not fight it.
10-17-2012, 06:40 PM
#57
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Pflugerville, TX
Posts: 230
Many, many thanks for you and your spouse for being "on duty" 24/7! I am guessing you are not wearing the uniform, but your sacrifices really help your family! Keep buying that fabric - when you return stateside you'll have memories of Germany and where you bought it!
10-17-2012, 07:23 PM
#58
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Knee deep in fabric!
Posts: 372
Thank you so much, TX GMimi! I did wear the uniform some years ago, but got out to be the stable on raising the family. It was a tough decision for me, but the right one. My husband and I are extremely proud of our military service, so much so that he is 4 years beyond his required 20 years! We raised our kids to believe in serving their country in whatever capacity that they can. That is so important to us-service to your country. Thank you for your kind words! We greatly appreciate them! I love all of te fabrics I bought here and will cherish the shopping trips my friend and I made to get them. Great memories!
10-17-2012, 07:59 PM
#59
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Las Cruces, NM
Posts: 751
I have to say.......I'm so excited the shop is moving closer to me!! I'll be there next friday to take advantage, but it's an hour for me!! Did they get anything else in? I was there last friday and it was slim pickings. I did get 9 yards for $30 of a beautiful Robert Kaufman print though.
On to your question, don't worry once a quilter always a quilter! I didn't quilt for 3 years due to a divorce and I was working 60 hour weeks. I met my husband during that time and he didn't even know I quilted til we were moving and I wasn't working anymore. Just some advise, when I retook it up I found I didn't have enough fabric for quite a few projects and I can't find the fabrics now, so if you have fabric collections in your stash look at a few patterns and just make sure they can be used later for whatever might strike your fancy! happy quilting!!
On to your question, don't worry once a quilter always a quilter! I didn't quilt for 3 years due to a divorce and I was working 60 hour weeks. I met my husband during that time and he didn't even know I quilted til we were moving and I wasn't working anymore. Just some advise, when I retook it up I found I didn't have enough fabric for quite a few projects and I can't find the fabrics now, so if you have fabric collections in your stash look at a few patterns and just make sure they can be used later for whatever might strike your fancy! happy quilting!!
10-17-2012, 08:01 PM
#60
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Northern California mountains
Posts: 12,538
I have and enjoy a large stash. One of the things I enjoy about my on-line quilting connections is getting a lot of inspiration. I have QuiltPro and love designing new quilts, sometimes beginning from traditional blocks that interest me. That said, many quilters reach periods when nothing really grabs their interest. What we say in my guild is, "Don't force yourself, come back to it later." This just about always works. Sometimes one member of the group will have a new idea (or buy a new pattern) and a lot of new quilts follow. This site and many others have great ideas for getting started. I rarely run out of interest in quilting, but sometimes I just don't want a major project. That's when I go to making lap quilts for shut-ins and quilts for kids in out of home placement. Right now I have a bum shoulder. While it heals I am going slightly batty and am designing 2-5 quilts a day. ARGH!
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