First off, you guys (ambiguous reference to quilters of unspecified sexual specieshood) are a hoot. I know there are lots of unfinished projects out there...
So why is my first quilt still unfinished? Quilting seems to be a path, an associated linked list of various tasks, each requiring a set of skills to complete before advancing to the next. Much like Black and White Photography, Alternative Process Print Making, or Woodworking, all skills I have mastered to one extent or anothr in the past. That being stated, as you finish a task, it's a big leap to take your baby and press on to the next step for the first time. I am at that point where I have to wrestle this top, back, and fill into a pinned quilt, without inducing project wrecking pleats, tucks or worse. It's still my baby! Once there, I have already spent time with the sewing machine and .04 polyester thread doing the ditch quilting on my practice quilt. I suspect the matter of scale will be the only major issues from this point on. Maybe next week. When that's finished... stenciling a quilt pattern... freehand machine quilting... and bindings... I agree, more big steps on the road to mastring this craft.
In the meantime, I have cut all the squares for making connected triangles for my next quilt. I have sewn a couple of the faces together and done the diagonal cut... both squares are square and the correct size! Something that feels familar but advances the knowledge base a bit.
Good luck on FINISHING one or two of your projects.
tim in san jose