Originally Posted by Butterfli19
I was reading Harriet Hargrove's 'Machine Quilting' book and became immediately depressed. The intricacy of the quilting in that book is something I don't think I will ever achieve.
Then I started thinking...do I want to be a "master quilter?" I decided I would rather be a cozy quilter than a master quilter. I can be so obsessed about seams and points and lines that I decided if I become too picky it will take the joy right out of it. I like to make quilted things and dolls for gifts and enjoyment and therapy and am considering selling as well, and I want them to look "Nancy Perfect", but I also need to feel happy about the process and the end result.
So, to what standard do you hold your quilting?
Well, take heart, Harriet Hargrave and her daughter Carrie Hargrave have recently embarked on a new series of books that should appeal more to the beginning and intermediate quilter, especially if some have found her previous books a bit intimidating. This new series is called "Quilter's Academy - A Skill Building Course in Quiltmaking. There will be 6 volumes in all. The first one, "Volume 1 - Freshman Year, is available now. The second one, "Sophomore Year" will be available before summer this year.
Harriet says in this book, "Our plan is to walk you through a series of classes, lessons, and projects that will build one skill on another, so that when you have worked your way through the entire series of books you will be well on your way to being a master piecer."
Harriet has noticed in the past few years that there are many classes taught as projects, but the basic skills needed to really understand the process are severely lacking.
Their first book includes 11 projects, too. If anyone is interested, you can read more about it here:
http://www.amazon.com/Quilters-Acade.../dp/1571205942
So far, I have found her straightforward and easy to understand approach to be informative and helpful. I love all the tips she has to make it all go smoother so that our hobby can be so much more enjoyable.
Personally, I do strive to do my best, too. I'm a bit of a Type A, too, but am learning to relax some as time goes on and I become a little more comfortable with my abilities. One thing I have found quite stressful is this one particular quilt I am working on has caused so many folks to say, "You need to enter that into the next quilt show." That, and the fact that it is for DH, who is much more of a perfectionist (at some things) than I am has only served to make me quite nervous about the whole process. I am almost done and personally, I cannot wait to be done and relax into a project that won't be so stressful. However, that isn't going to happen yet, as my next project is a queen size wedding quilt for my DS and finance` due in July! Already I'm stressing, can I have it done in time? How can I do a quilt this large on my machine? How can I do the machine quilting any justice when I only do SITD and there are open areas just screaming for beautiful feathers or some other FMQ pattern? Where is that elusive cozy quilting?? :roll: