I used to have a riding instructor who told me that she didn't care if I didn't do something perfectly as long as I failed BETTER than I did the last time I tried. That it (dressage riding) was a journey and it was all about baby steps towards eventually putting the whole picture together.
I think that applies to quilting, too. Each time you attempt something, a new technique or whatever, you might not get it perfect, but you get it a little better. And all those improvements add up to a thing of beauty.
Watson (Who is still ripping out serpentine stitches. Those things are really in there!)