In a bad slump
 

This has been going on for several months now. Have been quilting for about 20 plus years and the last few months have just not been able to produce anything. I am 74 now and all the relatives have something I have made. (Actually more than they probably really need.) That said I have also sold several things on Etsy etc. I have even QUIT quilt guild. I have a wonderful sewing room and a sit down machine. How do I get my enthusiasm back?

my mojo comes and goes. I just roll with it and do something else. For me no amount of organizing or looking at patterns or 15 minutes a day has worked. I just do something else and don’t worry about it. One day it come back for me.

Sign up for a retreat or a class. Pick a simple project or new tool technique to learn. Hanging out with other quilters always inspires me.

I know not to give in to yuk feelings. If I did I would just sit and sigh about how awful it is to be blah. I went to a quilt class today and almost didn't go as I didn't feel motivated and didn't want to sew. I am so glad I made myself go. I had a great time making a fast three yard quilt. Non stressful sewing and inexpensive. There were twelve of us and the quilters were fun to be around. I was surprised to hear a few say they were feeling blah too and the class helped with their moods. It doesn't have to be quilting. I go do something new, try a new recipe, go buy new bath towels, anything to get change my mindset. It works for me . I hope you find something that works for you.

Been there more than once. Ran out of friends and realitves so now sew for Project Linus. Great bunh of quiltrs. Meet monthly. No pressure. Think about a charity. Really fixed my slump.

You might want to talk your doctor. A visit to him helped me out of the doldrums. He said a lot of people are experiencing this. Best wishes !

I'm sorry you are having a rough time. I know that my productivity has been way down the last couple of years and while I typically am planned years in advance in what I want to make, I'm finding myself not really wanting to do much of anything at all.

I try to use one part "fake it until you make it" that I go ahead and try and do something fabric related, whether that is looking at a magazine or on line, or at fabric or something.

And then on the other hand, I give myself some slack. I ask "what is stopping me" and "is there anything I can do to remedy that". I have a small family myself and most of them have been quilted recently enough, maybe time to start another round but no babies or graduations or weddings or other things going on. I found it very demoralizing that especially during 202 that we couldn't find anyone local to take our "baby corner" donations due to Covid concerns. I decided I'd just have to concentrate on the part that makes me the happiest, the planning and piecing and let finishing and donating wait.

One of the things to do is ask yourself if you are simply done with this hobby. If the answer is no, where would you like to go? What would you like to do, what did you always put off until someday -- because maybe someday is now. :)

Best of luck and peace and joy -- and hang in there, baby!

When that happened to me, I had to do something. I didn’t want to make quilts. So, I put out an appeal to a middle school near me. If anyone wanted free quilting lessons with fabrics, threads, etc supplied, contact me. I figured middle school kids would be interested more than high school kids. I managed to get a couple more sewing machines. I had 5 kids. They loved it. They learned a few quilt sewing basics as well as machine basics. I have a simple Christmas tree skirt pattern and they made them. I actually enjoyed it. Btw, I cut out the fabrics. I didn’t trust them with a rotary cutter.

Perhaps you have already realized the reason for your slump ... no one to make quilts for!

Suggestion ... find a new cause outside of your family and friends!!
Perhaps find a charity that would like quilts?
Having someone or some group who "wants" your work, will help you get the joie de vivre back?

Perhaps a doctor/clinic visit to see if you are physicslly okay?

I have more or less abandoned sewing for a while - and the sun still seems to rise and set anyway.

My sewing/quilting mojo comes and goes sometimes. The last 2 years or so It’s been on vacation - I think it has to do with not having any meetings from my two guilds, and not being able to see my friends (all from quilt groups - I don’t have a single mom-quilter friend). Just didn’t feel like any kind of sewing - I also do hand appliqué and hand embroidery (redwork plus using other colors). If it hadn’t been for texting and emailing I wouldn’t have seen anyone at all except my husband. He truly,doesn’t understand quilting!!!!! Went to my first guild meeting to my large guild in a very long time today. It was wonderful to see people I know - the room is usually full but maybe barely half full. A few have passed away and some are just getting older and don’t get around as much. I missed the first meeting of 2022 in my smaller guild last Monday as we were still in our way back from Christmas in COLORADO with our family. Can’t wait to read the minutes if this meeting to find out what happened. Hope they didn’t vote on something I would have argued against (like last June when we were also in CO for our granddaughter’s 2nd birthday. Some thungs were decided that I didn’t agree with at all!!!!!

Your mojo (or sewjo!) will return in time!!!!

Sandy in Mooresville, NC

Just wait! Nowhere does it say you HAVE to quilt all the time. Do something else you enjoy, or just read books. You will eventually get an idea and some excitement for something to quilt.

This time of year lots of us suffer from seasonal depression. The days are too short, too much darkness, too much time indoors where we aren't getting our vitamin D from the sun. A good cure for depression is often doing for others in need. Is there somewhere you could volunteer at, even just one day a week?

Wait it out... better days ahead!

It seems whenever I am not in a mood to sew, I organize my fabrics. By the time I'm done rearranging and organizing, I'm. Ready to sew again. I'm not consciencely thinking of anything as I work but I think handling different fabrics, some I haven't seen in a while, sparks an idea. If nothing else, you will have a neat and tidy area when you feel the urge to sew again. Until that time, cut yourself some slack and rest a while. I suffer from SAD and during the winter it is difficult for me keep focused on a particular quilt project. It used to frustrate me but I've learned to relax roll with it. All the COVID mess certainly doesn't help either. Perhaps just having a quilty friend you can chat with may help. I'd be happy to chat and if you think that would help just send me a PM.

This is me too. I was in a slump for about 18 months. We moved, my things are still in some boxes and I started putting things away and organizing. I started the Bonnie Hunter Mystery quilt in November and it has brought me around.

catsden- I'm sorry you're feeling this way but glad you are interacting here. Lots of good suggestions from the others.
I remember being in a slump several years ago but I don't recall the details. All I remember is one day I felt like sewing again. It lasted over a year which is a long time for me not to want to sew.
I don't know if your situation has anything to do with Covid but I've seen the most upbeat people struggling lately. My neighbor is a good example. She's a prolific quilter and a very upbeat lady. We talked yesterday and she's not interested in anything- so unlike her. We both love winter so it's not that.

Good luck, hon!

As I get older I find that I don't feel like tackling big projects anymore. I still love to sew & quilt but am just not into making large quilts anymore (plus I have no one to make them for anymore). I stick to small projects & charity blocks and that fulfills my need.

For most of us, quilting is a hobby, not a job. So we should do whatever we wish and let our interests wax and wane. Maybe you just haven't found a project that excites you yet. Take it easy on yourself.

You are not alone. At my weekly quilting gathering we were saying we are having to push ourselves to sew lately. Maybe it is because of the covid and we are all mentally depressed. Anyway we agreed to keep going forward and not force ourselves, mojo will return. Carry on!

I was in a slump but then joined several swaps on this board, wallhanging swap, table runner swap, secretpal swap, all 4 robins and now two BOOM swaps. It gives me a group of quilt buddies with a common goal and there are time lines. I do like accomplishing things and working on common goals with others.

I find taking a class to make something new gets me motivated and gets me to socializing with other people. I also made a wall of UFOs that is a reminder if I ever feel the need to be productive, I can pick one of those UFOs to do. For example, I just got the binding on a quilt I started twenty years ago! It’s going to feel great completing it!

I think we all have had periods of time where we felt like we were in a slump. Me included. Think of it as a plateau, where you are assessing what you have done and where you want to go now. Make a new plan as to the direction you want to go. Maybe start out slow with a sewing room cleaning and straightening up. Finding anything that gets your attention. No matter how small. I like just looking at my fabric. It’s like the key that starts the engine.
Good luck
Gail

Been there and done that. I stopped for a couple years not that many years ago. It took the discovery of a new tool to use in quilting to get my mojo back. Back then it was something very simple. My mid arm machine went down and I just lost interest. Heck I even left here for longer than that!
Pulling out all my fabrics, refolding and sorting them got me going. I am ready for another "stash bash" this winter and my sister is going to assist it will be a load of fun.
COVID has slowed me down a great deal but I am staying on top of posting even if I am sewing and quilting less. Right now I am making many blocks and not sure where they will end up. But am still going much slower than I use to be able to do.
Also joining a Block of the Month, Quilt a Long or a Mystery quilt could help you get your mojo back since it is not a huge commitment. Choose one and let that be your motivation for a year. Still making a quilt but with less pressure.

It’s winter. Are your vitamin D levels low? That makes a huge difference in how you feel.

We are getting our bathroom redone so, I am taking a break for a while.

i've felt that way for months now. years ago, i quit all together, and started to do counted cross stitch. it was smaller and cheaper. then the bug bit me again. i think my problem and yours is you've run out of places to put things, so how about starting small, and making quilts for the NICU at your local hospital. they can be about 24x24. or move up to lap quilt size 40 x 40 for rest homes, and people in wheelchairs. Most churches and hospitals will love to get them. that way, you won't be so overwhelmed. let us know how you are and what you'll do.

i like what bear said, things will continue as we rest from sewing.
doing small things helps. a lot of organizations, like churchs have Christmas fairs. our church has a table at their fair, and a friend makes all sorts of stuff for them to sell. it doesn''t have to be just for Christmas. other holidays are welcomed too. tomorrow will be here if you don't sew, and one day, you'll love it again.