practice -- practice - practice
 

I have heard that many times -

however - if I am doing something incorrectly or inefficiently - repetition does not lead to improvement.

How do I even know that there might be a better way to do something?

So - how to improve?

Suggestions welcomed.

Just go for it. If you like the way it looks, it's your quilt. Yes, you will get better and improve with time. The only wrong way to do something is not do it at all.

A goal needs to be in the picture. For instance we can make 3.5" nine patches till the cows come home, but if we aren't working toward the perfect seams we are making compost. (edited to add that sounds pretty harsh to me, but the board is full of posts about rulers that can be used to size blocks down to perfect. Why Not make them right the first time, so much easier and half the time)

I have a box full of nine patches 3.5" from working out the perfect 1/4 inch on many different machines.

Another example, I've been making barn quilts. Oh my gosh, these first seven are huge learning curves. Paint doesn't have the fudge factor fabric does ;) Taping is a art in itself. It is easy to forget to seal the back...so I've got a routine I've worked out in place for the next ones. They will go faster and be prettier!

True, practice - but with each effort, errors should be determined and way to improve or correct should be decided upon, then effort attempted again with that correction in place......when fixed, on to next challenge.

I am a reader and I love reading qui,t magazines. Fons and Porter always has a "lesson" or two for me to try. Reading here is also helpful in finding ideas for improvement. I feel I am getting better as I go along. Hope so because I am definitely addicted

lol. I hear you. I’m that way even with my piano lessons. The more I practice a song I get no better.

I agree, there have been times I learn a new method and wish I had known that years ago! Or at work, I see someone do something with excel and I say "stop, how did you just do that?"

Now days, there is so much informational videos online (and yes, even for excel) and forums to ask. Then you have to wade through it all and decide what you want to try and what you don't care for.

And not all techniques work for everyone, and without some talent, practice will only get you so far.

I'm the type that takes continuous improvement to heart. I'm always looking for new ideas and processes to see if I can incorporate them into my current ones. But then I also have to keep up on 30 hours of continuing education so I'm use to learning and implementing new things.

For sewing, I know when I'm struggling. I don't delude myself that it's "wonderful" when it's not. Knowing yourself goes a long way to improvement. I've worked with many that honestly have no clue that they are mediocre. They are hard workers and doing their best, but their best is C+ to B- work. And no matter how much I work with them, they will never be able to do A work in that field. They are the ones I counsel to find a different career, something much more suited to their talents.

If you have an honest desire to improve, you are well on your way. There is nothing wrong with getting to a point of proficiency and deciding that is where you want to stay, but if you want to improve, you need to be able to look at your work and see where the problems are.

My number one complaint with this board is the tendency to be a feel good group, it's very hard to get constructive criticism, and even if someone asked, you'll still get way too many "it's good enough, why worry?" comments, especially when it's very obvious that the person has a ton of room for improvement. I sometimes think this board is best if you want to feel good about being mediocre. If you don't feel what you did is all that great, post a picture and say "I'm not sure if this is good enough" and you'll get 95 responses telling you how wonderful it is and don't worry about it. And if someone posts about where they can improve, others will jump on them for being "quilt police" or mean. Hard to learn how to improve when others are afraid to offer help.

I have visited one garment sewing board where they have a section specifically for critique. And it says at the top not to post pictures there unless you want it picked apart and areas for improvement pointed out. Very educational, and those that offer advice are quite knowledgeable. I've yet to find a place like that for quilting.

Very interesting post here... Well said Macybaby... I rely heavily on this board and other online sources for ideas to improve as I live in a rural area and have little interaction with others who sew/quilt. There certainly are endless instructional resources available online but we lack a true, earnest critiquing/evaluation board for those who are serious about improving their skills. I couldn’t imagine moderating that thread... but I would eagerly participate!

Christine

Lots of good comments.
I'm trying to get better at FMQ and I am. For a long time I thought it just wasn't for me. Then I bought a Juki and my skill increased a lot.

Thank you for your comments, Macybaby.

I totally agree.

What is the name of the garment sewing board?

I feel that if someone specifically mentions a problem and asks if it should be - or can be - fixed/changed - it's "fair game" to express one's true opinion.

If we go to a doctor with a complaint, how many of us expect the doctor to say "well, your this and your that are fine and your are looking great for the condition you are in" before getting to our problem.