Dellusion of grandure
02-06-2011, 06:56 AM
#21
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
My first quilt, a queen, had 4" squares, it's my avatar. I used a bunch of different batiks, so I was anxious to see what fabric combination each block would produce. At first. 250+ blocks is a lot! When I ran out of steam, I decided to to 20 blocks a day. This worked for me. I guess I was used to creating lots of duplicate items. I used to make wedding invitations and favors. Make 400 wedding favors in your least favorite colors and it's great practice for quilting. ;-)
02-06-2011, 08:08 AM
#22
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Sioux City, Iowa
Posts: 117
Thanks people. I already have many projects going, but it really helps to know I'm not alone!
May try the BOM thing. Have thought about it. And I have always loved paper piecing.
Assemby line sewing might be the answer, too. I think my problem might be that I cut out one block at a time, being afraid that I'll waste all that fabric if I decide to go with a table runner instead of a queen size quilt!
Anyway, I know I have to do something. I'm running out of tables to cover. Already working on a differnt one for each month!
May try the BOM thing. Have thought about it. And I have always loved paper piecing.
Assemby line sewing might be the answer, too. I think my problem might be that I cut out one block at a time, being afraid that I'll waste all that fabric if I decide to go with a table runner instead of a queen size quilt!
Anyway, I know I have to do something. I'm running out of tables to cover. Already working on a differnt one for each month!
02-06-2011, 09:18 AM
#23
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Conway, AR
Posts: 216
[quote=tweezy50]Does anyone else do this, or is it just me.
I start out with a plan. Goning to make a quilt to fit our queen size bed. Make four or five blocks. They are passing, for my standards. Not great but good enough. then I get bored with it and make them into a table runner or lap size quilt instaed of the queen size.
I feel like a failure even though they turn out fine because they aren't the size I originally intended. How can I maintain the focus needed to finish the size I wanted to begin with or atleast not look at them as failures?[/quote
This quilt (the one by my name) is 105" by 106" - It started out as a twin and grew and grew. I was supposed to do it for my granddaughter's high school graduation. I finished the top and it was BIG. I presented her with the top at her grad party then took it home with me to finish. Nightmare. It took me a year to do the whole thing. The only thing that kept me going was that it belonged to her. I took the finished product to her at Christmas that year. It is all batiks and is really beautiful, if I do say so. Since then, I don't get bored, just let the quilt do the talking. Each quilt takes on its own personality, or I find it that way for me. Don't feel like a failure. Your "queen size" may be a runner trying to get out. Just have fun doing whatever you do. I have been trying for two yrs now to do a queen for my older daughter. Am working on it...it has never come together but I'm plugging away...hoping for inspiration. Slowly, slowly, it's begining to come together.
I start out with a plan. Goning to make a quilt to fit our queen size bed. Make four or five blocks. They are passing, for my standards. Not great but good enough. then I get bored with it and make them into a table runner or lap size quilt instaed of the queen size.
I feel like a failure even though they turn out fine because they aren't the size I originally intended. How can I maintain the focus needed to finish the size I wanted to begin with or atleast not look at them as failures?[/quote
This quilt (the one by my name) is 105" by 106" - It started out as a twin and grew and grew. I was supposed to do it for my granddaughter's high school graduation. I finished the top and it was BIG. I presented her with the top at her grad party then took it home with me to finish. Nightmare. It took me a year to do the whole thing. The only thing that kept me going was that it belonged to her. I took the finished product to her at Christmas that year. It is all batiks and is really beautiful, if I do say so. Since then, I don't get bored, just let the quilt do the talking. Each quilt takes on its own personality, or I find it that way for me. Don't feel like a failure. Your "queen size" may be a runner trying to get out. Just have fun doing whatever you do. I have been trying for two yrs now to do a queen for my older daughter. Am working on it...it has never come together but I'm plugging away...hoping for inspiration. Slowly, slowly, it's begining to come together.
02-06-2011, 09:33 AM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Edgewater, FL
Posts: 924
I try to have a big project, one that I'm going to do really well for us or a gift and also some Linus or small quilt or scrap quilt, something to take me away from the big one to clear my head when it starts to bug me.
Originally Posted by tweezy50
Does anyone else do this, or is it just me.
I start out with a plan. Goning to make a quilt to fit our queen size bed. Make four or five blocks. They are passing, for my standards. Not great but good enough. then I get bored with it and make them into a table runner or lap size quilt instaed of the queen size.
I feel like a failure even though they turn out fine because they aren't the size I originally intended. How can I maintain the focus needed to finish the size I wanted to begin with or atleast not look at them as failures?
I start out with a plan. Goning to make a quilt to fit our queen size bed. Make four or five blocks. They are passing, for my standards. Not great but good enough. then I get bored with it and make them into a table runner or lap size quilt instaed of the queen size.
I feel like a failure even though they turn out fine because they aren't the size I originally intended. How can I maintain the focus needed to finish the size I wanted to begin with or atleast not look at them as failures?
02-06-2011, 09:36 AM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Edgewater, FL
Posts: 924
PS I worked on the family tree quilt that's in my bio for years, off and on. Finally one Christmas I got it quilted and put a sleeve on it and gave it to DH to hang. I still don't have the label on it or the info that he wants on the back. LOL really!!
Originally Posted by quilter1943
I try to have a big project, one that I'm going to do really well for us or a gift and also some Linus or small quilt or scrap quilt, something to take me away from the big one to clear my head when it starts to bug me.
Originally Posted by tweezy50
Does anyone else do this, or is it just me.
I start out with a plan. Goning to make a quilt to fit our queen size bed. Make four or five blocks. They are passing, for my standards. Not great but good enough. then I get bored with it and make them into a table runner or lap size quilt instaed of the queen size.
I feel like a failure even though they turn out fine because they aren't the size I originally intended. How can I maintain the focus needed to finish the size I wanted to begin with or atleast not look at them as failures?
I start out with a plan. Goning to make a quilt to fit our queen size bed. Make four or five blocks. They are passing, for my standards. Not great but good enough. then I get bored with it and make them into a table runner or lap size quilt instaed of the queen size.
I feel like a failure even though they turn out fine because they aren't the size I originally intended. How can I maintain the focus needed to finish the size I wanted to begin with or atleast not look at them as failures?
02-06-2011, 10:09 AM
#27
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 95
I agree with having several projects in the works as a way to avoid losing interest. You might also try planning a smaller quilt, but leaving yourself the option of making it larger if you are really having fun with the pattern. If you start a project that becomes a drag, you aren't obligated to complete the thing, simply move on to something else. There is no guilt in quilt!
02-06-2011, 10:29 AM
#28
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: washington
Posts: 1,150
You are fine! Just a really creative lady. I always have several projects going in different stages toward being completed. I keep my projects in pizza boxes. As soon as one project finishes living in the p-box then another moves in. Don't worry yourself, you have your support group right here.
02-06-2011, 10:41 AM
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: South Africa
Posts: 946
I never buy big pieces of fabric so I don't have the problem, I like the blocks colorful and different because I know myself I will be become so stick in the mud with all the blocks in one color or pattern.
02-06-2011, 03:28 PM
#30
Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 78
Originally Posted by woody
I have never made a large quilt with all the blocks the same until now and I too am struggling.
It is paper pieced and has 30 blocks, I am not quite 1/2 way there and I am bored to tears. The only reason I will finish this is because this quilt is for my father and my Mum picked the pattern.
It is paper pieced and has 30 blocks, I am not quite 1/2 way there and I am bored to tears. The only reason I will finish this is because this quilt is for my father and my Mum picked the pattern.
