fluffynan

or PMA as some people are prone to say I gather. Well I have sorely needed this lately. Keep doubting everything I do.
From cutting to piecing,to quilting. Now don't get me wrong, I am enjoying everything I am doing, just seem to think that I could do it better. Well, of course I could, but seeing as I am not perfect,- just a perfectionist trying to accept my own limitations - I thought the lovely QB members would not mind me ranting, as seeing in words what I know in my head may help me accept that "good enough" is okay. What say you.
Sue

ksdot417

I've noticed lately that there are so many posts that start out with a negative comment - not perfect but - not very good but - Why are we so hard on ourselves? There will always be someone that does it better - and - someone that will do it worse. Why can't we just accept that we have things to learn, accept where we are and just strive to do better. I think we're our own worst critics. Instead of saying it's not very good how about -hey, look what I just did!

fluffynan

I absolutely agree with you, and that is what I keep telling myself, but sometimes, not all the time, I find myself getting frustrated with what I see as a lack of progress. However I know that I am learning all the time and making new and different things that a year ago I would not have had a clue how to do, so on a good day I am happy with what I am doing.
Just got to accept that we all get days that are not so good and "get over it".
Sue

Dolphyngyrl

Don't fret we all get better in time, in a few years you will be able to tell how vastly you have improved in your skills because I see all my quilts and how i have gotten better in time, more accurate in cutting and piecing. I'm almost ready to tackle some more advanced quilts. That being said no one is perfect, even the ones who have been doing this many years make mistakes. It makes us all human and teaches us how to be better and improve. Just enjoy every process and think about how far you have come and how far you will go, and what fun journey it will be along the way

babyboomerquilter

I think doing is learning and practice makes perfect! Have fun and do your best, I am sure its great!

Krisb

When I started quilting, a wonderful women we all called Mama Shirley told me to apply the galloping horse test. And, don't get me wrong, the woman did beautiful work. But the test says that if you wouldn't see the mistake at twenty paces on a galloping horse, it didn't count. That does not stop me from comparing myself to others unfavorably.

elseebee

Oh, I so understand how you feel! I have only been quilting about 3 years and my DH says I'm wa-a-ay too critical of myself. But I did have a little encouragement this weekend that sent me back to my sewing room today with a better attitude. I was watching a Fons and Porter show on tv this weekend and they were displaying a quilt done by someone else. I spotted several spots that didn't line up perfectly and boy did that ever make me feel better! I have several projects that could appear on their show! My darling DH goes with me to quilt shows and he's always pointing out to me the little imperfections he spots. So, I think we both need to learn to use that "galloping horse"test Krisb mentioned above!

mighty

I vote for the galloping horse test, I just finished a baby quilt, and I need not to fret about the mistakes, just learn from them!!!

Lori S

I have been quilting for well ... almost four decades... and there are times when I look at what I have done ...and it just does not satisfy me. Either I think the stitching is wonky or I made a bad fabric choice... something... But I have learned to attribute some to mood. I think we can all be too hard on ourselves. I have also come to learn there are platos in any skill ... you get to a level and just can't go past and in fact sometimes feels like I am going backward. Relax about your expectations... and it will come, so will the enjoyment of what you have accomplished rather than whats next.
I was raised in a family of sewers that critiqued every stitch of a project, always looking for the flaw. No dress went without the hem being flipped and inspected. I so hated this tradition , so although is a part of my learned behavior .. to self critisize .. when I catch my self doing it ... I have learned to turn off the "voices of sewers past" and recognize this journey is not complete, move on.

BellaBoo

I have been quilting for a long time and I still have not good enough feelings sometimes. Mostly when I see a quilt show winning quilt. LOL I was told by a judge at one of these shows that most national winners set out to make a quilt show entries and every detail is not overlooked.

The most beautiful quilt I have ever seen in a show was this one: http://www.quilts.org/winners.html The creativity, imagination, the workman ship, the fabric choices are perfect. I stood in awe of this quilt and the maker. Pictures do not do it justice. So many details in the quilting and tiny things that you don't see.