Flying_V_Goddess

Does it matter if you’ve been a quilter for years and don’t have a lot of finished projects to show for it? There are people on here who probably have dozens of projects completed and are always showing new stuff. I made my first quilt at the end of ‘06. So far I’ve only made three quilts (and one is not completely finished yet), a bunch of test blocks with horrendous fabric, and a few smaller projects. I certainly have enough ideas to get me going for a while, but it seems like I can never find the time to sit down and do them. Planning is easy because I can do that on paper or my laptop and I can take those anywhere. Getting it beyond that seems to be the hard part. And money is tight, too, so I can't always get things for projects. Like when I go into a quilt shop (which is not too often) I spend like $20 and I'm calculating every penny to make sure I don't go overboard. Some quilters have spent hundreds without much thought to it and have enough fabric to get all their projects done and then some.

I don't know...I'm just not feeling like much of a quilter right now.

cuppi duke

Don't let it get you down. As long as you feel like a quilter you are. We aren't judged by how many items you can get finished. I think the quality of your work is more important. As far as the money issue, I agree with you. We all are on different incomes and some can spend more on fabric than others. I frequent thrift shops and yard sales a lot and never buy anything unless it is on sale.

erstan947

Quilting is my escape time. Quantity is not the goal for me. I work at my own pace. At this time in my life I have lots of time to work on my projects and just enjoy the process. Relax and let the quilting process be your little time of peace and enjoyment:)

Barbm

you are a quilter- I've seen your quilts and ideas. Don't let finances get you down, your quilts are well thought out and planned, so they pack a lot of punch for the money.

sewingbysusan

You seem like a VERY creative person, and of course you are a quilter! We all have our favorite part of the process and it sounds like yours might be the designing. Maybe you could focus on patterns and ideas for those of us who want to jump right in with the sewing!
Do you have a picture of your Slipknot quilt? I am new to the board an apologize if you have posted it before.

frugalfabrics

Everyone body has a different sized stash...I never try and compare myself to what others have or what others have completed.

I'm like you. I've been quilting for over 20 years and years ago I made lots of baby quilts...but in the past years I have only made less than 6 quilts..not all of them completed.

I, too, am amazed how some people just whip out a king sized quilt top in an afternoon and then have it put together and quilted the next day! I know that I will personally never be able to do it...so I just admire their work and appreciate the beautiful quilts that I get to look at on this board.

Sometimes it just takes sitting down to start something that will get you going. When I got the Downy Quilt Kit, I immediately sat down determined to see how much I could get done in a days time. After sewing for 5 hours, I had only completed the top (which is a kids size quilt, so it's not very big). I did find once I got started, that I got lost in time and enjoyed all 5 hours of sewing. but I also know that it's very rare for me to have 5 hours to sew without having to do something.

Good luck with your sewing...maybe try a small project, so you can feel like you've "completed" something and that may inspire you to move on to a bigger project.

Thrift stores and yard sales are great places to collect a stash for pennies on the dollar. I hardly ever go into the LQS anymore because I can't afford the prices. I usually only buy from Hobby Lobby when they have a 40% off coupon.

b.zang

We're all quilters in one way or another if we are interested in quilts and sew anything related to them. Otherwise, we're seamstresses or art enthusiasts (neither of which is to be scoffed at). You've made quilts, you're a quilter.
Piece quilting became popular in the days when women were needing to make every little bit go as far as possible. The pendulum seems to be swinging back that direction and there is a definite trend afoot to create beauty from scraps. No need to go into a quilt shop - ever.
Like you, I love to plan and think about the possibilities for quilts in the future. Isn't it great that plans have no barriers and that there is as much pleasure in thinking about, reading about, looking at, and designing quilts as there is in making them!!! Good thing, because right now my life doesn't have much room in it for sitting together with fabric, needle and thread (but I'm still a quilter).

RDM

Enjoy your quilting when you find time to do it. It should be fun. I'm like you, not a lot to show for my fabric purchases but I love the process, and the friends I've made with shared interest. My wish for you is to find pleasure in the process when you do find time. Even if you don't get a lot done, you are a quilter. No reason not to enjoy seeing here what others create and add encouragement.

Scrap Happy

You are a quilter or you wouldn’t be asking yourself this question. Your plans and ideas for your quilts are beautiful and well thought out. It takes me a long time to finish a quilt too.

dakotamaid

I only do 1-2 quilts a year for me, the rest of my quilts are for kids or other organizations. I'm slow and have too many other interests. :):)