bearisgray

The question was brought on by this thread: (Which is very entertaining reading, by the way! )

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...e-t195281.html

I've kind of learned the hard way that following some of my personal guidelines makes things turn out better - with less hassle - in the long run.

Anyone else?

Judith1005

Thanks for the link. Your right, just started reading it. VERY entertaining.

No guidelines for me. I'm a rule breaker. I use my quilts. I gift my quilts. If they don't care for them, I don't want to know!

If I do have one personal rule or guideline....I try to grow as a quilter with each new quilt. Enough said.

I will bookmark this thread and check back later.

KSellers

My personal rule is to have fun and enjoy the process! If I get frustrated or start having major problems, I walk away for the day and start again the next day.

petthefabric

I think this is a philosophigle (excuse the spelling please) question.

"Quilt Police" implies the imposing personalities who negetivly judge and condemn people for not doing it their way. Since it's their way or the highway, there's no telling what they think personnally at the moment. Therefore I don't even give them the time of day.

On the other hand, if you enter a quilt in a judged show, you are asking for, not their opinion, but how it conforms to a predetermined set of rules. This has been helpful to me, "Quilting for Show: a Practical Guide to Successful Competition Quilting", by Karen McTavish, published by On-Word Bound Books, copyright 2007.

I now do mostly art quilts and so I've determined to "break the rules". In judging, some rules still matter, unless I make it clear the I intended to break that rule. In some shows that's OK and in others it's not.

Finding a new way to accomplish something is welcome in most circles.

We all like to know how to judge our own work and some predetermined set of rules somehow makes us feel we can achieve "Master Quilter" status. It's very freeing for some of us rebels to learn to listen to our own inner voice and not defend it, just go with it. To me quiting is an expression of who I am. I like things tidy so very rarely are there loose threads, but sometimes that's how I feel. I have a subbtle dry sense of humor, so often there's some odd spot on my quilts. Matching points has no purpose to me, so my quilts intentionally don't match points, intersections, etc. This is about me, no one else. I think each person chooses for herself what is important to them and go with it. That's success.

So be yourself, everything you were made to be. Enjoy the journey to find out what that is.

lots2do

I have to love the colors and the color combinations that I'm working on. Color has become so important to me. I may not be a perfect piercer or quilter, but I love to select colors that hum together. (How the fabric feels makes a big difference to me, too).

Jingle

No rules for me, I'm just happy making quilts.

sandy l

Same here. And since I make mostly scrap quilts, I figure there were no rules to start with

ckcowl

the only thing I can add in my own quilting world is I (try) to always measure twice, three times, four times- as many times as it takes to figure out I have it right before I cut- so I don't wind up with messed up measurements. it took me years to figure out how to keep things from growing out of control...now I sketch my design out on graph paper and figure out the sizes before I dive into my fabrics. I also strive to learn new techniques, try new things as often as possible....but asking about 'rules' is like asking Picasso the rules of painting...do what feels right TO YOU and don't worry about whether or not others see YOUR VISION.

mpspeedy2

My main rule is that it is completed in a timely manner. If I strived for every quilt I make to be a masterpiece I would still be on the first one. It was certainly not a masterpiece but it still serves a purpose after more than 40 years. My husband lays on it when he is looking under the car or truck for a problem.

judylg

Sometimes I make a special effort into following the rules, other times I do my own thing. Depends on how I want the final outcome. Certainly I follow the rules to achieve a quilt that will wear well and not fall apart.