Perfection Or Imperfection...Which Is Better?
02-24-2026, 06:14 AM
#41
Power Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 10,738
I have a friend that is an artist and a quilter. One year she made a stunning art quilt and decided to enter it in our local fair. She didn't want to win a prize; she was just proud of it and wanted it to be displayed. It was judged and the feedback she got were things like "the stitches are too far apart on the back of binding, your points don't meet correctly here, etc." Not one word about the color or design or anything. She read the comments, took her quilt down and took it home. She will never put one on display again and the world will miss the beauty of them. I was furious when I saw the comments. Was it perfect - no. Was it beautiful - definitely. I sort of felt like those people would complain that there are cracks in the paint on the Mona Lisa.
02-25-2026, 06:40 AM
#42
Super Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,520
Technical perfection is beautiful to look at. For myself, I prefer to look at quilts that have something to catch the eye, a wonkiness of design or color. That sort of something that catches the eye is sometimes found in show quilts, but as often found in folk art quilts like those of the Gee’s Bend quilters. For my own quilting, I have become more willing to devote time and effort to perfection over the years, in a continual desire to improve, but I also have limited patience for it, and I prize utility above perfection, so my quilts are never near show-perfect.
02-26-2026, 06:29 AM
#45
Power Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 10,738
