Bouncing Around
 

I would like to know if I'm the only one who like to go from project to project as a means to keep my head clear. If I am working on a particularly difficult piecing I stop after two or three hours and go to another project, usually an easier one, and then return to the major work. It helps me to see the project more clearly and if I was bored cutting a gazillion pieces it doesn't seem as daunting. Does this seem like a good idea? Example: I am doing a star block with "Y" seams, so after mentally screaming I stopped and made a set of coasters for my BIL. I returned to the "Y" seams and they didn't seem so difficult. The reason I ask is because I wonder if I'm losing my concentration needed to do the piecing correctly by leaving it mid project. This is not a burning issue, but I'd be interested in your perspective.

I do work on more than one quilt at a time, but not too many because if you have too many going at once you never get any of them finished. Also it can make a big mess and become more confusing. SOmetimes just having a machine pieced and a hand work project is enough for me.
cindy

It sounds like your method of working on projects is very productive and effective for you. I too go back and forth between projects partly to break up the monotony. I almost always have 2 projects going at the same time. I like to limit it to 2 at time otherwise I get a feeling of being overwhelmed!

I have 2 sewing areas, depending on my mood. One area is in my living room with just "brainless" sewing on it. Right now I'm doing 1/2 triangle blocks for some donation quilts. In my sewing room I'm working on a wedding gift. Depends on how I feel and whether I want to be out in the living room with my hubby. :)

I think that when you are working on any project you get into a "zone"....Once something happens and that "zone" gets interrupted, things start to go wrong / get more difficult or frustrating. I take a break and do something - sometimes for days - and wait for the mood to come back.

Yes, I need to take breaks in one project if I find I'm getting a little frustrated with it and the fun element is diminishing. Coming back later often relieves the stress and it moves along smoothly.

I must be odd! I do alterations for lots of folks, wedding and prom dresses (5 as we speak) and some LITE upholstery, now covering 4 dining chairs with double cording and shaped seats (new foam too) as well as two window treatments. That and quilts of valor...one being longarmed by a friend, one I am doing stars on the embroidery machine (oh did I forget to say I do logos and monogram work on that) and one is cut out and layed out, now to piece it together. I have a batik quilt planned for my DD, but it is on the back burner for now, maybe for Christmas!

I just do what drives me, or what is on deadline, 2 dresses this week, but not hard, so lots of time to work on the chairs. I do hand work at nite when I leave the studio behind. I am a nite owl, so I don't work early am. I love my sewing room, I sometimes just go out there and piddle, straighten, organize, and then leave! I get a lot done, but I do sometimes get stressed by deadlines, however I can just say no! I might have to slow down when I get "older" as I am only 70 right now!

I usually have numerous projects going on at once so it looks like chaos to most of my friends. Yes, I too have to walk away from something that is frustrating. Most of the time if I leave it for an hour or 24 hours, I am able to get back to it and resolve the problem. All that matters is WHAT works for you !! :)

Ohhhhhh yes. But not always another quilt, bag, wall hanging etc I also knit and crochet and trying to learn Tunisian crochet at present . Then I will read ,walk the dogs trim them bath and play. Oh forgot cook and bake. Later will add gardening.
As I teacher I did one lesson for an hour then moved onto next and I'm sure after 40 years of this it's ingrained.

I work on several different projects at once. I enjoy the variety :)

I like you BettyGee, work on several projects at a time. Seems I get a bit tired of what I'm working on and move to another. Then back to the original project and all seems new again. I always have quite a few going at a time.
Brenda

A few years ago I realized that my concentration is not what it used to be. I too, like to jump back and forth on different quilts. Sometimes this works against me, as I lose interest in some of the harder ones, but I feel that if they are not finished by me, they may be finished by someone who comes after. I have completed 80 quilts since 2002 and that is not a bad record.

Oh my gosh, you are describing me. I hop from project to project and I always have some new "shiny" idea! That's why I end up with so many piles in my sewing room. Those are for projects on the burners! The actual old UFO's are moved to a different holding area. Sometimes I get bored with cutting out so many pieces, making so many HST, I've reached a difficult part, or I'm starting to make mistakes/getting sloppy.

It's actually no surprise that I'm like this. When I was working, I was always juggling multiple projects in various stages of completion. And I work better under deadlines.

You sound just like me. My first and only fulltime job I was a Lab Assistant. We got deliveries of specimens three times a day. It was always a race to get the first one done before the next one showed up. I always have plenty of sewing or quilting projects going at the same time Turning away from the computer I can see several projects that are in process. I am on the last step of at least a dozen Princess Pillowcase dresses, I made and or decorated a number of tote bags for a local food bank and I have a leather jacket that someone at church talked me into repairing for them. When I sit down to watch TV I always have fleece Linus blankets to crochet an edge around. etc. etc. Yesterday I hauled out my Accuquilt Go to make some appliques to brighten up the Pillowcase dresses. I should make a lot more appliques before I pack it up again.

I also read more than 1 book at a time.

You are a busy lady and it sounds like we are alike in our habits. I'm 73 and when I get older I might have to stick with one project at a time, but for now...

That is me, good to know I'm not alone in my habits. Of course I started a quick project yesterday morning and by dinner time it still wasn't finished. Ah well it will be my go to project when I get too tied up in something difficult.

Me too. Variety is the spice of life, or so they say. We must be doing something right.

I was a paralegal before I retired and the deadlines were never ending. I always said when I retired that I'd slow down. But I've found that if I know I have to have a project done I am happier pushing myself. What's up with that?

I just walk away when a project starts to go wrong. I've learned that once I start making mistakes it's time to turn my attentions to something else. I find myself making changes in the middle of the night when I go for a bathroom break on something that is driving me nuts. :-(

I like to have a different project at each stage of the process, so when I get tired of cutting I can go piece or quilt or something.

I usually have several projects going on too! Like Raggiemom - I enjoy (NEED) the variety. :)

Right now I have one quilt ready to be quilted when that bug bites. I have 3 that are now ready to be pinned (pieced the backs last week). I'm piecing on a Dear Jane quilt -- just started and appliqueing on a Halloween Baltimore. I also make American Girl doll clothes once a month. I like to work on a variety of projects, which one depends on my mood.

I always have several projects on the go at any time. I like to stand back and study a WIP and play around with them. SO while I am pondering any little thing I will work on another project.

peace

I have many projects going. Last time I counted it was 15 in progress. Just keep coming up with more things to do.

I guess I'm the odd one here as I tend to work on one project at a time especially if it is something big like a quilt. I'll admit that sometimes by the time I am finished with a quilt I am more than ready to be finished with it interest wise but I don't have UFOs that people talk about lying around this way. When I get into overload sewing I just go do something else.

Oh yes!
I usually have 3 going. And when I finish one I'm planning another as I work.
I think the break clears your head and it slows you down so you can plan your next steps.

MaryKatherine

Same as AnnieSue, I find it productive to have 2 or 3 projects going on...right now, I have a quilt top on the frame, another project in the cutting stage, another quilt ready for the binding to be sewn to the back and lots of ideas floating in my head, smile.

When I go on a retreat, I find it helps to have a few projects on hand to bounce back and forth to keep me awake, lol.

You made me tired just reading your post !!! Congrats to you for being so industrious & creative. Just think of all the people that think when one retires, we just sit around & watch TV. They should all read your post............do you even have a TV ????? lol You are certainly inspiring !!!

Well, it sounds like most of us like working on several projects at once. I've decided that there's a very smart reason for doing more than one project at a time.

I discovered very early that when I have something that is very difficult for me, it's best to take myself away and let my brain go to work. I'd study at night for a test the next day and when I'd wake up, my brain would have sorted things out and I'd do well on the test. It didn't work well if I'd try to cram all that information in right before the test. The same thing works when I'm sewing or knitting... or any of the other things I like to do. When I get to a difficult spot.... I set things down and go off to work on something else that's less challenging. When I come back to whatever I was working on, my brain would have figured out what needed to be done and I'm back on track.

I know I'm not unique. My DH works a couple of difficult crossword puzzles every day. He'll work on them at night, set them aside when he goes to bed and finish them in the morning after his brain has worked out the answers that he couldn't think of the night before. He's amazed at how easy the answers are once his brain has had the time to work on it.

Yup.... the brain is an amazing thing.... and it's good exercise to give it a good workout once in a while.

Love your idea. This also puts less stress on the same muscles. And yes I can use a fresh eye on stitching. Thanks,

Many thanks to all that responded. I feel that I'm not weird for having more than one project going at a time. That said I have four going right now so it is off to the sewing room for me. Perfect quilting weather here, wind is blowing like all get out, snow is falling sideways; so off to my safe haven.

I get bored and burnt quick. I go from one project to the next then back around.

I always have 3 projects in process. Hand finishing one, piecing another, and cutting the pieces of the third. Each has a plastic container labeled Project #1, Project #2, and Project #3 with the pattern, threads, fabric etc in it. Used those until the actual quilt gets to big. This way when I get flustered with a small issue or a big one, I put that one away and work on the next one and come back later and always, I have figured out what the issue was on the flustered one. I am a retired teacher of 4th through 6th grade students so I guess that makes it easier to multitask and I am NEVER bored!!!!

I definitely switch between projects, especially if one project is giving me fits and problems. By doing another, sometimes easier project, I can clear my head and when I get back to the first project I'm good to go.

I work on several projects at a time too. I always have a hand project to do in the evenings so I can sit with hubby, but I love, hanging out in my sewing room. I never get bored. I just wish I had more time to do it all.

I can't work on multiple projects. I've made major errors in the past or lost my train of thought and forgotten what my plans were.

I usually have two or more quilts going at the same time. I'm like this with books, too. Can't read only one at a time.
So no, you are not alone!


Anita