deciding on quilt pattern and fabric
 

When you decide to start a new quilt, what is usually your goal? How fast you can finish it? How beautiful can you make it? Can you learn some new technique? Can you make it without having to learn something new? How cheaply can you make it, i.e. using only what you have already purchased?
What is your goal? I'm talking about a quilt you are making for your own enjoyment, not one requested with specific requirements, or made for donation with specific requirements.

I just purchased fabric for a quilt for myself. I am basing it on all of your questions and hope to finish this one. I have only made one for myself in 30+ years and I got frustrated with my machine quilting and have never finished it.

I guess each quilt I have always made rather it be for myself of someone else each have their own story. It could be the fabric line or pattern or room its going or personality of the person or favortite book or anything. I think we all tend to be more harsh on ourselves then others. I tell myself if I am putting 100% plus into everything I am doing then its my best. The best thing with creating something.........is everything added to the quilt adds character. And usually these spots in a quilt are only noticed by you and not others. So just be happy and enjoy every minute creating your quilt and you will love it in the end.

How many of you would like to make a quilt you feel you could enter into a competition?

My goal is generally to learn a new technique and develop skills, so that is the driver in my choice.

Cheers, K

How many of you know you will get bored making the same block over and over again, so you pick a pattern that has a multitude of different blocks? I know many of these types are applique quilts, many are art quilts, many are sampler quilts - not sure what else has different blocks. I know from reading lots of posts that many of you are bored before your quilts are finished, and many quilts don't get finished - is that from boredom?

All of the above :) It just depends on the quilt, my mood, etc... at the time :) :) :)

Same here. I like to try something new on each project. Plus I'm a color freak and sometimes the fabrics talk to me. As I recently read: "I know the voices aren't real, but they have some great ideas."

Mostly how beautiful it will be. Usually doing the same block again and again is relaxing to me. I don't care about entering competitions. There are so many quilts I want to make, but I can't hurry one along. I love choosing fabric whether its from a shop or my stash.

Let's hear your answers, to these questions TanyaL .... I'm thinking there is more of a backstory here. You're firing out a lot of questions, and not giving anything else.

When I choose the fabric I try for the most beautiful color combinations I can come up with. The quilt I am making now is an applique of fleur de lis in burgandy tones on an ecru/cream background. Accent colors are blue and gold. The appliques are applied with satin stitching and also accented with embroidery stitching. There is a large medallian fleur de lis made confetti style in the center. Because I do get bored doing the same block over and over again I design my quilts myself so that everything is different. The quilt before this one was all in darker jewel tones with 60degree diamonds but I really messed up the points. LOL!!

I messed up my computer and had to restart. Anyway, I would love to enter a quilt in a juried show, but I'm not that good yet. I'm not doing art quilts but I want each one of my quilts to be a work of art. And I quit quilting from time to time to sew for grandchildren and myself. When I'm trying to get an idea for something on my quilt I go the internet and look up the award winning quilts and study the ones I like - deciding what I particularly like about them and what I don't like about them. I just wondered if everyone made their decisions the same way.

I usually wait until a pattern jumps out at me, and/or fabrics jump out at me... I usually spend a lot of time thinking about the fabrics I have in my stash (very small stash), and thinking about patterns that I like... eventually I'll decide on something

My Mil quilted and made many quilts. All very pretty. She kept 3 or 4 going at once, so she wouldn't get bored. She worked hard taking care of her family and was tickled to just get to quilt! Barny

TanyaL, how long have you been quilting? You seem like your going to be a great quilt artist. I can't always do the same thing over and over. It's fun to learn new techniques and patterns, but I always just go one step at a time. That way I don't leave my comfort zone. I used to do wood work on a scroll saw and I got some practice time in and then I wanted to do some of the hardest, most complicated patterns I could find. The harder the better. I enjoyed it, and always did good. Woodwork sometimes is easier than quilting because there aren't as many choices, you only pick your type of wood and cut it out...lol.
Quilting for me, is just relaxing. I keep it fun and I do it when I want to.

p.s. I think you should try to do an art quilt. Keep it fun and enjoy yourself. You never know what you have in you until you try it. You might surprise yourself.

Quilt Runners, Table Runners, Pot Holders and Hot Pads. All easy to make from 1 to 5 blocks, try new techniques, color combo's or monochrome. Step outside of your perceived comfort zone. You might be surprised at how much you learn about yourself and just how beautiful your work is. Even though we all see our "mistakes", I've found that the moment I share the work with someone else, all they see is the beauty!

Relax, enjoy, and embrace the discoveries! Oh, I also have made several "lap size" and baby size quilts. And in the background is the gigantic wedding quilt for my daughter. I work on it for a bit, then move back to smaller, fast projects. Having one large and 3 small projects works for me. I'm learning more with every small project, which I then put to improving the large one.

Final note, document the process, label the quilt and remember to enjoy every step of the process. It is what will keep us all sane and centered!

I would love to do this someday, but am still working on technique. If my Dash quilt turns out as I see it in my head, I may put it in our guild show next fall.

A sampler quilt is on my list of things to try.

I love the voices quote.

Cheers, K

i am always looking to learn a new technique- or new something- i buy fabric because i love it- then i figure out what (strikes me) to do with it- sometimes i set goals to use up some scraps- or only work out of my stash- or only use one color family---always a challenge-
i seldom look at how fast can i make something- i'm not a (production) sewer- i enjoy the process of creating a quilt- and do not try to rush that (and yes- sometimes i have a deadline-but i try to still take the time to do a good job- not just a rush job)
i browse magazines, books, galleries for inspiration- i see things i would like to try- then set out to make it---me it doesn't matter if it takes a week or 5 years- i do not stress over time- and i do not rush through- i take my time and enjoy the process of creating something useful and hopefully beautiful (at least in my eyes)

All of the above! Recently, I saw a Christmas quilt I just fell in LOVE with. I knew I would not get it done in time for Christmas this year, and yet I have all but a few of the smaller blocks DONE. Ya just NEVER know what till spur me on!
I have decided to take the whole month of January to do just what I want to do. I have plans to (FINALLY) finish an anniversary quilt that is to be a gift for my husband and a wallhanging I might enter in the local quilt show (if I like how I quilt it!)

Please show us pictures of your work in progress and, of course, your work when it is finished.

Most of the quilts I make are with a person in mind or perhaps for a class I am taking. I do have a goal to one day make a perfect enough quilt to enter it in a show in our area that only takes the best of the best. So with most of the quilts I make I am trying to improve my skills enough to be able to make one good enough for that show.

My goal when I start a quilt is to finish it... COMPLETE I have many pieces started, and it all depends on what my mood for the day is. I buy fabric because I like the look, the COLOR and the feel. Just recently I found a pattern that SCREAMED at me. The voices in my head kept saying: "Hey that is a perfect pattern for him, you can do it and just shop in your stash... You don't need to go out and buy more fabric "... what a great Christmas gift that would be , so here I am just finishing it up because it needs to be done by Wed. lol, the others can wait. Its a passion and a desire to sew, if I am not feeling it, it shows in my piece so hence why I have so many projects going at once. I just have fun and use different techniques so I do not become bored. Sometimes cost enters into a piece but I usually do not think of that aspect.

So as CKCOWL said: "i browse magazines, books, galleries for inspiration- i see things i would like to try- then set out to make it---me it doesn't matter if it takes a week or 5 years- i do not stress over time- and i do not rush through- i take my time and enjoy the process of creating something useful and hopefully beautiful (at least in my eyes)"

Have fun and enjoy!

It's the joy of starting something new and the challenge to complete it that drives me. I rarely go out to buy fabric for a specific quilt. I usually come accross a pattern which just seems to match up with what is around or something I spied in the shop. Whether it is a totally new block/pattern or the therapy of making the same block again and again - I remain curious as to how it will turn out. DH says if I sat back less to admire every new piece falling into place, I would finish quicker, but even the admiration sessions are part of the wonderful process.

My only goal is to make me happy. That it makes other people happy in the process is a bonus. I love color and pattern and I discovered I'm very good at making them work together. Friends and relatives are excited to get one of my creations. That makes me happy.

Right now I want window quilts for my home. To improve energy efficiency and complete my decorating. Most of the decorating has already been done in the rooms so some color choice has already occurred. And I know that I am more drawn to applique rather than patchwork. In my bedroom I choose a stained glass butterfly pattern. One because I love butterflies and two because it is a beautiful pattern. For the second window a friend is making a stained glass garden pattern for me. It will continue the outdoors indoor theme and stay in the color palette I have already choosen for the room.

The craft room has three windows and I plan window quilts that are a series of sampler applique blocks. The quilts will all carry the same background and block layout so they will appear to be a matching set although the actual blocks will be different.

The livingroom has an asian flare and I hope to continue that in the window quilts that will cover the bay windows.

The office is done in the black, white and gold neutral color palette and the focal piece in the room is a cork sohi screen depicting water birds. I'd like the window quilt to reflect that with a multimedia quilt utilizing gold lame and embroidered asian caligraphy.

So How fast I can finish it doesn't come into my thinking. And of course since these are large pieces of my decor I want to do it as well as possible so lots of ripping out and redoing until I have exactly what I picture. And yes the samplers will be as much about learning new techniques as it will be about covering in windows in the craft room. Those will really make the craftroom both because they will be showing off some of my skills and help make the room an inspiration for the work that goes on in there. Cost isn't something I consider, I'd rather save up for a year to get the perfect fabric than settle for something that is cheaper. I don't keep a stash I buy fabric for specific projects and only do one project at a time.

My goal is to have something that I love and will enjoy looking at for the rest of my life. And hopefully something my daughter will enjoy and have as a momento of me after I'm gone.

I am thinking of making a 'sort of' sampler block quilt -

Because so little of my life is 'orderly' - I would want all the blocks to be drawn on the same grid and to be from the same color family - so that 'something' would be kind of orderly.

I pick a pattern or project first, unless I found some can't resist fabric. I don't care about speed. I love piecing and watching it come to life.

Generally first is I need to make something for someone.
Then sometimes I find fabric I just can not pass up.

Not me. I'm not a careful sewer!

I do big, easy blocks. I could never repeat a quilt using the same colors and patterns. I can repeat a pattern such as TURNING TWENTY time and time again because it's easy and surprisingly, looks so much different with fabric changes.

This year I've done a bunch of WOF strips rag quilts-------well personal sized quilts----------becasue I've been doing them for ailing members of my parish. They are easy, quick and the completed looks are so much different.

love your attitude!

I do learn new techniques all the time, but it's sheerly by accident. That has never been my goal and never will be. My main goal is to make something for someone.

When I make a quilt it is because I must. . . The actual motivation for each one is different. Sometimes it is because I know someone who "needs" a quilt. Sometimes I'm making swap blocks and a set will "demand" to stay home and become its own quilt. Sometimes I will see a picture and just have to make my version of what I've seen.

As to why some never get finished - there are many reasons. Usually it has to do with some other priority taking precedence. That is often a gift that is needed by a certain deadline. I may have a vision of what type quilting would be perfect for it and know I'm not to that skill level yet. Sometimes I've gotten frustrated with it for whatever reason and know I need to let it sit in time out until I'm ready to work on it again. Sometimes I get interrupted and when I go back something else has caught my attention. Sometimes I don't have a clear vision of what I want it to become so I move on to something else. Sometimes I'm "just playing" to see how a technique will work. Sometimes I just run out of motivation for that particular project.

Does it matter whether they get done or not? I'm doing this primarily for my own creative pleasure. The fact that it can become something for others to enjoy and use is a fantastic bonus.