Does anyone else do this, or is it just me.

I start out with a plan. Goning to make a quilt to fit our queen size bed. Make four or five blocks. They are passing, for my standards. Not great but good enough. then I get bored with it and make them into a table runner or lap size quilt instaed of the queen size.

I feel like a failure even though they turn out fine because they aren't the size I originally intended. How can I maintain the focus needed to finish the size I wanted to begin with or atleast not look at them as failures?

You may be like me a bore easily, After I do a block or 2 I'm ready to move on to a new challenge. You might try doing block of the month type quilts. Each block different but tied together with same fabrics or colors.

I have never made a large quilt with all the blocks the same until now and I too am struggling.
It is paper pieced and has 30 blocks, I am not quite 1/2 way there and I am bored to tears. The only reason I will finish this is because this quilt is for my father and my Mum picked the pattern.

Working on several projects at a time helps me stat interested :)

I can get really bored making little blocks for a big bed quilt. I know me well enough to stick to baby quilts, table runners, wall hangings and lap/utility quilts with larger sized blocks. :wink:

PP is the only way I will stick to a larger project. I know each block is going to end up the correct size LOL Yes, even more simple blocks get PP :D I figure the ink/paper expense is not as great as a UFO sitting around not getting finished and used/gifted :D:D:D

Another thing I do is have several projects going at once. I can bounce between a quick project or two and one that is going to take significantly longer.
I just make sure to keep all of the fabric together so I don't accidentally use it for something else :)

You will find your niche/groove... you will get a lot of advice and hopefully one of them will do the trick for you :D:D:D

It is nice to know this happens to others. My problem is I get half way done and suddenly do not like it. It is either the pattern of the block or my color choices but there is always something that I don't like and it is a real chore to finish the quilt. But once it is put into the sandwich I like it again. Sometimes it takes me a few days to decide to quilt it or tie it, but once that is done it is like a race to finish it. My Irish chain quilt I changed colors of the green several times. So I have a lot of 2 & 1/2 inch squares of various greens, but they will be used in another project. (Quilter's motto, "Never throw anything away, you never know when you may need it.") Or is that our family motto? But the older I get the easier it is to let things go.

I'm glad that works for you, Cyn. It's what I use as an excuse for procrastinating! IMHO too many UFO's start out that way!

I too work on several projects all the time

I always like to make a sample block with old fabric from my stash to see if I like the block. I can also decide if I want to change the size. Then there are the endless sketches that I make before the sample block! I do spend a lot of time thinking about patterns before I sit down to make anything, and I always have several projects going at once. Keeps me mentally stimulated and I don't get into a rut as often. Not all blocks are destined to be quilts. it's okay!

I too have this problem and found the best thing for me is to work on the big quilt for an hour or so at a time, then stop and work on a smaller project for a while. It really seems to help refresh my thoughts and keep me focused.

I find that if I have a few other projects going I can switch to something else if I am tired of doing the same thing. This may account for having some UFOs around here!!

When I have a ton of the same blocks to do, I do them assembly line. If I make just one then it's like, "been there, done that." I will make all the parts for all of the blocks at once. Each of 30 block needs 4 HSTs? Then I make 120 HSTs, just running them through one after another. Then move on to the next part of the blocks. At the end, I am assembling ALL of the blocks at the same time.

It keeps me moving on a quilt when I'm going onto the next part of the blocks all the time.

i have always told everyone ... " i am way to un-disciplined to make this twice!" i never seem to make the same thing twice...and that includes blocks sometimes. when i made the Amazing Grace quilt...i needed 22 pineapple blocks...it took me 6 months to make those 22 blocks...gosh i hated those blocks...and am so glad i stuck with it to the end because they transformed the quilt from just another nice quilt to a 'spectacular quilt!" but oh my goodness i hated ever step of those 22 blocks! i guess that is why i design my own quilts usually and don't follow patterns, i don't have the -stick to it ness- to make 24 of the same block i make 2 or 3 blocks then i'm bored with them and ready to do something else---BIG TIME A.D.D.! :thumbup:

don't feel like a failure. so what if you don't enjoy the "long haul" required for bigger projects?

i rarely make anything bigger than an oversized lap because i get bored long before i get to bedsized.

if you really do want to make something larger than usual, consider making a sampler. since each block is different, you won't get bored as quickly by the concept of the whole project.

when i begin a large quilt, i make ONE block to test the directions for errors, then if i like what i see and the directions are good, i cut all the fabric for all the blocks. then i chain each block following each step of the dirrections....in other words, i do the same step over and over and over again for each block, then move on the to the next step. it does get a bit monotonius (sp?) but it does keep me going because all the fabric has been cut and i don't want to waste it!! i usually try to do bigger blocks 9 to 12 inches with pieces in the 2 1/2 to 3 inch size. 20 to 45 blocks will give you a very nice sized lap to snuggle sized quilt.

oh yea, i usually have 4 or more projects going at once too. one or two biggies and then a couple of mug rugs or table runners that make up pretty quick!!

jodi

I think that is why we have so many things in progress. We get bored working on the same thing.

I don't like to do the same steps over and over. It's more time efficient, but bores me. I cut pieces for a few blocks. Sew a few blocks. Cut a few blocks. Etc.

You are normal. LOL I don't know how many WIPs I have going and they are all different sizes. I just work on whatever I feel like working on at the time.

Geez Louise, I'm a total failure then. I've run into this so many times. If it happens to me, I put the whole thing aside and let it sit for a while and if I still feel the same way when I see it again, I do something with the already made blocks or send them off to a UFO orphanage and repurpose the rest of the fabric. Sometimes things just don't work for me in spite of my best intentions and I figure I only have so long on this planet. There are things I must do, and things I should do, but quilting is my play time and should be fun. Nothing else matters.

That's what I do...or did when I made K size quilts with all the same blocks.Don't do that anymore....Kind of envy ppl who can keep several quilts going at same time. I have neither room nor patience for that method.Once started, I'm on a mission to get it done.

Think I'm more intersted in the technique...once I master a block, it's boring & I become interested in the next in line.

My first quilt, a queen, had 4" squares, it's my avatar. I used a bunch of different batiks, so I was anxious to see what fabric combination each block would produce. At first. 250+ blocks is a lot! When I ran out of steam, I decided to to 20 blocks a day. This worked for me. I guess I was used to creating lots of duplicate items. I used to make wedding invitations and favors. Make 400 wedding favors in your least favorite colors and it's great practice for quilting. ;-)

Thanks people. I already have many projects going, but it really helps to know I'm not alone!

May try the BOM thing. Have thought about it. And I have always loved paper piecing.

Assemby line sewing might be the answer, too. I think my problem might be that I cut out one block at a time, being afraid that I'll waste all that fabric if I decide to go with a table runner instead of a queen size quilt!

Anyway, I know I have to do something. I'm running out of tables to cover. Already working on a differnt one for each month!

[quote=tweezy50]Does anyone else do this, or is it just me.

I start out with a plan. Goning to make a quilt to fit our queen size bed. Make four or five blocks. They are passing, for my standards. Not great but good enough. then I get bored with it and make them into a table runner or lap size quilt instaed of the queen size.

I feel like a failure even though they turn out fine because they aren't the size I originally intended. How can I maintain the focus needed to finish the size I wanted to begin with or atleast not look at them as failures?[/quote

This quilt (the one by my name) is 105" by 106" - It started out as a twin and grew and grew. I was supposed to do it for my granddaughter's high school graduation. I finished the top and it was BIG. I presented her with the top at her grad party then took it home with me to finish. Nightmare. It took me a year to do the whole thing. The only thing that kept me going was that it belonged to her. I took the finished product to her at Christmas that year. It is all batiks and is really beautiful, if I do say so. Since then, I don't get bored, just let the quilt do the talking. Each quilt takes on its own personality, or I find it that way for me. Don't feel like a failure. Your "queen size" may be a runner trying to get out. Just have fun doing whatever you do. I have been trying for two yrs now to do a queen for my older daughter. Am working on it...it has never come together but I'm plugging away...hoping for inspiration. Slowly, slowly, it's begining to come together.

I try to have a big project, one that I'm going to do really well for us or a gift and also some Linus or small quilt or scrap quilt, something to take me away from the big one to clear my head when it starts to bug me.

PS I worked on the family tree quilt that's in my bio for years, off and on. Finally one Christmas I got it quilted and put a sleeve on it and gave it to DH to hang. I still don't have the label on it or the info that he wants on the back. LOL really!!

That's why I have several projects going a the same time. If I get bored I can do something different for awhile then go back to that one later.

I agree with having several projects in the works as a way to avoid losing interest. You might also try planning a smaller quilt, but leaving yourself the option of making it larger if you are really having fun with the pattern. If you start a project that becomes a drag, you aren't obligated to complete the thing, simply move on to something else. There is no guilt in quilt!

You are fine! Just a really creative lady. I always have several projects going in different stages toward being completed. I keep my projects in pizza boxes. As soon as one project finishes living in the p-box then another moves in. Don't worry yourself, you have your support group right here.

I never buy big pieces of fabric so I don't have the problem, I like the blocks colorful and different because I know myself I will be become so stick in the mud with all the blocks in one color or pattern.

Maybe you could alternate the blocks that are getting tedious to you, w/ plain ones. Then you'd only need 1/2 - 2/3 as many. Keep pushing thru to get it finished, even if the game plan changes.

so many great ideas