I have to be in the mood so that is why I always have several quilts or projects in the making. If I'm not interested in one then I might be for the next one. If I'm not in the mood for any type of sewing, cutting, piecing or quilting then I just "close shop" for awhile. Usually a little rest away from it then I'm ready to go again. No matter how much you love something you still need a break away from it now & then.

If the tension is the machine tension that needs to be seen to first....

If it is the other kind do Elvis singing "make the world go away, take it off of my shoulders"
and then "shake it out" with Taylor Swift

That is why I have so many projects going. Hand quilting, hand applique, a couple different scrappy quilts, a row robin with my quilt guild, sewing for a friends bazaar table, a Dear Jane, I have a wide selection to choose from and now a grand daughter that is falling in love with quilting. Oh and a sewing 4-H group so I am never at a lose for what to do and when I really don't feel like what I have I start a new project!

I am having that problem now with starting one I have to get done. I was really excited about it at first then I bought fabric and pattern for one I would love to start on but this one has to be done first. I sure hope when I start it I don't mess it up trying to rush through it.

Yes and the results aint pretty. Now I walk away for awhile or day. I get to stressed if I have to meet a deadline.

When I'm having a major problem, such as yours, and sometimes just a minor problem, I find it best to just walk away for some period of time, then usually when I get back to it, I find I can get my MoJo back.

depends on the project... and timing. I am one of the unlucky ones who have to work ha ha ha. So I have to squeeze in my quilting when I have time. The last week in June I was off work due to plant shutdown so I got to do alot of sewing :) The end of the week I was kinda of losing interest and getting tired of struggling with quilting my quilt on my home machine..I did want to give up. But I knew that if I didn't finish it that week who knows when it would be finished. So I pushed through and got it done.. and I am glad that I did.

But as others have said, its nice to have a few projects in process to be able to switch back and forth when you need a break

Yes, and every time I pay for it.

Whenever I feel like that, I make a pot holder, or a small runner, gets me back in the swing of things right away

I always have multiple projects going in various stages. And there are always one or two that have to sit and "mellow" for awhile before I can deal with them again. Lol! Otherwise they would forever be in timeout.

Eventually I get back to them and they get done - or else they take a new direction. Either way the frustration level is over and done with and I end up with something functional instead of a mess.