k3n, I like your way of treating a quilt that has become a mistake and a burden. In cost accounting, there is the concept of sunk cost. If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging! Divest your dogs, invest in your shooting stars.

However, if one quilts for a living it is essential to milk the cash cows, and that may mean using the same quilt design or same kind of fabric over and over again, as rapidly as possible, to get the product to market.

i love taking my time doing my quilts .work on it when i want to. and its great feelin to look at when its all finished

I LOVE IT ALL.....And reflecting on my past quilts I have made, for the most part, they were all challenging, intricate, exciting, enjoyable, time consuming (but in a good way), always learning and growing with each one, filled with anticipation and I was not in a hurry in the way of just wanting to get it done. For me, I want to feel that way when I make most of my quilts. I admit, that the charity quilts I make take less time, but still enjoy the process. I don't want it to be a hurry up process just to start another, I want to take it all in. Don't care if I am slow at it. And I love that there are sooooo many to look forward to that will be wonderful to make......

It's odd that you bring up this topic because I have been wondering myself what is all the hoopla about "speed, speed, speed" ... i.e., 'you can cut more pieces at once by doing .....' Everyone promoting quilt notions & methods seems to emphasize speed; I thoroughly appreciate all tips to promote accuracy, so if a tip involves both speed & accuracy, that's a good thing.

The things that somewhat nag at me to get a move-on are all my WIPs and my age. My age will not be a problem if I continue to be healthy.

I've lost count of how many quilt tops I have stored away. I don't consider myself ADD, but I do get bored easily and thus have different kinds of quilts in various stages of construction at the same time. There's hand quilting (2 king-sized); there's FMQ that I need to practice; and there's a ton of embroidery designs on my computer that are destined for quilt blocks. I also want to do some drawing (again ... I did it a lot when I was young) and have bought Inktense pencils, so as to add details to my machine embroidered theme quilts.

Even so, when I'm actually doing any of the quilt making process, I never hurry. I don't enjoy the process as much and tend to make mistakes when I get in a hurry.

My first quilt was a king sized (not for the faint hearted!) very complex 'Bouquet Star' and I am still hand quilting it 14/15? years later. It has many "no-no's" in it, such as cheap backing fabric and an odd assortment of fabrics in the top and I sewed them together with (don't laugh!) nylon thread. My initial hand quilting is about 3 or 4 stitches to an inch; now it is more than double that. I think that's hilarious. In spite of all its warts, it is a mighty cute quilt and someday, when it is completed and before I hand it over to my husband, I hope to share a photo of it with the QB members.

I'm not laughing - sounds a little like my first full quilt. And I look forward to seeing it. :-D

I enjoy the process and progress of quilt making, but..... I am always thinking ahead and by time I have one quilt top appliqued, I am moving one to quilt number two and begin cutting the material getting it ready for the next applique quilt and still working on quilt one, putting the blocks/pieces together for the quilt top. By the time I have quilt one in the frame to quilt, I have one more quilt ready to put together and one more getting ready to design. Just cant help myself.... have to have more than one quilt going at a time as most quilters do I am sure.

I tell myself Im going to slow down and enjoy the process but I find myself getting impatient and speeding up.
I wish I could shut out distractions of other projects I want to try.
There are just so many different quilts I want to make.

As I've mentioned I fit quilting in around a full-time and a part-time job. The main satisfaction I get from my quilts is in giving them away. Because I do make the quick/easy patterns in just this year:
5 high school graduates from my church family have quilts
4 Quilts for Kids have gone to hospitalized children
5 new babies have been welcomed with quilts
2 new grandmothers were blessed with quilts
my mother had a new quilt for her birthday
2 co-workers who lost their jobs had quilts
1 retiring principal left with a quilt
my grandchildren had Grammy-made quilts to nap under at their pre-schools.....

I don't consider that work sloppy or rushed. I made what I could in the time I had to comfort/welcome/congratulate the people who received them.

As I worked through these simple projects love flowed through my hands. Perhaps the level of involvement represented in this thread will come to me later on, but for now .. I'll take this.

I had a deadline on the last quilt I made, but, since I don't have any deadlines, I am enjoying the process more. I am working on a log cabin for my sister. It's the first log cabin, and first strip that I am making, when I finish each block, I am enjoying more and more. Can't wait till I start putting the blocks together.

so far I seem to be a take my time and enjoy it kind of quilter (if I can be considered a quilter)... quilter in training hehe

I don't want to rush, even though I have a dozen ideas for more quilts floating around in my head... plus sometimes... the fabric is just so pretty I hate to cut into it.. (is that silly or what?)

Ditto, my reasoning too :)

Ditto, my reasoning too :)

I really enjoy every step of the process but once I get started I an anxious to see the finished product. I'm always thinking about the next project or something in my bucket list.

Quilterella, I'm exactly the same way. I love the fabric and project selection process! I love cutting the fabric (which is why I haven't bought an Accuquilt, etc.), but once I'm done with cutting I want the finished project.

When I only knew how to make log cabin quilts in the beginning I was racing to the finish, but now I just love the process of design, selecting fabric, piecing. I pay more attention to quality of my work this way, I just love the process.

I don't like to be fast and furious on my quilting. I do enjoy the process but there are times I get bored with a quilt and put it aside for awhile. That is how I get UFO's. I have finished 7 UFO's and have a few projects in progress but I like taking my time. If I hurry to much I make mistakes. Life is to hurry, hurry, hurry and there are times where a person just needs to enjoy life.

My name is Frankie and I was ashamed to admit that I binned a project! It was the fabric's fault, a Hot Wheels fabric that was not quality. Now I have justification! Yay, I'll make some place mats for the kids instead. I binned and I'm happy.

I am happy to hear that others are slow quilters. I sometimes feel bad when I am in a class or retreat and everybody is faster than I am. Has anyone ever literally done a "quilt in a day" It would take me at least a week.

I used to be much more of a race to the finish line kind of quilter, but over the years have become more of an enjoy the process...and sometimes there can even be almost a let down when I finish a quilt. I still like to have more than one project going at a time though, as my attention span on working on just one quilt wavers and I like to work with different colors/patterns.

Actually, when I have a serious deadline to meet, I don't really enjoy the process, it's like I'm afraid that "Haste makes waste." (LIKE RUSHING, I MIGHT RUIN SOMETHING AND I'M FEARFUL OF THAT.)

That is beautifully stated.

I like the process so much that it's taken me well over 2 years to complete my very first quilt top. Although, I must say, it's a Grandmother's Garden English paper pieces project, I've still relished in the pleasures of piecing the hexagons at just the right angle and selecting just the right coordinatng fabric. I didn't make a traditional flower pattern, my flowers are mostly symetrical with evenly placed hexagon pieces and the circle pattern on the flowers are not all one kind of fabric in a circle like the tradition flowers are made, if this makes sense. Sooo, anyhow, I am a love the process kinda gal too. I just started quilting when I found this pattern on the internet. I'm hand quilting, the whole quilt and I find that it's relaxing and sooo enjoyable. What's the rush ladies??? Sit back and enjoy. Life goes by wayyyy to fast as it is! ! ! ......

I don't race to finish, but I do find some quilts go together really fast (and others take forever). I just finished a Hallowe'en quilt (well, almost - working on binding) which I started on Sunday night and finished quilting on Wednesday. Not because I was in a hurry to finish, but because it was a quick & easy pattern, and really enjoyed working on it (so I spent hours on Monday in my sewing room).

Another quilt took weeks, because I could only do one or two blocks at a time (very detailed piecing, and lots of points to match up).

In any case, I think as long as you are enjoying the project, it doesn't matter how long it takes (although slower projects cost less per hour :) Go at your own pace, don't worry about the other quilter who finished 3 quilts last week, and enjoy your time.

I take my time. I am so happy now as I paid cash for a short arm machine and frame and got rid (sold it) of a longarm payment! I don't feel guilty now for taking my time as this is a hobby now and I got a great part-time job. Now I quilt for ONLY ME (and my family of course) and get back to why I love to quilt-for pure enjoyment!

It's not that I'm rushing, but I like to put as much time as possible in making a quilt just because I'm anxious to see what it will look like when it's finished.
And that makes people think I'm rushing ;)
I like to have several projects on hand on the same time but with all different techniques ..like one applique, one machinesewing and one hexagons.
But no more than that!

I have to say that depends on the project. Some projects are a spurr of the moment kind of thing, so I am rushing. But I still enjoy the process. I do still have projects that have been around longer than I want ot admit. The one I had hated to work on, I finally finished for my niece who liked it and wanted it. That did relieve me of a burden of sorts.

I used to be a "Race to the Finish" quilter. As I have grown in the art, I ENJOY THE PROCESS now. It has made it so much more enjoyable.

As for me I'm a newbie, soooooooooooooo I have to start with the easier blocks so I can learn and get better. We can't all be great right out of the gate. You make it sound like there is something wrong with the easier blocks. We all have to learn and some need a simple project due to time issues. The way I look at it is that no matter how you do the process as long as you enjoy what you are doing... is all that really matter. Happy Quilting and Even stitches.

I love taking my time to enjoy the process. I hate rushing as I simply find no joy in doing so.

I am sorry if it sounded like this. :cry: I certainly wasn't great out of the gate - my question was about patterns and projects that are marketed as 'quick' rather than easy. Nothing wrong with easy. And I agree with you entirely that it doesn't matter what you are doing as long as you enjoy the process. That was exactly the point I was trying to make. :-D

My favorite part is picking the fabric and pattern. I love putting together the colors to make a creation. I also like the cutting and piecing and getting it ready to put on the design board. At this point I stall. I don't especially like putting the blocks together and then the rows. I have a LA so I do enjoy the quilting process. I usually make large quilts so the binding process is long, but not hated. About the time I am putting the rows together I start thinking about my next quilt. Usually I won't let myself start the next quilt until I have finished the one I am working on.

K3N I've enjoyed this thread. Vondae, I'm also sorry if we hurt your feelings--certainly NOT intended.

Years ago there was a book out by Gail Sheehey called "Passages". It looked at all the stages (passages) we go through in our lives and how our opinions and outlooks and goals change. I think this applies to quilting. My first quilt was an Irish Chain with 12" center blocks and 4" chain blocks--huge! But I couldn't wait to finish it and start another one and another one. This went on until I started to have more time to work on more difficult (and slower) projects. Now I have all the time I want to quilt and I don't mind taking a week to make one block. That is the "passage" I'm in right now in my life. We have to enjoy and embrace each "passage" in our own way--no judgements, just sharing and enjoying.

Thanks Jan - and I can relate to the passages thing - life is a journey and quilting is such a huge part of our lives, why shouldn't that be a journey too? :-)

IM like the whole proces, too. Sometimes I hvae to get something done and start racing. I find the sewing of piece after piece very relaxing, almost hypnotic or meditative.

Where do you get a job quilting? I want a job like that!

I'm a relatively new quilter, I have been quilting only for a couple of years now. At first I was making more basic designs just to learn and make something useful. Now that I've been working on quilts for awhile I can see that the rushing method I used to do inhibits my creativity. I'm just now learning to slow it down a bit and not be afraid to spend some time learning a new technique or doing something I love. It has the added benefit of costing less money when I focus on detail and improving my skills, since I'm not constantly running through fabric.

I'm with you guys on the hating to do the same block over and over. I'd much rather do something different every block. :-)

Self-employed! I exhibit and sell a bit, do a few commissions and I give talks and teach workshops. It's more a means of justifying my hobby at the moment but I really enjoy it and it's gathering momentum. DH still pays the bills! :lol:

I take my time. My flaw is that I tend to tire of a project before it's completed, consequently, I've always got 3 or 4 projects going at one time.

It's all about the process for me! I quilt because it's an enjoyable, soothing activity that gives me a creative outlet. I do sometimes pick quilt piecing designs that don't take too long when I'm making bed quilts on a deadline though. I started out this fall to make one quilt for my granddaughter for Christmas, and as other family members saw me working on it, I've gotten requests for 3 more. And we're talking bed-quilt-size here. So...I've been using designs with large pieces, and looking at them as an opportunity for FMQing creativity! I'm currently working on #3 of 4, and should finish in plenty of time. Regardless of the size of the blocks, I pay close attention to matching points, seams, etc. as I always want to do the best work possible and constantly improve my technique. That's a large part of what I enjoy about quilting.

After Christmas I'll be starting on my very own Thirteenth Fandago! I've got the fabrics all picked out and ready to go, and am looking forward to my first paper piecing project. It's been difficult to put it away and leave it alone while I get the Christmas quilts done, but gives me something to look forward to starting later.

I consider quilting an artistic pursuit, and wish I could work at it full-time like you do. But for now, I do it as time allows around a full-time career and other interests and commitments.