Awhile ago, a dear friend was having mega-troubles in her life, so I set about making a quilt for her to wrap up in. Long story short, quilt got done...it did not turn out as envisioned, but sent it anyway. She LOVES it, and wraps up in it every night!! So to non-quilters our work looks good. I loved it that she only gave compliments!!

I have been quilting for more than 40 years. I am a handquilter and that part I have down pat. The piecing etc. are always a chore. All of my quilts are made to be used. The important part for me is that the item gets finished in a reasonable amount of time. Fabric is not a finate medium. The older I get the less willing I am to drive myself crazy reaching for perfection in the piecing etc. My husband is a machininst and he tells me that even metal can stretch and warp due to temperture changes etc. Fabric is much less stable. If I spent all of my time trying to be perfect none of my quilts would ever be ready to use. I am amazed by the quality of the piecing in the quilts that are posted on this site. I wouldn't begin to attempt most of them. I would however enjoy handquilting them.

generally WE are our own worst critics....walk away and then take a look again..it is just wonderful!

If you REALLY want to feel depressed about your quilting, go to a quilt show, especially a large show. LOL LOL I have been quilting for nearly 30 years and have definitely improved over the years but I feel the same way as you do. Recently, I was putting together an applique large wall hanging, got to a certain spot and decided it was so bad that I came "that" close to throwing the whole thing away. However, I had so much work into it that I just shoved it up on a shelf. Much later I came across it , got to looking at it and it didn't seem so bad after all so I am now in the process of finishing it. Hang in there, it is surprising how much your work seems to improve when it gets a little age on it. LOL

I love the way you think! My quilts will definitely be used! :D

I truly thought it was just me. I have been quilting for many years and couldn't wait to retire so I could quilt all I wanted. We also moved to a new town and I do not know anyone except a couple of neighbors. I'm needing some friends now that I have those first few weeks of getting settled and actually finishing up some UFQ's. I have put off attending their quilt guild because I think I am just not up to the standards. But today, after reading these comments I am going to go to their Monday Morning meeting. I've never met a quilter I didn't like and who wasn't friendly. Plus I know from previous experience with a quilting group I always learn something that improves my work. Wish me luck.

My most recent quilt has several blocks that truly do not match up and its obivious. However, I chose to leave them - I'm not perfect and it kinda adds to the scrappy feeling of it - so I left them. I was viewing a quilting video last week and it was so out there her corners don't always match either. So I stopped being so hard on myself and I am loving my newest quilt.

I, too, have been quilting not quite 5 years and feel the same way you do. I always tell myself at least THIS one was good practice and the Salvation Army will be happy to accept it. But my quilts rarely go there in the end, usually I come to terms with them somehow....

I agree with kapatt, I recently saw a quilt that I had made about 15 years ago for a friend. I was amazed how beautiful it is as I did not remember that quilt being great and I know I have made better ones after that.

When I started quilting I joined a local guild. There were several excellent quilters in the group who were very generous with their help. I would look at their work and would be very critical of my work. I was a very good sewer, but had never quilted so it was a whole new learning curve. When I look back on those quilts I have to admit they look pretty good. I was just too hard on myself.

Now 16 years later I am lot more confident and accomplished, but I have to admit the first projects were lots more fun even though they were not as well done. So much of my time is spent trying to bust stash or finish class projects or old projects that have been sitting for a few years. I seem to have lost the thrill someplace. I hope to get back to that excitement even if the work isn't perfect. Donna C