Getting Through the Tough Parts
 

How do you get through the "tough" parts of a quilt?

The parts that aren't easy, are a bit of an uphill battle that you have to do in order to get to the fun parts that you enjoy?

I'm currently doing the machine quilting on a piece and quilting lines of 2" flying geese using a ruler...and really not enjoying it, it's so persnickity. I've never picked out so much in my life. I really feel like this quilt is on "hold" because I can't get this part done. And, it has to be done before I can do the rest.

So, do you just forge ahead and get those parts done? Or do you do a bit and leave it and work on something else?

Watson

Both. Sometimes I really push myself to get it done, more often I work on it for a while ( commit an hour or two then can work on something else each time I go in to sew) it depends on the project, the problem and any time restraints. Sometimes I just change my plan.....I hate this method, I’m going to do * this* instead. Then,it all goes better.

Just keep telling yourself to get it done, and the sooner you get though the liver n onions the faster the dessert comes. But the pain is real, I just force myself to deal with challenges to the point I’m comfortable doing it again, because we all know it will come again. I’m the type that I just dive in and get it done so I can move on, But I have to be in the right frame of mind, and that can take me a few days to get me there. I can’t wait to see what your working on, you do such amazing work!

I give myself permission to start something new and exciting, and then "force" myself to put in some time periodically to get it done. I've had a few quilts get started, and then I've gotten to a sticky part so I take a break and piece an easier, fun quilt.

Hi Watson, First of all none of my work is up to par with yours. Having said this- there are times when frustration forces me to put something aside and find something fun- then go back to it when I'm in a better head.
Good luck, can't wait to see the fabulous results! I love your work.

Do you have a "real" deadline for this? or just a self-imposed one?

Maybe just stare at it for a few days -

That’s what my UFO pile is for LOL! Is there any way you can leave it set up and ready to quilt but also do other things in your studio? I have several machines, so if it’s something tedious, then I can move to doing another project on a different machine and just go back and do the tedious project a little at a time.

Also, are you being more critical of your ruler work than you need to be? I have at times decided to tear out stitches when working with rulers (if for example, my attention wavered and I really deviated off the ruler), but have also found that sometimes I can leave the mishaps alone and when the piece is finished they aren’t nearly as glaring as I thought they’d be while I was working on it....

Rob

Oh, Watson, this is a universal problem known to all of us! If it isn't ruler work, it is something else. Right now, I am looking at a small quilt that has to have some ditch stitching taken out-I did the stitching yesterday. I have some bias stretch because I went down one row and up the next. But, I am determined that it will not be an UFO so this will be my first project of the day. Your post reminds me that I am not alone-I will get to the project after I finish with this board.

Usually I move on to something else. But lately I'm forcing myself to keep going because I have way too many unfinished projects. I feel your pain because it takes the fun out of it, but I figure it feels good to get it done.

all good suggestions. One additional thing I do is listen to audio books. I try not to listen unless I am doing something productive or waiting in car pool etc. Once I get caught up in a story it makes the time fly.

I do 99% of my quilting on a Brother 1500. I save the intricate quilting for small projects and only do crosshatch or spiral quilting on large quilts. I don't have want to, time, or patience to quilt around any block design over and over. I use the quilt rulers when I do QAYG.

Sometimes just walking away and leaving project and thoughts of it behind, gives you a chance to do something else and when you return to the project, you may have a whole different outlook or plan to make it easier. Remember that when it is done, it is ALL worth it. Good luck.

Might it help you to look for other methods to do your geese? Lots of people use the " make them a little larger and trim to size" method. Right now I'm working on 2 at once because one is a very intricate Lion King machine appliqué. I do one block of L K and do 2 or 3 pieced blocks for the other one.

I Have been making quilts for foster kids. Nothing fancy or intricate using scraps. I never reach the point where you are. So I have not suggestions for you. I sew 4-5 hours a day, if I really am not in the mood for that day, then I do something else.

Thanks, Jokir, I'm actually quilting geese, using a ruler, but that's a good idea.

Thanks everyone for the great ideas. I'm going to take a break and go back to it after a bit.
I've been staring at it (Thanks, Bearisgray) and I think it will be easier if I start from the other end of the line.
I'm doing it on my DSM and I watched a video on the ruler before I bought it but they were using a long arm. It sure looks a lot easier, with the long arm! (If, of course, you know how to use a long arm.)

Watson

I just assign myself to work on it for one hour every day (or every other day). Then it gets done. It might get done later than originally planned, but it won't be undone forever. This is different from a part that is simply too hard - I leave it for a bit and step back to see if there is another way of doing it. Yes, I've taken out huge parts of a quilt that wasn't working and redone them. That is why I make sure to use a large stitch. :)

I'm a new quilter - now quilting a sandwich which will be my first [finished] quilt for charity for our guild.
Don't laugh but the tough part for me is thread-handling - knotting & burying my threads.

Yesterday I realized that the last 3 feet of stitching was no stitching at all --- ran out of bobbin thread. Turned the back over and found more than a few threads that needed treatment, so I walked out of my sewing room. It was such an automatic reaction haha.
I decided to take up the challenge today which I did and now I am ready to proceed with the rest of the quilting.
So: thread problems - that's where I go off the rails.

When I find when I am frustrated I walk away maybe for 5 min., maybe 5 days. I find if I push through it I get sloppy and accept lesser work than I truly think I am capable of. Your work is truly amazing Watson!
I took a binding basics class just to get help with my corners not coming together as well as I wanted or liked when I was ready to hand stitch, still not where I hoped it would be. I've watched over and over the YouTube tutorial videos where the corners meet on the initial attempt. I find this mind boggling.

K-roll! This used to be my worst nightmare. I really disliked the "knot and bury" part of quilting until I started using the "self-threading" needles. Now it is a snap and I no longer dislike that part of quilting.

I have tried the "top" insert type and the "side" insert type and I prefer the side threading needles the best. Just purchased a whole set. They are a bit expensive but give it a try. They are really worth it! IMHO! Yolanda

I do the same. It really does make a difference!

That is a really good idea. I think I will do that tomorrow to get my binding done.

That is what chocolate and wine are for! Also take a break for a day or 2 if you can. I am working on a quilt with a difficult block. I need 8 of them. I made 3 that are nearly perfect. I can't make them any more. I have ripped so many times I have ruined the fabric. It is all bias edges. I had to order more fabric. I threw it aside for a few weeks. Hopefully I can do them now. I am using my precious stash of Kaffe Fasset fabric for this quilt. I have another quilt I want to use it for and I can't start that until this one is finished.

I am with Phyllis! Your work is amazing so keep chipping away. We all love that you share with us.

I am just a utility piecer for charity quiltsl. If there's something I don't like doing, I either don't do it or hire it done by my betters and most all of you are my betters, LOL! My talents and my pleasures are in cutting and piecing simple tops for those in need and/or crisis. On the rare occasion I need to do something I am not confident of, I look here or on Youtube for help and that helps me get it done and behind me. Trust me, at my age, I don't let that happen often but this help is there if I need it. I am grateful and blessed to be part of a charity bee that has many, many talented people who love doing different parts of the process. I love being able to do what I like and only that for many hours each day. You'll get there. {{{Hugs}}}

Listening to an audio book is a good idea - especially if the work is simply tedious and repetitive. I see myself in so many posts here. If I push too hard, I get sloppy. If I walk away too often, it doesn't get done. I'm pretty good at working in short increments to stay focused on a project. But sometimes, quilting loses its pleasure.

I forge ahead. If it goes into the closet it’s liable to never come out.

I may leave it for a day or two but pick away at it a little here and there...I am lucky that I don’t have many UFO’s and most of my quilts are gifts with a deadline or holiday. Good luck!

at a class with Krista Withers, she showed a method where you draw the rectangle (assuming you are making several stacked) and then divide into 2 lenght-wise, then draw horizontal lines so you end up with 2 sets of boxes side-by-side. Then to quilt you do a bottom, side, diagonal to center line, over to edge, etc. I creates a zigzag. At the top you come back down. I'll try to draw this but my computer skills are shakey.[ATTACH=CONFIG]583452[/ATTACH]

What works for me - always allow myself to be imperfect. Done is far better than perfect.

I have to say I forge ahead. One year shortly after I started quilting I signed up for a free BOM. At the time, I hadn't realized it was a modern quilt which I don't care for. By forging ahead with it, I learned a whole lot of new things about quilting & when the top was finished & I was about to have a burning party, my granddaughter asked for it as she really liked it. So I got a backing I could deal with and quilted that side for her. She still loves it and takes real good care of it. Sometimes the lesson learned is just perseverance! :-)

Tartan and I must be twin sisters from a different mother!!! Chocolate, emergency chocolate, at all times is in the sewing room. If I really start grumbling, I will have a chocolate and turn up the happy music instead of beating my head against the wall.......even a cup of coffee or soda might help my mood to deal with the hateful task.

c
Tartan, that's exactly what I was gonna say. I read the post and thought, "Chocolate." As in , "first eat the chocolate, and then do the things." LOL It can rewire a brain and put you in a better mood.

Other times I set the blasted quilt aside but give it a statute of limitations for sitting, and make an appointment with it. "I will work on this on Wednesday night from 7:30 till 8." That way it's got a "shelf life" of x number of days, and might stop nagging you.

This is what I do too. But I write it on the "do List", just move it down a priority or two. Do something else that is a little more fun, then get back at it. I live by the elephant for dinner rule, one bite at a time....but it is ok to eat something else sometimes.

The tough parts for me are usually making decisions. When I come to some point where I start to waffle about whether I really want to use the border I planned or maybe do an entirely different color, that's where I get hung up and the project becomes a UFO - sometimes for years! - until inspiration strikes. Another sticking point is if I discover some large mistake that has to be frogged and redone. Groan. If I have a specific plan for the quilt, such as a wedding coming up, usually the deadline is enough to prod me past the difficulty, and in hindsight it almost always turns out to be much less of a big deal than it seemed to be.

I do tend to save myself a lot of grief by not even attempting anything as difficult as your whole cloth work appears to be! Your efforts will definitely be worth it in the end.

Quiltingshorttimer, I see what you mean, thanks. Lovely work.

Watson

Anytime I have a big project I am dreading, I set a timer and work on it that amount of time. Then, if I don't want to stop, I continue. But, if I am still not enjoying the process, I stop. It helps me no matter what I am doing. Cleaning the garage is another one I use this method with. After a few timer sessions it is amazing how I get over the hump and have it almost finished. I have to admit, it really makes you feel good to have worked on it and encourages you to get it finished.

Put on some really good music, set the timer for...say, an hour and go to it. An hour won't hurt you. You'll get through it. Tomorrow, do it again.

~ C

An interesting audio book in my headphones really helps me get into the zone. With my new phone I can listen to NPR do that's good, too. I helps me keep at it instead of getting antsy. And there's usually chocolate in the drawer of the 301's cabinet, and Delicious Red in the box in the kitchen. Ya know, in case of emergency, lol.

Just curious...what block pattern ends up,with all bias edges? Can you maybe cut the blocks to end up with on grain
edges- might help in not having to rip out? Just a thought.