Every time I quilt I feel like I'm "supposed" to be doing something else. Like cleaning or working. I have the most ideal job one could ask for and yet, I'd rather be playing with fabric.

I need to find some balance, but that's so much easier said than done.

We all have been there or are there now. Good Luck and never feel guilty about doing something you love. Remember to take time for yourself so you can better serve others.

Just don't feel guilty while you are quilting for it is something to be proud about....could be doing something unworthwhile and then you could feel guilty. I know we get behind sometimes on other things but what the heck, we only live once and quilting is definitely a plus in our lives. Happy quilting. :)

You know, I have worked hard for many years to try and overcome this guilt every time I am doing something I enjoy, sewing, scrapbooking, even reading. My husband has no problem sitting for hours watching sports on TV or leaving to play golf for a good five hours. He never criticizes me for doing my hobbies yet I still carry the guilt bug on my shoulder. Is it a female thing????

I am a happier more productive person if I give myself some time for what I love. So.......I don't feel guilty.

Don't feel guilty over doing something that IS productive, makes you feel happy, and is a healthy outlet :D:D:D

I feel guilty about not quilting when I am stuck doing laundry and vacuuming. :lol:

If you were out in bars and on the streets - now that you should quilty about. Quilting- never :)

I tell myself, "When I get this done (whatever this is) then I am going to quilt for awhile." DH encourages me to quilt, still the guilt is there.

I wonder if it is a women thing too, maybe the old saying a womens work is never done is true.
JulieM

It is a generation of women thing. Those of us over 50 (and a few younger) were raised that it is our job to keep the house clean, cook nourishing meals (3), take care of every one else in the household, and always wear a smile and look good for DH. We weren't supposed to have time for ourselves. Get over it - this is the 21st century! We now know that we are no good for anything if we aren't good to ourselves.

You said it sister, Im with you! :thumbup:

I fit in that age range mentioned above. And I really don't remember my own mother doing her own pleasurable hobbies while I was growing up. It's a shame. She put off things that would have made her happier (and emotionally healthier) in the long run. I sometimes feel the guilt but I know it's best not to just live through our family members...if that makes sense.

That sounds like the "old" me. I made myself a nervous wreck trying to do it all. Not anymore!! Now I do just what I want to do, when I want too. And it is soooooo much better!

Guilt is a totally useless emotion.
I try not to entertain it.

If your family isn't starving and the health department hasn't condemned your house then you are doing OK. Enjoy your quilting without guilt.

Pat

can i join that club lol

Yes, it is a woman thing :roll: We were taught by our mothers that we are supposed to be "housekeepers" and everything should be clean and tidy all the time. My mother didn't quilt but did sew everything we wore, curtains, everything. Quilting now is looked at as a "pasttime" or hobby so we feel guilty that we aren't doing the household things. To me it is important to feed the soul, and for me that is sewing and quilting. Our families wouldn't be very happy to live with us if we were just a drudge.

I agree with this ... and when my college-aged daughter comes home and complains about the state of the house (this is the daughter that I don't think I saw the floor of her room but once a year while a teenager!) and how none of her brothers help out ... I think that life will even it all out. And we are working on the brothers helping out, just if I spend too much of my time nagging/reminding ... I get very cranky and don't like myself very much. Would rather have a little clutter.

I'm in that "June Cleaver as a role model" age group (64) as well. But I've decided on a different approach. If I don't get some of my fabric used up making quilts,..... what will my daughter do with all that stash???? I need to keep quilting ...... daughter and sister-in-law are already quibbling over who will get the quilt in my avitar once I'm gone.... I'd better keep quilting. It might keep the kids happier.

I have ALWAYS been unable to quilt with a house that needs cleaning. When I have the house spic and span I enjoy quilting so much more. I guess both have a therapy affect on a person - clean house, great quilting. Wow, that sound like something my Mother would have said like she always told me "clean in the corners" and the rest will take care of itself.

I feel guilty because I don't spend enough time quilting. I have all this great stuff, patterns, fabric and I don't get to spend nearly as much time as I like or feel I need to quilting.

I'm just 54, and now just have my adult son live with me and I still can't have a day for ME unless the house is PERFECT! My Son doesn't care- it's just me. I just feel like I have to discipline myself or I feel guilty. I guess it has it's good and bad points! I have a sewing room that I can close the door to, so that part isn't an issue thank goodness :-)

I know just what you mean, so now I take the time or set aside a day to quilt, paint, sew or go bumming, I earned it.

Carol J.

It's a "woman" thing from past generations. Even though most of us work outside the home now, we still come home to our second job of kids, meals and cleaning. Men have no problem with their hobbies, golf, sports, etc. and we should learn from them. We deserve our time, too. It's just harder to find that time. Enjoy your hobby whenever you can!

Thankfully, I see a lot of the younger generation of men helping with the kids and such.

I feel your pain. My housework is constantly being postponed because quilting is so much more fun and fulfilling than dusting. Unfortunately my best friend, who is not a quilter, is an exemplary housekeeper and I want to hide in shame when she comes over. I always advise her to come on a cloudy day and DON'T wear black!

I feel quilty sewing or quilting. The day goes by so fast, that is the only thing I have done, is quilt or sew. I do take care of the high points in the house. No dirty dishes.

I agree with all of the above! Think of quilting as something we do for us! How would you like to be remembered in the future? For what a great housekeeper you were, or for what beautiful quilts you made! I use to try & do it all, & make everyone in the house happy, but I got over that, & it took a long time. Now, I pretty much quilt when I want to quilt. It's just the two of us now, with hardly every any company at the house here, so I clean when I want to clean, when it bugs me, otherwise, I have more enjoyable & productive pastimes to fill my days & I am so much happier this way! The guilt is still there, at times, but most of the time, it's shoved to the back of my mind, lol...

Excellent outlook!

I have felt the same way, and so I just assign myself one or several (whatever works) tasks each day. When those are finished, my time is my own. I accomplish something, and I get to quilt without guilt. I've also done it so that I quilt until a certain time, then stop and do some task, then go back to quilting until a certain time. You can set a timer too. This works for me, and I no longer feel guilty.

I feel sorry for all of you that are so bound to housework you feel guilty doing anything else. Dust is a protective covering for furniture and should be disturbed as little as possible.

I love your quilt in your avitar too! Can I quibble with them? :) :) :)

bsalance to me is working on two or more quilts at the same time

I don't feel guilty when I quilt. I figure that most things will still be there when I am done quilting. I do the same thing in the summer time when I want to ride motorcycles with my husband. The laundry, dishes and dust bunnies won't go anywhere. So enjoy!

Hear, Hear!! I was about to say there must be something wrong with me - I NEVER feel guilty doing crafts. If you knew you were going to die tomorrow what would you be doing - cleaning house or quilting? I say let my daughter worry about the dirty house. And I'm in the over 70 group.

Oh, I agree! I used to be very picky about the house...I couldn't relax if the house wasn't clean! And this was when I was working 40 hrs a week! I worked in retail Tues. Thru Sat, Had Sun and Mon off. I would always clean my house and do laundry on Sun. And then I would TRY to be able to have Mon. for me. But that hardly ever happened....there were always errands....grocery shopping , Doc appts, etc. Evan after the kids were grown and on their own and I retired I was Kind of "anal". Well 5 years ago when I turned fifty it just seemed like my whole attitude changed. I don't stress if I miss a day vaccuming the floor...The dog hair will still be there tomorrow LOL. My house is always tidy and "surface clean" but I don't worry so much if it is not spotless. Life is too short! I figure when I die are people going to remember me because my house was clea? Or will it be because I was a good person?

I agree wholeheartedly.

I never feel guilty. Quilting makes me happy thus making hubby happy.

When I first started quilting, I would allow myself to do so only after I had completed my chores. I mentioned that to a long-time quilter, and she laughed and told me I'd never get anything done (in quilting) and that housework would always be there. So I just don't think about it when I want to quilt, I quilt. No guilt, no recriminations.

Course, the house probly liked it the other way............LOL

Here,here.

I'm over the 60 age and do feel guilty sometimes but I figure if things are done, I can enjoy what I love. I'm not going to bars, casinos or running around. Even my mom will say, "did you get your cleaning done or washing done?" I tell her of course!!! Nothing is falling apart, we have food, clothes are clean so QUILTING I GO.