I have material cut to make a lap quilt (double irish chain) for my mom for Christmas, but can't seem to get myself going to start sewing. MOTIVATE ME.....I know once I get going there will be no stopping me, but I just can't seem to find the time. I know, I should get off the computer :D I guess I just feel I need a whole day or it's hardly worth getting started. Anybody else have that problem, and what do you do to get moving?

I have that problem all the time. I would rather sit and look at all of your work than clear off the table and get everything out to start on my on work. I usually have about 20-30 minutes, and it hardly seems worth the effort. Maybe in my next life?

I know what you mean. I don't have a sewing room, just my dining room table. Thats why if I can't sew all day, it's just to much work to set everything up. I do like seeing everybody elses work too.

Maybe the idea of needing an entire day is daunting. Try to find a block of just two hours or so to get started. Pick out a book on CD from the library or line up a few hours of your favorite music and make your environment one you want to be in. Reward yourself at the end of two hours with something you want - a bite of candy, 30 minutes on the computer, a phone call to a friend. Maybe once you start you'll want to keep going. After that set a goal to do just 2 blocks at a time and give yourself permission to walk away if you want to stop when you get them done.

On Ninnies Picture post of her navy and white quilt...she cuts out all of her fabric, bags and labels it... Then she can take out one blocks worth of pieces and sew it... Maybe this would work for you too??? she has a tute there with better explanations on the last page, I think :wink:

I know how daunting it is to set up, sew just for a few minutes then have to clean all the junk away again. UGH!!! Can you find a little cubby hole somewhere so you can leave your machine set up? I used to have mine on top of my washer....you can't get worse than that! I've graduated to a corner of a bedroom now...Its still just a pitiful tiny space, but...I can at least jump in there for a few minutes and get going!

Now go...go find a spot to call your own.....what are you waiting for??? Go ON!!!

I have a very small space in the dining room for my machine. At least I can leave it set up. I had to wait til DGD (she lives with me) was old enough so I felt like she wouldn't mess with it. I did solve that problem by setting up a small workstation next to mine with her own Sew-Mini sewing machine. Now we can sew together.

Maybe think of the quilt in blocks instead of the "whole" project, then you won't get overwhelmed. Sometimes when you think of the Whole it just doesn't seem worth the effort , because you think I won't get enough done to justify spending time getting everything out and then putting it away. But if you think I can get 4 blocks done today WOW and then when can I do four more ? It gives you a little taste of success and leaves you wanting to do more :wink:
Sharon

Why move it off the table? If that is your only space then claim it.

I sometimes have a hard time getting started on projects after I'm done with one. My motivation comes from watching others on this board, browsing the internet for new blocks, reading quilting magazines and looking through my stash thinking what can I do with this? I claimed an entire bedroom for my sewing, but still have trouble sometimes getting in there. Just start small, set a goal of a few blocks. Success breeds success. Good luck! I'm pulling for you!! :D :D

We haven't been able to do a lot lately, but we do keep the sewing set up in the dining room. Whenever I have a half hour or more I sit down and cut or sew a block. I have been able to complete a half dozen of the 24 blocks we need for the last 2 niece quilt tops for Christmas. :-)

I don't know if that helps, but it does pay to dedicate 30 minutes here and there if you can spend hours at a time dedicated to a project.

Darren

This happens to all of us. When I first joined the board I was in a big rut. Looking at lots of quilts, but not sewing any. then I made a square for someone who was making a quilt for a cancer patient, and that got me going. Having a deadline to do something for someone else helped me , and now I can't stop sewing! :D :D Set a small goal, and then go from there!
sit down with your stash and handle it for awhile , maybe that will work also.
And , I am still making squares for others! this is a great motivation.

I always feel unmotivated... don't know why!!

Go look through the pictures threads and then you'll feel motivated to post your progress & completed pictures in there.

Go post the pictures of the cut up fabric and that might motivate you to get started so you can start to picture what the finished product will look like.

thanks everyone, these are all great suggestions. I do have my sewing machine set up at all times, so that isn't it. I have to cook hotdogs today on a golf course for a golf tournament fund raiser, so today is out, but there is always tomorrow, and hey you never know I might get "sick" one day this next week and have to stay home from work. :lol: I know once I get started again I will be on it. The idea of a few blocks at a time is a good one....thanks again :thumbup:

Do you have room, maybe in a corner, that you could put a small table that could be your sewing table? That way, you don't have to clear off the dining table to be able to eat, I know exactly what you mean, it's a lot of work to set up, only to have to clear it off again. My husband says I may just have to sew inside the "house" this year, since my "sewing room" has absolutely NO insulation and I really don't want to do that because I know I won't get anything done.

I do have a small sewing table (it came from one of those old sewing machines where the machine folded down into it) and I have it set up in my living room. I whine, but it's more motivation than anything, and it is getting closer to Christmas all the time, so I know soon enough it will be crunch time.

Hey tarib...I just had a thought...pretend that you signed up for a swap and have a deadline...now, if thats not motivation :shock: Oh....you could actually sign up for a swap if you want, there are a few that have deadlines of Oct. 15th and Oct. 31...and they still have room!

I have your problem too and sometimes it is a chore to clear the dishes from the table before I can set up, and when I feel in the mood its time to put the dishes back on the table. So I started to hand sew some of mine, it works for me. I do try to give myself an 1hr every day, but Sunday is the best day for machine sewing for me,

Elle

All such great ideas! Hope one works :lol:

My biggest problem is the guilt I feel when I am sewing...and knowing there are other things (cleaning house, preparing for school, etc) that I should be doing. Like you, I also sometimes I think I need a bigger span of time or I will really not be accomplishing anything on my quilt. I simply have to make myself take snippets of time..15 minutes here, 30 minutes there when I am working on a project. I also find it helps if I take the time in advance to get everything cut out and prepped for my project. Maybe if you could put on a movie or some music and carve out the time to get the project ready, then you could snatch snippets of time out of your day to sew.

Well I have the first step at least, the strips are cut. The weather was just to darn nice this weekend...and we have had so little of it I hate to waste it. I don't want a rainy weekend, but I think thats what I need....

I know what your problem is.....
As long as the machine won't be "ready to sew" ...you will never find the right time to sit in front of it...(too much efforts just to think "rearanging the machine)....You must have it always ready so you will be sewing constantly even for 5 minutes each time....
(I would give up the idea of having a dinning room ...make it your sewing room....You can still eat very well in the kitchen...
Good luck :lol:

I have been meeting so many new quilting friends on Facebook whose talent and creativity are amazing and inspiring. The down side is that in doing that your taking time away you could be sewing.
Someone shared a while back that if your life is really hectic and you are having a hard time finding a day to devote to quilting, sit and sew for an hour here and there. They add up!

When I can't get motivated, I use the "10-minute timer". I set a kitchen timer for 10 minutes and promise I can quit working as soon as the timer goes off. Usually by that time I have gotten interested in the task, whatever it is, and want to continue for another 10 minutes, and then another..... This is really helpful for doing household tasks, but works for sewing too.

I told a friend about this, and she later thanked me for the idea. She is a college professor and needed to write some big paper she'd been putting off. She set her timer for *2 hours* and said she couldn't believe how much she got accomplished. I guess that's why she's the college professor and I'm not........ :wink:

Making myself do something for just a a short period of time works for me as well. Feels strange to say that you have to make yourself do it when it's a hobby that you enjoy, but I find it's my energy that's lacking.....so I make myself do it for just 10 minutes.....then I usually find myself still there an hour later thinking I should be going to bed....I have to get up for work tomorrow morning LOL

I haven't had a working timer in the house for years, except the one on the stove and you have to get up and turn it off. I think I am on my way to get one now. Or at least add it to my list of chores for today and of course sitting here doesn't help that list get any shorter... Everyone have a blessed day...

GO GO GO!!!!! lol :lol:

i know its hard to get started sometimes...took me three days just to cut out my pieces for my next project...and i havent touched my sewing machine....here's what i do...my hubby HAD to have cable, and sometimes the shows are pretty good. but...stop watching! it isnt real!!!lol

honestly, i try to think of ways to get it done...could the dishes wait just one day?!? or plan a day...like a lazy sunday or something to get a great start. as I have read and figured out on my own, where the is a quilting will, there is a way!!!! Good luck and GO GO GO!!!

You mean you actually EAT in your dining room? lol

The double irish chain is one of the most beautiful quilts I have ever done. You will be so rewarded and one you get going it goes together fast.
Set aside 2 hours and get it put into piles so you can just sew and not get up for things and they GO FOR IT. You will be so happy with yourself
Red hen

When I hit my "block", get stuck in neutral, or rut. I then set a time to sew, it seems to get the creative juices going again. Try that.

I get up at 5:30 in the morning in order to machine quilt on my long arm machine, then at 7 I leave for work, I work unitl 4:30 then I go home and start sewing on projects from about 5:30-8:00. I am almost 63 years old and I hate that I can't get more done in the day like I use to

Wake up in the morning, talk to yourself about what you going to get done that day and get busy.....that's what I do

gook luck, Christmas eve is three months from tonight

Regina

regina wrote: ....Christmas Eve is three months from tonight! :shock:

Yikes!!! one year, I took a bunch of empty boxes and wrote each family member's name on them, and told myself, "You don't have to make something for everybody...just skip the boxes you don't really love that much!"
Worked like a charm :wink:

My sewing room is in the basement right next to the washing machine. While I am doing the laundry I cut and sew. You don't feel guilty because you're doing laundry. :D

I'm relieved that I am not the only one that feels this way. I have to do my housework before I can "settle down" to sew!

When this happens to me, I just say to myself that I am just going to go out for an hour. Hours later, I wander back into the house--sometimes missing lunch!!

While reading this post today, I was also stuck, couldn't get up but did muster up enough energy to walk outside & pick up broken limbs that blew down in the recent rains/storms. When I came back in, I saw the pieces I'm working on for Doll Quilt & the pants I'm working on for alterations. I did work on both of them & got some done. I did two loads of laundry in between. Move your location.

I have a small (and I do mean small) quilt that I am making for my cat. (she gave me 5 kittens in April). I just cannot seem to get it done. The four blocks are together and the hand quilting is started, but I got too fancy. I am doing shapes of fish. I am getting bored with it and wish it was done. I told myself that I will do one fish a day before I do anyting else. I just have to make myself get up and go into the sewing room.

I know it is tough, but try to picture your Mom's face when she gets it. Maybe even put a picture of her in your sewing room.........

Sounds like rain on Sunday and I took Monday off......so hopefully I'm on my way.................. :D

Perhaps you can find time to make one block, or sew for an hour. I will sometimes talk myself out of sewing because I feel I have to sit and sew all day or it isn't worth it. So, I never start on anything. Lately, I have been sewing for an hour a day and recently completed a charity quilt in about 2 weeks time. Like Nike says......JUST DO IT. :)

I STARTED SEWING TODAY. I think I know what my problem was/is. I love the idea of the double irish chain, I think I'm not loving the colors I picked. This is for my mother and her colors are very 70's (gold's, browns, some blue). My friend helped me pick the fabric, and I didn't know about them, but I have to use them. Hopefully when I get it put together I will like it. I know my mom will love it no matter what, so at least I don't have to worry about that. I will post some pictures when I get some of it done.