I figured it out!
 

It just struck me why I'm having such a hard time deciding and designing and finishing quilts. It's the quilting part. I don't currently have the skills to quilt and I can't afford to have someone else do it. Quilting takes a so-so quilt and elevates it to something magical. I'm not so worried about the ones for kids, they'll love it with mistakes and all. It's the ones for adults that have me terrified....what if they don't like my quilting.....what if I make noticeable mistakes, etc...... (Oops, the What If monster got out again.) Now, I'm paralyzed with fear. How do I get past this? Help, I'm drowning in a lake of negativity.

When I was learning to quilt I made several blocks out of scraps and quilted on them until I ready to try with a quilt. It worked well for me. When I started with a quilt I went slow and if I made a mistake I fixed it and kept going. Good luck with your quilts.

I make quilts because I love making things with a sewing machine. Nothing I make is perfect, far from it. It doesn't really bother me that my homemade items are not perfect when I give them as a gift. It was made with love and given with love and that's all I need to know.

If the adults you want to make quilts for are truly "quilt worthy" they will appreciate all of your hard work. Most of the time any little boo boos you make won't ever show once you have washed and dried the quilt. Just have fun and don't stress over everything so much. There are things that will make quilting easier. You will need a pair of quilting gloves to help you move the quilt around. If you can, put a table on the left side to hold the weight of the quilt off of the floor and the rest of the quilt in your lap. Keep turning the quilt so you are quilting toward the outside border. Puddle the quilt under the needle and quilt in about a 8" area at a time. Cover your sewing surface with clear plastic you can buy at JoAnn's. You don't need but about 1/2 yard. I taped it to my sewing table and cut a small hole where the needle goes into the hole to make the quilt slide easier.. Use the same thread in the bobbin as on the machine.Also watch LOTS of You Tube videos. You can do this and it will look great.

Ok everybody, jump in here. What have I left off or do you have better suggestions for Margie. Just take a deep breath and practice on small layered pieces like mug rugs before you try a quilt.

oh do not worry-most of what we quilters call mistakes are not even noticed by non sewers.just start small ,get fired up and tackle your projects.I have faith in you.

this is my philosophy as well. i don't think i'll ever have a quilt that i can enter into competition

I got a lot of encouragement and advice by watching the video at the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emNxOb-oQfM

Make some hot pads or table runners , and practice your quilting on those.

Hun -- I have had a business of longarming for 1 1/2 yrs ---- I, too, have that same panicky feeling -- I think it's called stage fright! As another said, if there's a place you don't like what you did, take it out and try again. It's amazing how YOU will see the boo-boos and others won't! Go for it! you'll do just fine!!!

why not use the pattern of the fabric in the backing as your quilting design - Pick fabrics that have an interesting pattern and stitch along the lines or echo quilt along the edges of the shapes to do your quilting. That way you have a guide.