My quilts are made with love not perfection. I will not make a quilt for show and if you want to critisize my work, go tell it to someone who cares. The people who receive my quilts and such do not look for perfection and if they complain they will never see another one. Give yourself a break and quilt for the pleasure it brings. Perfection is over-rated in my book.

I didn't read the whole post so I don't know if anyone else wrote this. I heard that the Amish women intentionally put a mistake in their quilts because the only one who makes anything perfect is God. So far, I haven't had to worry about that!

When I read and see on the TV all of the "correct" ways and expensive tools, I think of my Grannie. Sitting in her rocking chair with a gift box lid on her lap. In the box were her scissors, scraps of fabric and her cardboard pattern and she was in the process of making a quilt. Quilts were for warmth not show. In her day there were no "quilt police", no classes, no shows, no scant 1/4" seams. Patterns were published in the newspaper (I have some of hers) or in magazines like "Workbasket". If you had a sewing machine, you were well off. My quilts are on my bed for warmth. A bedspread goes over them. My galloping horse is a race horse.

I purchased a piece of pottery when visiting the Navajo Nation. The artist pointed out the "mistake", one of which is in every piece he makes. He told me it was a Navajo tradition because no one is perfect. Now when I make something for my one daughter, she always asks me where the mistake is. She loves the Native American traditions because she is 1/8 Cherokee.

Well said Jill and exactly how I feel. I used to get intimidated when I was first on this board with so many prfessionals but found they are just people like the rest of us with a higher skill. I have gotten much good advice on here without any feeling of anyone being superior to me. I have been using a sewing machine for 40 years and there is still a lot to learn.

If our kids were in sports, we would probably all tell them, "It isn't whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game."

And I think perhaps this should also apply to making music, and quilting.

For me, it's not about perfection as much as it is about trying to become a little better each time. I will never make the perfect quilt, but I also love my craft enough to try to become better by reading a lot of books, taking classes, and studying the tutorials posted on this great board. A key component, however, is that it has to be fun. If quilting isn't fun, why bother to do it? As a teacher I stress enjoying the art, but I also impart ways that have helped me to become more accurate. If I taught my students that none of it really matters, then we are striving for mediocrity. My biggest frustration during my first 2 years of quilting was inaccurate piecing and incorrectly sized blocks. I took a lot of classes and now, although I don't make "perfect" quilts I am a happier quilter because what I do is perfect enough for me.

It's true that seeing a quilt with perfect points, say in a mariner's compass, is a joy. However, when I see pictures of the old quilts and their points are not perfectly pointy, I realize that perfection is just not as charming.

My projects are far from perfect. Sewing blocks together are relaxing to me and if I have to be perfect I might as well quit.

If I quilt to be perfect then I would not quilt. I started worrying that my stitches in my hand quilting were not small enough or as good as others and then I realized that I want quilting to be fun. I have enough stress in my life and I quilt because it is fun and relaxing. So if you want to judge my quilting, you won't be getting a quilt from me.

I love quilting and the minor imperfections are proof it is a homemade gift from the heart. The quilt I am currently working on is going to have a few not perfect seams but I have discovered after it is put together and quilted they don't really stand out and usually only the maker zeroes in on them. Everybody else especially non-sewers are impressed and love the hard work and effort that goes into making a quilt.