Don't compare yourself to other quilters. Yours look different so they are unique! You need to relax and be more confident in what you are doing. Sometimes we are in such a hurry to get "this quilt done". Slow down.

Yes, this is typical. I have learned so much by the mistakes I have made. Quilting is a process. Embrace it and jump in.

You only fail if you don't try.

(Keep on trying little birdie, one day you will fly like an eagle!)

I agree with the person who said, "one block at a time". If it helps, just tell yourself that you are going to "practice" the pattern with the material you bought and then you'll make a "real" quilt next time. (laughing...it works for me.) :lol:

Fear can be a powerful deterrent, but the trick is not to let it rule you. Start small, and convince yourself that cutting fabric was what that fabric was made for- you are not destroying it but transforming it into something beautiful.

If fear persists, then I would seek professional help- there is nothing wrong with seeking a counselor to help you deal with that fear that is stopping you from succeeding. Better to deal with it once than let it hinder you forever! :-)
Let us know how it's going.

yes. it is for me too!

You might start sewing with fabric that doesn't cost an arm and a leg (whatever is available). Build up your confidence level with small projects that aren't intimidating! Learn to enjoy the whole process!

I have been quilting for 30 years and still get cold feet sometimes! I am working on a charity quilt with some donated scraps--all in triangles. With one fabric I only had just enough to do some half square triangles. I had to be SOOOOOO careful when cutting--if I screwed just one up the whole design would have been ruined. No pressure there! So cold feet can happen to me anytime.

Me personally, yes it is a newbie feeling. My friend Maggie has been intstrumental with helping me in the past with cutting fabric and reviewing the instructions. I've only been sewing since Sept. 2010, and I am so not good at free motion quilting (FMQ), but as everyone else says, practice makes perfect. Everyone started out by trial and error and trust me, this forum helps very much!! What we feel doesn't look good, to someone else it's the most precious thing they've ever had!!

Happy Quilting!!!!

Have more confidence in yourself. We all know we won't like a quilt when it's finished and will always find some part of it that could have been done better. Take the quilt to the guild meeting and show it off. It's good that your look different from the others at guild. It just says that your vision is unique. Unique is good! You are only a failure if YOU think you're a failure. Each quilt is a learning experience and the next one will be better. Go for it!

I struggled with that very thing last night! I've been staring at a stack of fabrics I had chosen to make a quilt for my grandson, this will be my second quilt. I was fine cutting the accent pieces, but when it came time to start cutting the main piece, I was scared to death! LOL! Well, once I made the first cut I was fine, and I've already realized I made some errors in measurement, but I'm still okay! I'll just adjust for it later! Just make that first cut, I'm sure it will turn out great!

I've been quilting since 1992 and I still have cold feet! I still consider myself definitely not in the advanced stage yet! So far everything has turned out okay to me and others seem to like what I do. My first quilt was HUGE, large enough for a spread so that I had time to get the experience I needed to quilt it.

My sister gave me a wonderful little book with simple blocks and how to's or I still wouldn't be quilting.... I am blessed with coming from a family of quilters on all sides. Just keep plugging! You'll be fine!

You won't ruin the fabric. You'll just have smaller pieces of it!

Very normal. Is there a LQS or local guild where you could get moral support? If you come to Townsend MT there is a group of us that meet every Friday for Quilt Till You Wilt, your more than welcome to join us. We'll help, encourage and I'm sure make you laugh. It is the best part of my week.

I felt this way more than once when I saw a lovely pattern I "might" want to try. Then one time, I saw a pattern for a beautiful quilt that I knew I had to try, so I got my DH to make me the templates and I proceeded - slowly at first.
Step by step, I worked on it, and was so thrilled by the end result, I determined right then and there, I would definately challenge myself more after that.

no not a newbie thing, it is a 'quilters' thing....we all have that 'egads' feeling when we cut new fabric....good luck with your quilting....stay with it..........gina

I guess I am an odd ball! I love challenges! I have projects lined up one behind another, and as soon as one gets done, I am itching to get another going. I must say in my short quilting journey, I challenged myself in every project whether it is a new technique, difficult pattern, colors or whatever, and I consider most of the end results successful to a degree. I just approach every project with a mindset that this is my hobby, I don't need to have anything done, I am just exploring,expressing myself and having fun! What is there to be scared about? We are not dealing with human lives here, it is just fabric! You cut it wrong, you just give your creativity more room to grow! I understand the frustration to try to get it right, but really, it is just fabric! Go wild and play and you will surprise yourself!

You are NORMAL!! I spend hours and days agonizing over fabric choices, placement, etc. Often after I am started I find something I think I would have liked better...

Say the words free-motion-quilting and the perspiration runs off my body like a shower! I shake like someone who has had a pot of coffee!

Trust me, quilting fear is not something you invented. BUT, when we get in the groove and make something we love, what a high!

For me, I think it is the perfectionist in me. I guess I am always in search of the most perfect, most beautiful, most well done quilt. No pressure here. I find that I always LOVE the quilt that I end up with. And almost always it is not exactly what I thought it would be when I started. I've been doing this for about 30 years. I'm a happy quilter. Just don't get to do this enough. :)

Myself being a newbie as well, I have to say nope, thats how you learn, mistakes and all! :-)

So get in there and sew like there's no tomorrow, and will turn out great!

Just go for it!! You'll do great!!! :D

Just go for it!! You'll do great!!! :D

Even experienced quilters can make a mistake,just jump on in,you will get through it,cold feet and all.

Remember many beginning quilts are service quilts. That is they are used and loved. They allow us to gain experience as we go. If you make a quilt you hate donate it. Someone will appreciate the warmth of that quilt. Not all quilts are prize winning quilts. The Red and White Quilt exhibit that just ended in NY City was made up of everyday quilts. Some of them were outstanding others were well worn and loved. Keep making your quilts and love the process. Enjoy! Luann

I agree,I only make quilts for people to use,and I do ask them,I like to think I make every day quilts,not heirlooms

You don't have to worry its normal even long time quilters get a case of 'cold feet' when stepping out of our comfort zones I say Jump in there and get your feet wet there is no such thing as wasted fabric it becomes Scrappy Quilts Have Fun -- Dawn

I have been quilting for thirty years and I still make mistakes but oh well, if I don't like it, give it to charity and someone will get it that needs it for warmth. If so then it is doing good. Jan :thumbup:

Very much a newbie thing - and an old-timer thing and every level in between thing.

Sometimes we all have to PUSH ourselves to get into the next project.

And, then, when we're done, we wonder why we were so reluctant to start the project!

:thumbup: hmmm...I think you hit the nail on the head for me...:thumbup:

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I've been spinning my wheels for some time now and couldn't figure out why. My husband says I want it to be perfect, I don't think that's the whole story. I figure no matter how it turns out, it will still function as a quilt---wonky or not.

I do think it's the fear of cutting up really nice fabric and making a mess out of things. I've slowed down on the collecting of fabric, knowing there will always be more lovely fabric I just have to have. Perhaps I need to take the same approach to cutting up what I really love.

Thanks for the insight. I feel so much better. :D

very common illness. Cure--can't find one but complete a quilt. Even a messed up one will look beautiful.

I have a similar issue where I dream it, design it, buy fabric, then hate to cut my fabric up. I'm now commited to one project a month. Once you get started you'll get in the groove. My encouragement to you would be to enjoy the process as it's all part of the fun. Start with easy projects to develop technique.

Yes but just jump in!

Yes, been there as well. You just have to 'do it'. Just remember that if you don't follow the pattern or instrucions exactly who is going to care, after all, this is your quilt. It will get easier.

That feeling never quite goes away. You have this beautiful piece of fabric and it sometimes feels like you can't achieve the picture you have in your mind. Work past it. You will surprise yourself with what you can achieve. Good luck.

Yes, but once you get over the idea of "ruining" it you'll be fine. I had a whole box of "mess ups" and now they are residing happily in a scrappy throw for my fur baby, Shadow.

The other day I cut into some material that I love, messed up the cut and now it will become part of a quilted postcard instead. As one member said, the only way you can ruin fabric is to burn it.

I always get cold feet. I want to keep all my fabric for that special project.

Just take your time and start with making one or two blocks to help you develop your skills. I always make a practice block when I try a new design.

We all get the dithers at some point .Enjoy the experience.

I have been quilting for over 20 yr. And go throught that everytime I start a quilt,that's why I always buy a little more in case I make a mistake.