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Great resolution. That is what we should all do; the best we can. Happy New Year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmworrall

I tend to criticize myself alot regarding my quilting/sewing skills and I've noticed several others on this board do the same thing. Well not anymore! I was reading a national quilting magazine the other day and noticed that the quilting was really off on one. Part of it was a 9 patch and it was quilted with "X's" in the squares and they were not straight by a LONG SHOT! Now PLEASE know that I don't mean any disrespect or offense to anyone. But I just thought to myself, here I am beating myself up because I can't get something totally perfect and here is a quilt in a national magazine that isn't perfect either. Now maybe it was supposed to be that way for the "charm" of it, but my resolution this year is to just do my best and have fun with my quilting and not beat myself up anymore! :)

This very same thing happened to me... I was forever saying to myself,Your points are off,rip it out,My STID is not in the ditch ETC. Well one day I got a National Mag. like you, on the front cover was a beautiful quilt that was quilted STID. You could actually see where it was off..Not the outline like 1/4 inch from the iron open seam allowance but on a iron to the side for STID. I don't worry over it like I did because of this.. Makes you Wonder doesn't it!! BilsBonBon

I will also adopt this attitude too :D:D:D

Good for you. Remember, it is all folk art so there aren't any imperfections, just endearing aspects.

I took a class with Kaffe Fassett and his most profound statement to us was " If you want a perfect quilt, go buy a machine made quilt." He will even show his imperfections, points cut off, etc. He feels it makes a quilt better to have little imperfections to prove it is really handmade. I totally agree but it bothers me when "Super quilters" demand we do perfection and their quilts are not perfect.

Maybe we were reading the same magazine, because I noticed the same thing this past week, lol. We also have a quilt that DH's sister made, and that took first place in a show, and the quilting on that wasn't perfect either.

I agree that we tend to expect perfection from ourselves and that probably just isn't realistic given the nature of quilting. Yes, we can strive to do better each time, but I'm sure that even the very best quilts have minor imperfections if you get up close.

I want to do my best, but I also want to have fun and relax when I sew and quilt. I say to have fun and enjoy the project, whatever it is. Who says it has to be perfect anyways!

That is one of my new years "resolutions". Not to be so picky about things that don't really make a difference. If the corners are 1/16th of an inch off, who cares? Not doing this for a living, just for fun!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Threadedneedle

I am rather new to quilting, about 2 yrs now. I also am/was very critical of myself. My seams had to match or else I ripped them out. Had to stop doing that, did not want to tear the fabric. I read here in another blog, not to be hard on ourselves as no one is perfect than the good Lord up above.
Now, if I am off just a tad, I let it go as when it is tied, you won't even notice it

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gwyn

Good for you. Remember, it is all folk art so there aren't any imperfections, just endearing aspects.

Oh, I like that! My DH says it is the slight imperfections that let you know it is homemade.