Sounds like the perfect time for a nap Once your refreshed scan some quilt books or mags while looking at your stash and before you know it some thing jumps out and your off the chair

I so hear you! Here I am in Florida for a 6 month quilting retreat with most of my stash, lots of patterns...do you think I can find a single pattern that thrills me? Or put some material together in a tempting way? Of course not! So I found some panels I bought on sale with their coordinating fabrics and I'm making Christmas lap quilts for at least 5 family members!

I would rather channel surf or check out stuff on the internet than sew. It is an act of will to do anything with material...but once I make myself (bribe, only 15 minutes then I get a cookie), I find that several hours have flown by and I'm happy.

I want a cookie...better go sew for that 15 minutes!!! :oops:

I totally agree!!!!!! I have been there, and this is the best way to get out of that funk! Just do something for someone!

I know exactly how you feel. I've been in a slump as well. It all started last year when my furbaby was found to have cancer. Then I had open heart surgery. Now I've got to move because our landlord stopped paying the mortgage on our rental property. It's just been one thing after another. I'm totally fed up with all the distractions and I can't wait to get back to sewing. I hope it won't be too long, but who really knows what's coming next??? I can only hope everything happens for a reason and I will be back to my favorite hobby before too long.

Yes, sewing tables do have a way of defying gravity... sometimes they just seem to float upward if our feet are not holding them down! ;) Been there, done that!

Chocolate is always good advice.... but so is going for a walk! This time of year many suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder... SAD... we haven't gotten enough sunlight!! The long months of winter literally wear some of us down! Hang in there... rest, eat well, go for a walk... You'll feel refreshed in no time!

There's nothing wrong with taking a break from you hobby. It's a creative process, and as such needs time to percolate in your unconscious mind (my excuse, and I'm sticking to it). If you are determined that you have to quilt now, how about doing just a little quilt for Project Linus or a local women's shelter? They don't have to be perfect, just warm and made with love. Someone will really be touched by your effort. As for picking colors and patterns, make it as simple as you can for yourself by picking one print and using the colors from it to pick just a few other fabrics in tone-on-tones, solids, or small 2-tone prints. Then make bricks - any size. They go together in minutes and seams are staggered, no lining up. I learned this from someone in my guild who did one for the community service project that I have brought home to quilt. I love it!

Don't want to rain on your parade, but I'm in the same situation. I hope you can get excited over quilting soon! I joined this group sometime back in 2010, copied a zillion patterns and ideas, bought fabric and everything else that goes with quilting - why can't I begin? What's my problem? Maybe one of you quilters will have an answer and provide an idea to get me going????? Dynomite, ex-lax, wheaties, start drinking???????

(((HUGS))) I hope tomorrow is a better day!!! If not just join us here. Sooner or later inspiration will come. I agree with Melody the D9P might be the block to try, it is a great scrap pattern. :):):)

I suggest you invite a few quilters over or meet at church or the community center, each of you make a 12.5" block, sew it together, layer it, tie it, sign it and take it to the nursing home.
P.S. Don't forget the hot tea!

I can relate...we have had 4 days straight of rainy weather...how depressing is that..don't really feel like doing anything but vegging..our big Canadian holiday weekend May 2-4 as it is called is next weekend...hoping for some sun even part of the day...

I am like you...color unco-ordinated...I tend to stick with the colors I know that go together...you know the basics...try a tube quilt..that's easy and you can arrange the blocks alot of different ways!!! Have a piece of chocolate for me!!!

Go on Youtube and look at some of the tutorials. I get inspired every time I go there.

I am like you...color unco-ordinated...I tend to stick with the colors I know that go together...you know the basics...try a tube quilt..that's easy and you can arrange the blocks alot of different ways!!! Have a piece of chocolate for me!!!

Hi, same thing happened to me. Last October fell over, broke my leg, was given a hip replacement, haven't quilted since, but still adding to my stash and bookmarking/downloading/buying patterns so hopefully "getting back into the groove" lol

I haven't gone through this yet but I haven't been quilting very long. My problem is that I never seem to get to work on what I want to work on. I am (was) always trying to get things made for the craft shop/sales. I decided not to worry about that anymore and to just make what I want. Then someone wanted 2 purses. I couldn't turn her down because she was willing to pay $120 each. Then I had to get a baby quilt made for my niece. Then a friend really loved that quilt and wants one just like it so that's what I am working on now. I have another friend who wants a 72" long table runner and yet another friend who wants 6 place mats for her daughter. Some day I WILL make a quilt for myself. Yes, I will!! In a month I am going to a quilt retreat and I am going to work up some kits I purchased 1-2 years ago.

You will snap back, honest. Try going online and doing a google or Bing search on "selecting fabric colors for quilting" You will probably come up with a ton of tutes.
Meanwhile "hugs" galore

I have taken a break from making quilts after feeling like I worked in a sweat shop after my last one. Instead I have made three purses, cute black linen pants, a couple of aprons, pretty bedroom curtains and a custom back and seat cushions for a wooden settee. I have been making a point of changing the patterns when I use them and when I can make my own designs. I have really been enoying myself and I'm sure I will eventually look forward to quilting again. Sure you will too!

What you need is a reason. My best stimulus is someone's need and a deadline. Surely you know some elderly person or a child or even a friend who would appreciate and needs to know they are worth something special, "Your Quilt"

Take all you lovelies and cut two 2 1/2" strips and then make 4 patches. No real pattern needed to put them all together. You might wnat to use some white sashing and if you get frisky, you could put some connerstones in it. It will be delightful and fun to look at with all the different fabrics. Won't matter what colors you use casue it will all be based on variety and love.

Okay thought of something else, Stop thinking traditional quilting and try your hand at art quilting. If you ever get to VA, I'll teach you color or actually I'll teach you that you already know ccolor but you are thinking it should be something complicated when you have been working with color all your life.

my problem is I have so many ufos that I feel guilty about starting something new.

3 suggestions (from someone who is slowly gaining confidence in putting fabrics together)...
1. make a sampler quilt using white (or black) and then other colors for each different block. The blocks will be united by the white (or black)
2. Make a 2 color quilt... something I do alot.
3. make a single irish chain with different fabrics for each 9 patch

That will get you going again...

I am having trouble finishing a quilt, I started and since my quilting shares the dining,office, and computer room, I can't start another quilt. This is when I spend time on the quilting board or crosstitch, read, tat or just get out.
There is no right or wrong time to quilt. I started when my daughter was 4. I took a break until my son was 6. Then another until recently.... My children are 23 and 18 today. A couple of years is not a big deal. Just don't stress over it.

Sometimes life is like that. It can last for a day or 2 or 3 but eventually you will get your "happy" back. I have trouble with fabrics too. Why do I only buy FW when it's never enough for anything I want to do. . . But then sometimes I'm glad I didn't go & buy anymore when I get home I say what was I thinking it's so ugly. I have boxed up all my uglies FW and I'm going to make a quilt maybe someone will like those fabrics afterall they did sell a bolt of the fabric at the store!
In my stash buster class they say to pull all of your scrappy fabrics together then squint your eyes to see what looks out of place. People in class really get that method LOL
Get out your scrappy books or magazines. See their fabrics don't match so great either. sorry I meant FQs - I'm old

Oh, don't feel quilty about it. That's what makes you creative!

make something small and simple gratification goes a long way in quilting :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

What a great answer I think I'll try the irish chain next project

That's too bad, but I can relate cause that's where I am too! By the way, what is a FW? Is it obvious and I'm a bit dense?

Turn off the TV. Turn off the computer. Put on a good CD that you can sing along with and head to your sewing area. Start looking at your patterns, fabric, etc even if it's just to rearrange them. Something will start to click and before long, you'll be back sewing again. As much as I enjoy TV and love my computer, too much of them dulls the creative part of me and I don't get as much sewing done.

Whenever I get stuck, I just start something new! :) Seriously, maybe you could just put together a pile of lights and a pile of darks, then just choose one from each and start sewing them together in a simple pattern or start a string quilt or an old fashioned patchwork. There's lots of tutorials here on the Quilting Board. Lots of luck, I went through the same thing a few years ago when my best quilting buddy died. You will get back to it when you hit some inspiration.

For Jackie: FW is a feather weight singer sewing machine...

Sometimes I just leave it all alone for a while. Enjoy collecting your fabric and looking at your featherweight. When the mood strikes, you'll be ready.

I've been in a funk like that for a while now and there's no good explaination that I can come up. I hope it changes soon.

Sometimes it is like that. Don't be hard on yourself. It is to be fun. Not a burden. You will get it back, don't worry.

Thank you Luckylindy for the FW info.

If you don't want to make a scrappy quilt try the "Thinking outside the block" quilt. You need seven fabrics but you won't need anywhere near two yards of each.

Quilts have to tell you they're ready to be made. When they speak, you'll be ready.

I resemble this description. lol.

I know just what you mean. I have to buy kits because I suck at putting fabrics together and/or not getting enough to make a top. Just try string squares or charm squares (5"). You'll be surprised at what you end up with. I'm sure it will be great. Like the Nike commercial, "JUST DO IT". :D

As and when the mood takes me I either knit or crochet on some thing small then before you know i HAVE to get back to sewing .

I love picking out the colors, but sometimes have problems finishing. I always start out gung-ho, then seem to lose momentum. Unfortunately, having a deadline seems to help me. I also hate to make that first cut of a fabric. Like to save it. (Hoarding). Don't feel bad we all have our quirks. An easy way to pick colors - find a fabric you like, then use the colors used in the fabric.