Is It Just Me, Or.....
 

Howdy y'all :c)

I have looked at a lot of the pics on here and in the quilting magazines, and for many of them I have thought, "WOW! That's way beyond my skill level!" But here lately, whenever I look at one of those advanced pics, I can see exactly how it was done and think I could probably do it. Then I think, "WOW! That's WAAAYYYYY beyond my patience level!" So does anyone else do this, or am I just the laziest quilter around? LOL!

Donna

Well Donna, I am the exact opposite! I look at something and if I love it I commence on my mission to do it. Many times I am sure it is above my level of expertise and I can often be heard swearing aloud and under my breath when I can't get it perfect. Do what makes you happy and what you are comfortable with. I think I am the crazy one of the two of us!

Stephanie

HI Donna, I agree with you. I have done a lot of Bargello quilts and really they are NOT AT ALL that difficult. You just sew the strips and then cut them into units. Looked at the bright colored Celtic Solstice quilt that was posted a few days ago and if you cut it into sub units, it really isn't that scary.

Yes, I feel that way all of the time but I just finished three rows of a French Braid quilt that I never though I could do. I have decided that if I find a pattern that I really want to do that seems intimidating I am going to use this board and my local LQS for help. I am tired of being a spectator and I want to do something amazing.

I see what I like, figure it out, buy the pattern only if needed, then try it out with fabric from my stash. If I want I can try to draw it out on EQ. If I encounter any problems I can always ask quilting friends or at my LQS. Only 1 problem: I may not like the color choices I use from my stash, which is why I am using them in the first place.

If I like it I will finish it, at least as a topper til I get around to quilting my own stuff.

Considering the number of UFO's I have laying around waiting to be sewn into rows or quilted, I think I am the laziest quilter by far. :D

I think that happens as you develop as a quilter. First we begin to see the "blocks" and are able to break down a pattern. Then as we "make enough quilts" we begin to look for bigger challenges in the more detailed quilts with tinier pieces. Then, as we develop those skills we begin to get more into how to quilt it. I'm not at the last stage yet, but I am enjoying tiny pieces more than I thought I would.

Going way back to when I started quilting, twenty years ago, I never gave a thought to whether a patten was to difficult to do for my skill level. I just read the instructions and followed them, just like a recipe. I never knew patterns had different skill levels so I never had a problem limiting myself or being intimidated by anything I wanted to do. I just did it.
peace

I do the same thing. I like to read quilting magazines like a novel. It is so interesting to see how others put a quilt together and the techniques they use. Many times I will change the directions to use an easier process that I have learned over the years. I'm starting a red and white quilt from the newest AQS magazine-- it is labeled challenging. I did the first two blocks yesterday and can hardly wait for the next issue to come out! It is always good to work beyond one's skill level.

I'm still at the stage of questioning my ability. I've made 11 quilts. Four of them are baby quilts and the rest are lap quilts. The hardest one I"ve made is a combo jelly roll/charm pack. The others are DNP. I want to stretch my wings and try more!