Just wondering.....
 

Did you ever have so many quilt patterns that you'd like to make, that you just don't know where to start? I'm kinda at this point. I just finished a monstrosity that just seemed to pull all the wind out of my sails and I just can't get going on another one. Has anybodyelse ever felt this way? What did you do for it?Help me here!! I'm sinking.

I do something small and easy in between...let's my brain recharge for something larger and more difficult.

I am a great one for collecting patterns and ideas (not fabric so much - I am not a "stasher") and then being very low producing. But, the collecting part is fun for me too.

Take a break!! :-) I usually end up doing some cleaning/organizing and get out of the house a bit and then I feel like starting something else. I think there is a bit of a "crash" after accomplishing a big task. Enjoy being done and it won't be long and you will be looking at your list again!!

It seems when ever I finish a large project , I need to "cleanse my brain " and do a few smaller one night type of things, typically done with scraps from other projects. Cleaning my sewing room also helps to cleanse.
I too have more fabric and patterns then I can complete in ...well a very long time. It easy to get stuck in "which one" ! Give your brain the breather it earned !On some level its telling you your not "up" for another big project just yet. So make a few potholders,try a new technique , just play for a bit .

Oh Yes!! I know how you feel. When I get to that point I usually make a little project, like a runner or baby quilt. Just enuf to catch my breath!! I will never get thru all the quilts on my list, so once in a while I will prioritize my list. Other times I just need a few work free days..This too will pass

I think you should work on something small.

I just had this conversation with myself this morning , I decided that was going to pull out all the patterns I have bought through the years which for me is not many probably like 8 I think and since I'm working on working through my stash I'm going to make every single one. I invested between 7-9 dollars in each pattern and at most I could probably get 5 back so I'm just going to make them so i know I used them!

Now all the free patterns that i have ideas and materials for I'll do them eventually. I have four in line right now. Think that's just the way quilters are always planning ahead lol

I'm constantly in this mode. As soon as I finish a project my brain freezes up and I have trouble starting another. I'm much better at finishing than at starting. The good part of that is no UFO's; the bad part is obvious. I just finished a PP top, and I have that and several comfort quilts from the guild to go on the longarm. When all the quilting is done I need to have a decision made - which quilt is next?

When I get like that I leave it for awhile and do some of the other things I enjoy doing. After awhile I do something simple then find a fabric and pattern that makes me excited to get going again.

I have collected so many patterns that I would like to make, that my drawers a full of books, printed out pattern, and some I have collected from the quilt store where they give away free pattern sheets....I won't live long enough to do them all, but I can dream. Right now I have a baby quilt I'm working on, a queen size quilt for my granddaughter and several small wall hangings. Whew - not enough time to do them all. Keeps me busy though.

I would work on something small and different, how about a purse? And often, this is when I clean out my sewing room and have a sale!

Make a plan and break things down into smaller steps. Line up the patterns you want to do. Prioritize and pick maybe 4 (or whatever # works for you) and set up a box for each one. put the pattern in and start dropping fabric in. There... 2 steps done. When you have all the fabric set, you are ready to go when the mood hits.

I decided to organize my stash and start the Bonnie Hunter Leader and Enders. Then I added a paper pieced project in to that. It helps me not to focus on just one thing when I don't have a deadline on something. Take a break if you need it and you will come back strong!

I think everyone goes through some form of this when they finish a project, so you're not unusual by any means. Just give yourself a few days to level off from the last quilt until you start the next one and you should be fine. Or, as suggested, do a few small things just so you feel like you're still "working". I do this a lot, but I got a bonus last year when I had only a couple of days when that happened...the rest of the time I quilted and pieced like a house on fire! Good luck however you deal with it!

I have a list of ten. It has UFOs, wanna do's, and promises. When I finish one, it gets marked off and add another one to the bottom. Never at a loss as to what to do next. I try not to make promises and finish the UFOs so only wanna do's end up on the list.

If I have a quilt that was hard or just took everything out of me, need to take a break from sewing. Then maybe do something small or something super simple that required no figuring and/or thinking.

I just finished four wolf wall hangings for our son. Big undertaking, extremely detailed & I had to do a few small projects to keep me going on them! They are finally done & gone & I'm waiting for a response from him when he sees them. Now I'm just doing a couple of blocks, then a table runner & then apparently a "moon glow" quilt from Jinny Beyer for DH!

I have tons of patterns I want to do- purchased and free patterns and ideas from blogs, etc. I go through them regularly and think about what's in my stash that would work, or maybe a fabric line I really like and need an excuse to buy. When I think I have most of what I need for a certain pattern, I will "commit" to it by pulling the fabric and cutting it into strips, etc., whatever the project calls for. I also make sure I get whatever else I need for the project (backing, etc). I put all of this together into a project box with the pattern. That way I have a project ready to go when I need it, and more fabric out of my stash. It helps to go through my patterns regularly- I look at them over and over and think about them with different fabric, and any I fall out of love with get culled. I'm the kind of person that has to have a bunch of different things to work on all at once- I cycle through them regularly. Some are longer term (hand-piecing a Farmer's Wife and EPP hexagons). It keeps me from getting sick of any one project. Everything I'm working on has its own project box, and everything goes back into that box if I shift to something else. I never promise others a quilt. I make quilts for others, but I rarely tell them- it keeps the pressure off as to when I have to have it finished by :D

Yes I do and I usually end up doing my own thing instead of one of the lovely patterns I have, lol

Yes yes yes! I'm having great difficulty putting a pattern with fabrics I've already collected.

I am working on Sylvia's Bridal Sampler and when I am finished with a large quilt project, I do a few blocks for the sampler. It is always there ready to work on and each block is a quick with nice results. Don't know what I'll do when that one is complete....maybe a Dear Jane!!

Yes, I just fininsed that New York Beauty and it was very intense, so now I feel drained, but I am working on a simple log cabin, I must admit that it is not a challenge so I am slow on the uptake

I agree. Make a hot pad or a small tote bag or placemats. Something you can see the end of in a little bit of time. You should be inspired with completing something and ready to go on. We've all been there!

I usually make something smaller after a large project and sometimes its just for me. I have a little wire quilt rack and make 8 x 10 baby quilts some call them doll quilts for it by the season or just to change. Its lots of fun. It would also include a baby quilt because I make some small ones (36 x 36) they are great when babies are small and then go to the car seat or stroller without hanging clear to the floor/ground.

Don't SINK !

After a big project I need to chill out and that's the perfect time for me to make a bunch of string blocks from my scraps. I sort of coordinate the colors and rows but perfect matching and perfect seams aren't the goal, just some quick and easy sewing. The blocks may look ugly while being assembled but when they are all trimmed to size they look great. I also don't have the stress of making them into a quilt - as I donate them to HeartStrings charity quilt group.

If I get overwhelmed, I typically just do something mindless, like sewing 1.5" strips together to make a scrappy quilt. It is easy, no stress, and helps me feel like I'm using up something others would throw away!

And take a break--go outside, garden, etc. Also, making a list on paper (not just your mind) and then prioritize which ones you would really like to do and not just possibly do someday.

I am with you stitchnripper.... I have an enormous amount of patterns... not so much fabric.... tons of ideas..... some motivation... mostly when a gift is needed or a baby is on the way....

Between all the fabric I have bought from you and the patterns I get on the web, I just do not know where to start, but really enjoyed the relaxation and mindless work of the 4 panel quilt I made recently....just a thought..

I usually just sit and look at my patterns until one calls my name

I have been there several times. I will go into my scrap pile and piece some small items. Tablerunners-Potholders-placemats. You know what I mean. After a few of these small things I am ready for another big one.

yes i am that way , i have all my "to do s" in a certain spot on my book shelf and when i am ready to start another quilt and dont have anything else in mind i just close my eyes and pick one of the books with a bookmark in it and work on that quilt>>>>> kinda like a kid in a candy store , cant make up my mind

I like the idea of doing several small projects - nice to see quick results.

I do know how you feel! I do something that's really fun... not that all quilting isn't "fun" but y'know what I mean. Maybe it's something made from some fabric I've been dying to use. Or something for ME. Or, like this weekend (I've been in a real slump as of late), it's a combo -- new technique ("Jelly Roll Race"), new fabric ("Birch Bark Lodge") & for someone I love (for my DH's BD). So maybe that'll kick start me.

Another idea... do something totally different. Read a good book, garden...

Just some suggestions. I do know how you feel!

I have 3 different quilts going at one time. I get tired of working on one,I work on the other one or I am embroderying something. But sooner or latter it all get done.

I enjoyed reading the above info. from everyone. I do have several projects I want to make on a written
list so I can look at it and prioritize. It seems to be fun to start another quilt before the one I am working
on is finished. Even though I have a long arm machine, several tops are waiting to be quilted & I don't want
to do them because I am afraid I will mess them up......so I start another top. The ones I have quilted look
okay (because they are mine), but I just do very simple designs. Getting them quilted by others is not
an option since I need to learn for myself! What to do? What to do?

Like many others have said, do something small or clean up and organize your sewing space. Do you have some fabric you just love in your stash? Dig it out and start something with that or find a pattern you can use it for. I just finished a quilt for a challenge in Aug. It's been 6 months in the making. I feel so relieved it's mostly done. I just have the label left to make and sew on. I also am sewing together a OBW for my brother. That's on the home stretch too. Then what? I guess I'll follow my own advice.

I am at that point right now. I finished a bunch of quilts between last Oct and Feb. I have one quilt partially quilted in my sewing machine. It has been sitting for the past couple of weeks and I just can't get motivated to finished it and I don't want to not finish it. I have decided to concentrate on my vegetable garden and canning. I have one or two quilts that I can't wait to start but I just need the time off. I have been cleaning the house. I have been going through my canning supplies to see if there is anything I will be needing so I can get it before I need it. I have been enjoying the garden planning. I miss the quilting but when the weather gets hot outside, I will be inside. I believe that this time off will give me the break that I need to really enjoy my quilting again.

Do something fun that will produce a finished project in a day or two, ie. a quilted bag.