A sense of accomplishment!!
 

I have always been amazed by all the talented people here. Many times I've thought..."I'll never be able to do that", or read others who have posted similar thoughts. One of my goals for this year was to continue to grow and challenge myself. I started the "Zipper Quilt" from MSQC....yesterday. I'm doing 5 rows of 20, plus sashing, and a border. Yesterday I cut 100 squares, and 100 rectangles. Today I was determined to piece them. After many starts and stops, I conquered chain piecing them together....In less than an hour! I then sewed the first row. I would have continued but I can't see straight any longer!!

I know this is long, and many may feel this is quilting 101, but my point is to give encouragement to all the "newbies" who struggle with various aspects of quilting. I have avoided quilts with small pieces because of all the cutting involved, and I've tried chain piecing without much success in the past. The cutting and the piecing were "light bulb" moments for me. Something clicked, and I was off to the races!! Just keep trying, keep pushing and don't give up!! Things do fall into place!

I fell a challenge every time I start a quilt. I just dig in and after a while things just fall into place. When the project is finished, I fell proud of myself.

Good on you!!!! Keep challenging yourself and you will be amazed at what you can do. Don't be scared to try new techniques. Be proud of yourself!!!

It is such a good feeling when things click and always nice to hear how it has come together for someone else. Enjoy!

See?... and now you are encouraging new quilters as well. That's how it works ;-)

It is so satisfying and fulfilling when one gets those "now I get it" moments!

Congratulations!

You really hit the nail on the head.....if we ever stop growing, what's the point? There are so many opportunities to learn new things that can thrill and excite us....and give us something to be proud of.
Good for you....and thanks for the reminder to step outside my comfort zone.

Congratulations! It's just one step at a time!

It's like, " just keep swimming, just keep swimming"...... but for us it's 'just keep sewing, just keep quilting'. Practice makes perfect they say. It works!!

Congrats! It is a great feeling to accomplish something new!!

Good for you! We have to step out of our comfort zone sometimes.

I have been quilting now for over 25 years and it still is clicking for me !!

I can t say that practice has made perfect - but I do notice definite improvement! :)

Thank you for the encouragement. I am a '"newbie" (just finishing up my 4th quilt) and have made so many mistakes, but have learned valuable lessons along the way. It's nice to hear that more experienced quilters have doubts about their capacity to try new or more difficult projects or techniques.

I am very impressed at the amount of work you were able to sew in such a short time. Kudos to your courage to keep trying after a not so happy first time.

I think all of us are in a something new to try mode that we need a little encouragement to forge on. So, thanks from an older quilter that is still learning and trying new things.

Also a big thanks to those wonderful women who are quick to pass on those wonderful tips and techniques that have made quilting much more fun and accurate.

I know a few quilters who submit show quilts and to this day they have all said "It took me awhile but I finally got it." I believe that happens with everyone in every aspect of any attempt at anything.

To me quilting is like anything else; take small steps and set reasonable goals. And don't beat yourself up if something takes several tries.

Thank you for all the encouraging comments. I've learned so much from this board. I find it a wealth of information that is freely given by so many of you so willing to help. Sometimes it's a picture, or a link, or a detailed explanation that is just the right info at the right time. The learning process never stops!!

So excited for you Anniedeb... keep up the good work! and thank you for taking the time to share your excitement with others... it is encouraging for others.

I just keep making quilts, finish one and immediately start another. I totally finish one before I start another. I make 12 or more a year. If I took a year or more off between quilts I would have to relearn everything all over. I am also trying to use up my fabrics. I bought them for me to use. Everything is getting a lot easier and I really don't have to do a lot of thinking or remembering.

What great inspiration!! I can feel your excitement!

Remember, you don't HAVE to cut all the pieces first. I cut a few, sew a few!! My SIL, bless her soul, cuts all first!! Yikes!

Congratulations on just "going for it", as you never know what you can do if you don't try. Early in my quilting career, I learned to quilt from watching quilt shows, and purchasing Georgia Bonesteel's Spinning Spools, where I would receive quilt block patterns with plastic templates, with directions. I am basically a self-taught quilter as I did not have anyone to help me learn. I purchased quilt magazines and picked out patterns I liked and just dove right in, so sometimes I tackled quilts, which some would have said were beyond my abilities. Eventually, I did take some quilt classes, including one on machine quilting and joined a guild. The biggest thing I learned is that if there was nobody there to tell me something was too hard or too complicated for my skill set, I just did it. Sure I made mistakes, but every mistake also meant something learned, so I could expand my quilting skills. My advice to new quilters is to take classes, if possible, watch TV Quilt shows if they are available, and watch tutorials on You Tube. Jenny Doan on MSQC has great methods to make quilts quickly but yet look more complicated than they really are. Just go for it.

I am so happy for you. Thanks for the encouragement!

Keep up the good work! Kudos on you challenging yourself! :)

Congratulations on your accomplishment and you are so right. Those of us who have a bit more experienceshould always be willing to lead a novice and I really think for the most part, happens here on the QB.

Harder to do, is to convince those who always say just what you said at the beginning of your post. "I'll never be able to do that", is, yes they can, if they just........do it!

This is the rightest thing people say because if they don't try it, they will never accomplish it.

Who taught us us that we can't do "it", what ever it is? Every time we hear ourselves saying this, we need to do the thing we say we can't.

If I gave up after my first quilting failure, I would never sew again. How sad that would be.

peace to all, and try "it", you may find you like it.