I am a reluctant starter. Not a procrastinator so much, as it is I have to make sure everything is just right before I jump into something. Picking colors/fabric for a project can take me WEEKS. I like to plan it out, then take a loooong time just thinking ... "is this exactly what I want?" I'll make sure the plan is right.

Several nights ago I finally finished basting the Palm Tree landscape quilt that I started in February. I basted it the Sharon Schamber way - taking time to get just the right boards in just the right length for the space so I could use them for not just this project, but larger projects down the road.

Now, I'm *thinking* about quilting it. First up was a decision to move my machine from the standard size sewing table to my large cutting table to help bear the weight of the quilt. Part of me wants to cut a hole in the table so I could recess my machine and make a blank for the hole when I want to turn it back into a cutting board, but I'm going to try it like this first (I've got an extension for my machine so that will help).

It took me TWO NIGHTS to look at, think about, and try WHICH CORNER it made the most sense to put my machine in. No kidding!! I had to sit in the chair in each spot in different lights of the day/night to see which was the best. I leave little to chance.

Well ... the machine is now in place. I've made several practice quilt sandwiches with the first several stitches I plan to use (I'll do the others when I progress to those areas), and the quilt is rolled to the first area I plan to quilt (the trunks of the two palm trees). But now it's at a point in the evening when I don't want to start something I can't finish, so I'm here, and soon I'll be doing something else that needs to be done (vacuum most likely). So unless something else comes up, I'll probably start it tomorrow when I get home from work.

Why can't I just jump in and do something?

If any of you put stock in any of the astrology stuff ... I'm a Libra (or at least was - didn't they change the dates recently? I was born October 18), and I was born the year of the Rat by the Chinese Calendar. Neither of these things mean much to me, but it might explain something.

push, push, push

wow, shades of me. i'm a libra also. big planner. sometimes a bit of a procrastinator if i get overwhelmed with a project. i think you should just do what is right for you and what your comfortable with. :D

I am a Gemini... so I have to sit and argue with myself sometimes before anything gets done LOL :D:D:D

Nudge..nudge...nudge. LOL

I'm a thinker. Maybe not for quite as long as you, but I plan and plan before I start. I don't see it as a problem. You'll quilt when you're durned good and ready, I guess.

It's better to plan than jump in and screw it up, then have to start over. And even with all that thinking, sometimes that happens, too.

BUZZZZZZZ BUZZZZZZZZZ BUZZZZZZZZZZZ that is the sound of the cattle prod giving you a blast to get you moving...Happy Stitchin' crafty_linda_b sittin' & quiltin' on the Cal-Ore border

I'm cancer and I retreat when unsure! move it move it move it!

>>It's better to plan than jump in and screw it up

just to be clear ... I never said I never screwed it up!!! I do plenty of that too :(

Oh!! We are such kindred spirits!! I've always driven my mom and sister nuts. Plan, plan, plan. That's me! And I'm an aquarius!! Yes I can screw up too--rip, rip, rip!

Same birthday, same sign, same problem. It takes me forever to make the first cut in my fabric--after I've taken a week to pick it out and change it 10 times. I've never thought much about astrology, but, hmmm--maybe we're twins separated at birth????

NO WONDER I agree with everything AMMA says. I am a Gemini TOO. I pulled fabric on Saturday night, the 2nd of July for the lap quilt contest. Due to my disability, I had not even attempted to complete a quilt in over 6 years. I had been busy making just the tops for charity. Unfortunately, during the first half of Sunday, I was STILL making changes to the fabric I thought I had finally chosen. I was on a deadline for the lap quilt contest so I had to stay on schedule. It wasn't easy but you have to think how rewarding it will be when the quilt is finished. All I could think of was the train that kept saying, I THINK I CAN !! Being disable, I didn't even know if I could do the hand stitching on the binding. It only took me two days to complete the stitching for the binding. I had schedule 3 days. So I finished a day early. YAHOO !! Set a doable schedule to try to get a project done but always remember that it is NOT set in cement. I truly wish I was not such a fussy perfectionist. My best quilting friend just slaps quilts together (they are lovely) for charity but no, I have to think and analysis ever step of making a charity quilt. You just have to learn to live with it and do your best! OH, Dear, I think I hear a UFO calling me....... I am a little off my OWN schedule.... BYE !!!

Sounds like a variation of measure twice - cut once.
I am all for thinking a project through thoroughly. especially when it's important to me.

The whole point of quilting is fulfilling those needs in you. If your current way of doing things is stressing to you try changing one small thing at a time. If trying to change anything about how you approach your craft would cause stress than Don't! If you create stress than what's the point? You'd just be taking the joy out of something you love. The right way to quilt is the process that works for you. You're an artist not a factory; you'll get done with a project when you get done and hopefully have enjoyed the journey!

I am a Libra as well...actually born on the 17th of October! And I too have to have everything just right before starting anything. It's almost as if you were talking about me!

I do the same thing. When I can't get started it usually turns out I don't like something about it and make a change......Pisces

I sat next to a woman at guild and she explained it all. For her it is about the journey, she takes forever to get anything done, because she is savoring every part of the journey, I am Libra, but very impatient, so for me it is about getting the quilt done, etc. I believe you are stessing because you are a thinker, but I believe you enjoy the journey, you want to savor every piece of it, and that is NOT a bad thing, that is a good thing for you. It would drive me crazy but I am not wired that way. LOL

I'm an Aquarian - but I just jump in and go. Gotta have tons of projects going at the same time. Get into a slump when I am forcing myself to work on one project when I really want to do another. I think of myself as a "process" person. Sometimes I don't care if I finish a project or not - it was the process I was interested in. Getting better about finishing things, though. The Dear Jane quilt I am working on was begun in 1997. I am quilting it now - or I will resume quilting it when the temps fall quite a bit! It's waaaaay too hot to hand quilt anything!

I'm an Aquarian - I just jump right in, but then I get bored with things and have to start something new. I love the process of quilting, and I do journal everything I do, regarding my thought process.

Just go for it!!

I find that I do the same thing. I have a specific task to do, like finish a quilt, and I find all sorts of things that must be in order before I can get to the task at hand.

I think, at least for me, it is fear and uncertainty. I tackle the things I am confident in before starting something that makes me nervous. I guess to boost my confidence.

I call it the Ed Norton syndrome. Now I have revealed my age to you. FYI Ed Norton was Jackie Gleasons side kick in the old TV show the Honeymooners.

PS I am a Scorpio and a Rat!

Now I understand what's wrong with me!
That has got me thinking. I just can't bear to pick the wrong fabric - so sometime I leave the store after an hour and a half of picking the right fabrics frustrated and empty handed because I couldn't decide.
Then I can't decide which pattern I really want so weeks go by.
All the while I'm saving coupons and visiting JoAnns buying an odd fabric or items here and there that I might need for another project - like nibbling around the edges or just plain procrastinating.
This fear of making a wrong decision really takes the pleasure out of everything doesn't it?
I'm now making the decision to plow right in because I have confidence in my good taste and I CAN do it!!! Thanks for letting me see I'm not the only one with this "handicap". No more though!

Are you working for production or enjoyment? I'm a lot like you -- a lot of the joy in quilting is planning, contemplating, and analyzing the process. Then, when you do start, you're organized and it gets done without a lot of frustrating do-overs. So, I say, enjoy the process!

I'm a Libra too, but I can make up my mind rather fast. I do think about things, but I do not have to have it perfect and I can change things if they don't work out okay. I understand wanting your table to be perfect especially if you cut out the hole. I think the best thing is to accept yourself as you are, knowing you will get it done when it gets done. My husband is a procrastinator but when he does it, he does it good.

I'm right there with you and a Libra to boot! I will lay something out and do almost anything else as I walk around and away from the project for sometimes up to hours. But, once I start I'm on a roll... I guess "they" are right when the say the first step is the hardest. I just keep in my mind that the next steps will be downhill... =)

I'll put out what I think I want to use in a very visual spot and than walk past it for several days. Rearrange it, change one piece here and there, etc. When I finally get around to cutting I know it's what I want.

Love this feed. On the other hand - I so often start a quilt and have absolutely no idea how I'm going to finish it, especially if I am embroidering blocks. I have no ability to "see" what a quilt is going to look like when it's done but somehow they always come together. At times I get stymied and will let the quilt sit until something comes to me that feels right and then I jump back in. Often have no idea what I am going to back a quilt with until I am finished. You guys are great - thanks so much for all the comments on this board.

Wow. In some ways I wish I was more like you, but I am the complete opposite. I usually give no thought at all to my projects. I just do them. Always a surprise to see what comes out.

I can understand how you feel! I took classes for 3 years on quilting using my sewing machines (3 classes) and LA (2 classes). And now I am on my way to St. Louis to take a 4-day class on my LA. I have gotten better doing FMQ on small projects using my sewing machine. Just not confident on my LA

Take your time! All the time you need.

I'm a Libra too and recognized myself as soon as I started reading this thread.

WOW!
I feel like I just heard my husband! He's a Libra!
Lol!
I am Pisces ... quite the opposite!
A hug!

As a fellow libra...I "weigh" the pros and cons on most subjects...since my DH is also a libra, we have a hard time (sometimes) justifying large purchases because when one points the good, the other points the bad.

Your quilt is gorgeous and congrats on finishing. Sometimes I over-plan a quilt and nothing gets done, or I jump in with both feet, pick a base fabric and pull colors from that. However, I usually tend to do better when I have a deadline to meet.

Thanks all for your comments. Last night I had everything set up to go and as a final prep step I placed a sheet over the top of the whole shebang to prevent dust and fade from sunlight - until I get home tonight that is <G>.

A number of you mentioned/asked what I enjoyed more, the process or the completion. Without a doubt - the process. The creation. The completion to me is like finishing a really good book - like losing an old friend.

So yeah - I guess it's partly that I want it as good as I can possibly make it - and I know my limitations and I don't beat myself up about mistakes taht I consider part of the learning process - and partly that I procrastinate a bit because I don't want to rush the end.

Again ... thanks all.

And yes, my plan is to start quilting tonight and I have the rest of the weekend <G>.

Another Libra that can't seem to get in gear to do anything.

I have done this with every craft/hobby and also my candle and soap business. I have cabinets and closets full of craft projects of every type imaginable. Lots of stuff started but never finished. Others I have all of the supplies but never started. I must have well over 300 stamps because I loved doing it...scrapbooking too. Then I got bored so moved on and on and on and on. You get the picture.

But I will say that I have always loved sewing and keep coming back to it. I used to love to make stuffed dolls and rabbits. I bought a pattern online to make a boy and girl gingerbread dolls. I have everything cut out and ready to sew...bought it 6 years ago...lol. I love gingerbread stuff so I WILL get them made one of these days.

Oh...and this procrastination goes back to my childhood. I'll be 62 in October so my hubby is used to it. LOL

I am a Gemini and also have to be perfect I just wish I wasn't like that it takes forever to finish a project. Sounds funny to admit it but I feel like amma argue with yourself instead of just doing it. Oh well. Guess we just have to push harder. Good Luck. Sue

Success!! I got the two palm trunks quilted tonight!! The bobbin threads on ends have been burried, I just need to bury the top and bobbin threads at the starts. I'm happy with it including the imperfections.

Once I *start* it's all smooth sailing from here.

Tricky part coming up though ... next step is foot prints in the sand :)

I hope you'll have pics. I love Footprints in the Sand it's one of my favorites. I have a cross stitch I did a while back. good luck. Sue

not too long ago, a board member posted a link to the quilter's horoscope. May be this would help? lol. Here is the link to that post.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-125094-1.htm

Lol, I'm a Leo. I tend to see something that interests me and jump right in., then worry about it till it's done, hoping for the best. Lol

Thank you all. I needed a good laugh and you helped. It was all so funny it made me feel better. I was born the 26 of October but it doesn't matter I see myself in all of you. I stay away from deadlines and get done when I get done and enjoy the time. If you go back over everything everyone has said you will see how funny it sounds and have a good laugh also Happy Quilting.