How long des it take to get un stuck? I havent sewn a quilt in two months I want to but I go to the material I get everything ready . I just cant force myself to cut the material . I know half of it will be cut wrong and Im gonna get really frustrated but . I want to do it i just cant DO IT . Im open to suggestions .

I was in a slump for over 5 years. I even packed everything into storage boxes and stored all my fabric, supplies etc. Was I glad I kept everything. I am back and if I had to invest in all of it again, I could never made the things I am making. Don't give up. Don't feel guilty. It will be there in time. Focus on other interest and don't force yourself. :-(

Just know that if you do cut it wrong[which you won't] it can be sew back together {maybe nt in the pattern you are planing but in to something] It is time for you to QUIT be so hard on youself and have some fun. [ the frist cut is the hards] get to cutting and have so fun.

I get in those...I'm in one right now...What helps me is if I go to a class even if I'm not doing what they are. That way I get motivated again. Maybe that's what I need to do, my quilt group is doing a Braid class but I'm not interested in that, so maybe I'll just go with my own stuff...GOOD LUCK to the both of us...LOL

Baby steps. Not sure by your message why you feel you will cut everything wrong, perhaps the whole cutting out process is overwhelming for you? Baby steps. Take your list of cutting requirements, and one color of your fabric and make all the cuts for that one fabric today. Then step away, be happy with your accomplishment, make a checkmark next to your cuts made on your list and start again another day.
I find most of my mistakes made are when I'm tired, and just want to get it done.

Sewfanatic, you're not alone. We all get in a slump every so often. Go to the search tab and put in quilting slump, there's a long list of topics and remedies.

You'll be back to yourself in no time! :thumbup:

Sorry for the slump. I guess I always get extra fabric in case I do make a mistake. As for cutting it wrong - sounds like a great reason for a scrappy or crazy quilt.

I always get more quilting done in the fall and winter. Maybe with autumn just around the corner your enthusiasm will return.

Ditto

I'd take a class. Taking a class or workshop always gets me out of a slump. If you don't have one nearby maybe we can do a quilt together here on the board... Just pick out a project and work on it together. ;)

I'm in the same slump. After I bond two quilts, I got all the material washed for my new project. The material is still sitting there waiting to be cut. It's been over a month. Quilting for me is like a bipolar condition. I have my manic phases where all I do is sew, sew, sew then there are the lull phases of why can't I get motivated. Sometimes you just got to force yourself to do it and then the excitement of finishing the first block and then finishing the top comes.

It will pass - we all experience it along the way - I usually get it after Christmas - you are here and still looking and reading - you will get back to it when you are ready.

May you could try something else that is small and easy to get beck into a sewing frame of mind. If it doesn't work you're not out much, and you didn't ruin the big fabric. (Place mat, mug rug, small wall hanging, anything like that.)

Gads, I feel for you.

When that happens to me I stop sewing/quilting. I start going through my magazines and books looking for something that I really like. Then I actually RE-WRITE the directions so that I have it all together the way I want it. That usually jump starts me.

ali

I was going to suggest the above. Or make something specifically to give away to a charity. A small lap quilt for a nursing home or a small child's quilt for your local hospital. The birthing method works fantastic for these which makes them extra quick.

When faced with something that is causing me stress (or a slump) I set that aside and do something different for a while. Next thing you know that time will pass! Good Luck.

This morning I was telling my dh that I am thinking of just selling everything in my sewing room and just be done with it! Instead of agreeing with my weak pity party moment, he just said "come winter you will have more time to sew". Tonite just walking thru my sewing room I found myself FM on a baby quilt, done and ready for binding. WOW, what a difference in a day!
Hang in there!

wow! I thought I was the only one, and mine has been for a cou;ple of weeks! I just started on something yesterday, so maybe I am out of the slump! got so much to do, and holidays coming up! Wanted so much to do things for the holidays.

I was in a slump big time too. My old Elna DIED. I couldn't find a replacement that I loved. Finally found my way back. I found a Singer 401 and restored it. I love it. AND I found another used Elna. Vintage is so much happier.

I am making a pinwheel quilt and I cut some of my squares too large... now I have to trim trim trim. Also, I did not get enough of the white... back to JoAnns I have to go... I also need to pick out fabric to use for stashing and side panels. Wow is me... lol Pick a pattern, pick up your scissors/rotary cutter, and proceed. Mistakes are for creating your own unique pattern. Go girl!!!

I've been there too :-( :-( . I'm finally crawling out of mine. I started going to a stitch group and getting involved in making charity quilts. I didn't have to agonize about fabric choices or patterns or colors....just sewed.

Hi,I am in the same state myself,after teaching people patchwork and quilting over the last twenty years I find myself in a 'no can do' situation.I can still give others ideas but just can't seem to help myself.We are moving house next month and I'm hoping then I will find the time to rediscover my inspiration ---quite a drastic step to offer you,however perhaps if you take another craft up for awhile you will come back to the best one of all.Hope you soon come out of the doldrums. Love Letty

I get in slumps all the time and just wait them out. I have noticed that when I put too many projects on my plate, or give myself short deadlines that I seem to go into slumps more easily. I think quilting then feels like work instead of play and I don't need another job! :P

I am trying to sew with no timeline or expectations and that helps me.

Trust me, I know how you feel, I been in one too. Of course, I lost my DH 3 wks ago to cancer, so everybody says it's normal for me to be this way, not wantin to do much of anything! But I do know, I spend entirely too much time on here to get much sewing done!

I've been there also. It will come back just give it some time.

You're making yourself fail before you even start. Saying you WILL mess up when you're cutting the material is not an effective way to be productive. Maybe if you take a more laid-back approach, saying to yourself that "if" you mess up, so what ... there's plenty more fabric to do it right and you can use the messed up material for scrap quilts. Go easy on yourself. You are frozen in self-doubt. None of us are perfect!

How about using some scraps and if you make a mistake it won't cost as much. Look at the pictures and tuts here and one can't help but get inspired.

I was doing a zig zag quilt for my niece. Had a terrible time lining it up in the zig zag pattern plus I had increased the size so I had to figure that out. Finally I got it all laid out correctly with DH help. That night I had a nightmare that somebody came and threw all of the carefully laid out squares up in the air. The quilt is now finished except to the binding and embellishments. So hang in there.

sometimes I just spend 15-30 minutes fiddling around in my sewing room. Sometimes I organize, sometimes I read quilt magazines and pull out patters I like, sometimes I just mindlessly sew scraps together. Occasionally, I berate myself..but the slump usually passes. I'm in one at the moment, but I found myself peeking at an old UFO that is calling softly to me! Happy un-slumping!

I'm there right now, but not too worried about it. My "interests" seem to by cyclical. Right now I'm in the cross-stitch/embroidery mood, so that's what I'll do until this urge passes and the next one strikes. But quilting is always on my mind! :D

Don't feel guilty. This too shall pass. Go buy some precuts and start there. Maybe check out the thrift shops for blocks that someone started. Orphan blocks need love too.

WOW...I know how all of you feel. My biscuit/rag quilt is still on the dining room table waiting for me to get back to cutting the seams. My grandaughter's bag...I was working on it this week and screwed up the bindings...sewed the short pieces to the sides instead of the front and back. Realized my mistake AFTER both pieces were on so got as far as ripping out the one...DREADING all of the ripping out of the other one. So it's sitting here while she is impatiently waiting...lol. My Snow babies fabric is on the table to be cut. And the weather here sucks...been cloudy and humid since Friday and is going to be ugly all this week. So I'm in a bad mood about that and don't feel like doing a thing. Well...except going to bed and covering my head.

I told myself...since it's going to be ugly all week NOW you will feel like sewing. Hope I can talk myself into it. LOL

Why do you think it will be cut wrong. Have more faith in yourself, just take it slow

Just relax, don't even attempt to do anything that is quilt related at this time. Close the door to your sewing room and eventually you will get the urge to start something.

Do stay on this board and read, read all entries, then suddenly a fabric, a quilt or a comment made by one of us will inspire you to quilting heaven and on your way to recovery. Have a nice day.

find a pattern you really really like (plenty of samples here) and do the quilt just for fun, no pressure. It works for me again and again (that's why I have so many UFO's)

I could have written this. I feel the same way. It is a struggle. I read everthing I study tutorials and ask however. when it comes to doing it I always mess up or struggle so much I just want it to be done. I have the desire but not the abiity I guess. I have a lot of supplies so I am hoping to do more this winter.

Is that the only material you have? I'd suggest you pull something from your stash and do a different/small project. When you say things like "I'm gonna mess it up anyway? guess what: You will because you set your mind up to mess up. It's called a self-fulfilling prophecy. Why don't you change the tone of your self-talk to say: "Come on! I can do this! It's gonna be beautiful and I can be very proud of myself for meeting this challenge."

If you are concerned about miscuts (which happen to everyone at some point) I think Marcia's idea is great. Try that and I bet before you know it you will be happily sewing along.

Gee, I have been feeling the same way,can't get enthused about any of books or patterns...I think I'll take a class, but I am afraid I won't want to finish the class....glad to see I am not alone...

sorry for your loss Latrinka, its never easy losing someone so close tha you love dearly. Been there done that last year. Give you self lots of time to grieve etc.

Well, I can say that I've been there, done that, many, many times. I haven't done much the last 5 1/2 years since my husband became disabled with vertigo and I got laid off, the second time in a year, and have never found a job. Long story short (although I've been told I don't do short very well by my DSIL), we gave the house back to the bank, moved from a 3-bedroom house to a 2-bedroom apt. I purged a lot of fabric to a friend and some charity groups, but held my ground on the last group of plastic bins - there is a limit. We were in the apt. over 6 months before I could get organized enough to begin quilting. I've made a few quilt tops, table runners, placemats and the family reunion quilt, and I'm slowly - repeat slowly - getting back my quilting bug. My advice, long winded though it may be, is start slow, grab a few quilt magazines, go out and buy new ones, go to your LQS or fabric store and just window shop. I got patterns and some fabric to make clothes for our now 15 month old granddaughter, and that sort of got me going again. You'll get the quilt bug back, just be patient. Best of luck to you and stay in touch with the QB, it has been a God send to me in getting back to quilting with all the inspiration and helpful advice of quilters I now consider cyber-friends.