Tired of repeating the same block
 

I am looking for quilting inspiration and love many of the patterns I see but I am at the point where I read, "Make 240 blocks" or even "Make 48 blocks" and I just move on. Been there, done that. I think I just want to make sampler quilts for a while to learn some new techniques or tackle difficult blocks without committing to having to make dozens of them. I take my hat off to anyone who makes 64 or 80 or 800 of the same block, but I just can't bring myself to even start on such a project anymore.

I don't care much for small projects and want to make large queen or king quilts, so working on some wall hangings or place mats, etc. doesn't seem to be the answer.

Anyone else experience this feeling? What do you do?

I am the same way, seldom am I willing to make even 12 of the same block. I have to really have a great need to be willing to do the same thing over & over. I tend to do more medallion style quilts so I can have a center then surround it with many different borders,styles, blocks

It can be tedious, but having a nice, simple thing to work on when you only have a few minutes is good. Sew fancy stuff when you have hours of time, sew the same block over and over when you're just snatching a brief "rest." Before you know it, you'll have enough blocks for a quilt made!

I do a lot of charity quilt and I need to keep it simple (being disable with poor motor skills) but I like to discover how I can change a pattern slightly and then I am not so bored. Take the square in a square pattern. Widen the strips on two sides of the blocks and it doesn't seem like the same old pattern. It is fun trying to change basic patterns. You have to find a challenge to keep things interesting. Good Luck !!

This is one reason why I always have multiple WIPs. I never get bored with a technique or repetitive block when I can easily flit from one project to another like a butterfly will flit from flower to flower in the garden. Samplers are also a great way to have fun and learn many techniques. I am a big fan of samplers but will always be a multi WIP person no matter what, even when doing a sampler, I will have others going.

I know what you mean. I'm making 48 right now.

I guess I'm in the minority. When doing my paper business, I guess I got used to multiple repetition. 250 invitations, 250 outer envelopes, 250 inner envelopes, 250 RSVPs, 250, well, you get the picture. I do lot of stuff watching TV. I like the repetition. It's relaxing. I also like to chain piece...

I can do 12-24 quite easily if I change up the fabric in each block. I stick with a color scheme and most of mine are patriotic colors. I chose a light background---sometimes all the same sometimes just light. They I use different blues and reds.

I can do a quilts for kids pattern over and over using different fabrics each time. I make Warm Wishes also alot and do not mind that at all. Or a patriotic star pattern using different fabric.

I would not like using the exact same fabrics for all the blocks in a quilt. I like seeing how many I can fit into one quilt all from stash which is ample.

I tend to find patterns with larger size blocks (16" or 20" square) so I don't have to make so many of them. Many more modern designs fit this type of quilting. Also the 'improv' quilt blocks that are 'freestyle' and are all just a little different help ease the boredom, as well as using lots of different fabrics in each block.

I love making new blocks!! Meaning ... different blocks. That is why I enjoyed the boomerang groups that I belonged to so much (not to mention the great variety of scraps I was able to accumulate).

Making 1 block then moving on to a completely different block is my favorite thing. Which is why I will be starting a Dear Jane very soon. You might want to consider this if variety is your spice of life.

That said, I DO have a large project going that is a repeat of two different blocks - 110 of one and 111 of another. I've completed all of one block and am perhaps 20% done with the other block. At times I need the monotony of "keep making the same block" and I make a ton of them. Then I get bored and move on to something else.

How about making a sampler quilt?

I just love to make quilts. If I like a pattern I will make it. Sometimes there are a lot of blocks that are the same, sometimes not. I just finished Sue Garmons Afternoon Delight and before that her " Oh my gosh " quilt. I hardly ever make the same pattern twice.

Funny that you should post this. I just finished a charity quilt that is a quilt of valor. I also was tired of doing the same old things so I made a Sampler Quilt of Valor. Well, it turned out so beautiful and I enjoyed the opportunity to try and tackle new blocks. It has a total of 12 and they are all different. Some of them were difficult for me but I enjoyed the challenge. Try that and see if it helps.

When I run across a pattern like that, I go scrappy. Different fabrics reduce the eye fatigue you'd suffer by making every block with the same fabrics. It really does help!

I do the same , scrappy really does help get through lots of the same block.

I make parts of blocks at one time - so I'm not doing 48 or whatever of one thing at a time.

Of course, that makes the process messier - but it eventually gets done.

I found that working on a quilt with lots of the same block was a great exercise in working on my accuracy since I haven't been doing this very long.

That's exactly why I've made two Dear Janes and am working on a third. I've been making a modified log cabin for the last few weeks and it helps to stop making that same block over and over and make a Dear Jane block or two.

I would also suggest tying a scrappy quilt. A spider web is a great way to use hundreds of fabrics and never feel like you made the same block twice.

A scrappy Jacobs Ladder is another awesome scrap quilt. It might be made from HSTs but when every one of them is different, I never get tired of choosing fabric for the simple block.

Barn Raising is another HST block but with many fabrics it never gets tired.

When I make these scrappy quilts I work one block at a time and just keep adding to the design board untill it is as big as I want. Then I sew them all together.
peace

My sister has given me two books just filled with blocks to try. One has 200, and the other 501. You had stated that you prefer to do bed sized quilts. A sampler is just perfect for you. If you can find enough that you want to try. I tend to make a lot of lap quilts.

Yes, that happened to me too. And, like you, I certainly admire people who can persevere in finishing so many blocks. So I've gone more modern. I make a limited number of blocks, sometimes the same block in various sizes, and arrange them in a sea of fabric. At first the fabric "seas" were solids, but now I'm using print fabrics in large chunks. I'm sure after a while I'll be tired of this way too and will move to something else

This is exactly what I was thinking. I would get completely bored doing the same block over and over. If you want to keep the overall look cohesive, you can use the same color fabric in the same place in each block, just vary the prints. I like to do medallion quilts for the same reason. The sewing isn't quite as repetitive.

Nancy, it does start to get boring when you have to make a lot of one block. Even with assembly line piecing... yawn. Have you tried sewing a row quilt? Like a sampler, but with each row having a repeated block. There are some really pretty ones out there.
Check out this search I just did: http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins...ts&rs=ac&len=9

If I find a quilt I really like and it has a lot of repeating blocks I do several projects at the same time and only do one or two blocks and then move on to something else. I come back to that quilt several days later and do a couple of more. This makes it less boring and it is surprising how soon you seem to be putting it all together. This works for me and especially with paper piecing.

I guess I'm in the minority. I am just finishing up my recycled shirt pineapple quilt, piecing the borders. Each block has 41 pieces and I made 56 12 inch blocks. When I am doing a big quilt like this one I tend to use the different elements as leaders and Enders while working on other projects. That's why quilters are all different. Some like simple, quick projects, others more involved projects. I guess I'm a mix of both. Started the pineapple quilt in January, but I've completed 12 other quilts in between, some large and some small. Make quilts that make you happy and not overwhelmed with the process. Finishing, in my opinion, is most important.

Me too. These type of quilts go together fast and are never boring. Bigger is better.

I am in the same boat! I have several tops that are almost finished sitting in a tote because I got bored. I must have quilters block , I don't even want to quilt, I've taken up hand embroidery and crochet. I walk into my sewing room and I feel like the quilt fairies are staring at me and chanting "traitor! traitor! traitor!" Janey Janome, my best friend, quietly weeping and suffering from desertion! sniff

I like One Block Wonders for this reason-- even though I'm sewing the same block, each one is different and I like the variation. Starting a new one today as a matter of fact.

I love making samplers for that very reason!

There are many BOM sites, if you like to sew a lot, try several. If you sew a little, try one.

I, too, suffer from boredom when doing the same thing over and over. I was recently on McCall's site and found a quilt that has a lot of variation. I down loaded the free instructions and hope to start on it soon. Go to www.mccallsquilting.com/quiltalong Hope this helps.

I am with you on making the same block over and over. I am making a "Road to California" quilt with multiple blocks. Have 12 out of undecided number made. I am using the psychology to make one each day or two, and telling myself I will take a break on this one then!! (Hope it works!)Mariah

I try to stay away from small blocks and enlarge or go twelve inch blocks so I want have to make so many. I don't mind the smaller ones on baby or lap size quilts. When I get tired I put it away for awhile but that adds to my ufo pile.

If I love the pattern enough I'll suffer through it.

I am making Lovers knot. 163 blocks all the same but 2 different color ways. I have about 120 done. It took 3 days about 3 hrs each day.

I have a solution for all of you. Try something new. I sew for a charity, and I don't use any patterns. Here is an example. Let's say you have 4 or 5 squares with animals for kids on them. Generally you discard something like that because there isn't enough blocks for a whole quilt. Got to think outside of the box, ladies. Every quilt doesn't need to be exactly the same!! Say---put a border of different colors on each square. Lay this blocks out on a flat surface and place them in a scattered pattern. Ok, now think "what else can I do?" Oh, I will make some half- sq. triangles to go around one side. Oh, now they need a small black edge to set them apart from the block. How about a block with a big flower going up the whole side. (do it.) lay it out and decide the placement. Then I would think---some small churn dash blocks or some wonky star blocks would look cute placed in another area. this thinking process continues and you have made "your own design"! I have so much fun doing this method. I don't get bored. Sometimes you have a lot of partial seam sewing, but with black strips to separate the motifs, it works in easily. I will post an example here.

Am I the only one that likes that sort of thing? It's great for when I'm too tired or lazy to think. I like to have an easy project and a harder one going at the same time.

Quilting can have a lot of repetition and I certainly am not interested in doing the same block over and over, particularly if it is the same fabrics. You might want to scroll through the photos on this Flickr group. Yes, there are lots of quilts with the same block repeated, but there are lots that are distinguished by wonderful design and color. Take a look.

https://www.flickr.com/groups/themodernquiltguild/

Some of those row quilts are wonderful. A couple of years ago my guild did row quilts by swapping. You would make your own row and then pass it on to someone else to add a row. The results were so much fun. I was new in the guild and didn't participate as I was afraid of 'messing up' but I'm hoping we'll do it again it the future.