Trying something new
 

I find it easy to be come almost, but not quite complacent, with my quilting skills. I am always trying new designs or becoming more skilled with PP or foundation piecing or even with patchwork of modern designs.
However once I find a particular way of doing things that works well for me I don't really vary in any direction. I do applique the same way all the time and don't really look for a different way of doing things. I have pin basted or use a spray basting with additional pins for 20+ years with good success. I am pretty good at stippling so I don't do much else anymore and so on. I rarely venture into a new technique of doing something that is different or new. It may not be new to some or even many but outside of my comfort zone.

Well this morning I decided that I would try a couple things new or not tried in a very long time. First I made my blocks using strip blocks on a foundation paper. Something I have not tried before. Second I used Elmer's School Glue to baste a small quilt with. The whole idea with this little quilt project is to try something new as much as I can. Third I am trying to freehand a design onto each of the 8" blocks in the quilt. I am a bit shaky on this part more related to health issues that make my hands jerk than anything else. So I stopped to give my body a chance to settle in for the morning. Lastly, when I get to the binding I want to try a different binding technique. I have a long way to go to get there but I figure if I stay at this little quilt I should have it finished within a couple weeks.

Like I said in the beginning, how complacent, or comfortable with what we do that we do not stretch our skills. I know I have stayed safe in my quilting for a long time, making the more accurate quilt than the learning kind of quilts.

Good for you! I have to push myself to do new things, but push I do.

About a year ago now I was gifted with a beautiful new-to-me modern machine. I had the decision to use it exactly as I had my old vintage machine or to use its features. Some of the tops I've done were just to learn/use those features.

With my vision changing I have to try new or at least different construction techniques.

Recently I pushed my rather stodgy self with a bag of fabrics I saw at the Goodwill. I could see that while I would never have collected those fabrics, there was a quilt in there.

From this board I've tried a number of things, one thing is not pressing my binding in half before putting it on. I'm sort of meh about my results so far, but yesterday I cut some flannel for a backing and binding and I think the non-fold method is the exact thing I need with this thick flannel.

Also this past year I've been doing more with gripping rulers after a thread on this board. I had tried them when they first came out and didn't like them, but now my 6.5x24" Quilters Rule is my go-to for cutting strips.

I've developed techniques that work for me, I'm happy to try new ideas to see if they work for me or not. Some do/some don't, only way to know is to try!

Personally, I think we are are own worst enemies when it comes to judging our own work! Most people (non-quilters) wouldn't know HOW you did what you did, and would most likely think it was lovely. I am a very inexperienced quilter (don't really quilt, just piece and send to longarmer) but I won a first place ribbon in two shows on a quilt I made for my DIL. I was floored! Not my "best" work, but a stunning quilt, and that is what the judges saw. Trying new things is how we learn, even if we think we already know it all, lol! You go girl!

Confession time here. When I first started quilting and had no idea what I was doing, I use to cut my fabric by using the measurements on my cutting mat, not from the ruler. Only used the ruler as a straight edge. Lots of lining up the fabric with the grid lines, counting out the inch increments, hoping I was in the right spot for a 1/4 inch mark. So being right handed, I started cutting on the right and working left. Then I saw where you used your top ruler to measure the strip you wanted to cut, probably here on QB. Light bulb over the head moment! So even though it took some relearning on my part, I switched it all around and then started cutting from the left. Took a bit to retrain my brain but eventually I got it and my cutting was a lot more accurate. Then after doing it that way for a few years, I saw someone using a Slidelock ruler and I loved the way it gripped the fabric as you were cutting. It went on my Christmas wish list that year and DH came through. But guess what, now I had to retrain the brain again to cut from the right. So in this case, the something new was really something old, just way more accurate.

I like to try new things, and new gizmos. I'm a sucker for a gizmo! I recently got a 2.5 x 12" creative grids ruler. How have I lived without it? So handy, for what I do. I watch a lot of you tube videos and if something new appeals to me, I try it. I am working on precision, (not perfection) after 15 years of quilting! Really trying hard, and using a Sally Collins book as my inspiration. I keep it open to the page to encourage me. I think precision will make it all easier for me.

I try to learn at least 1 new thing every year.

Oh learning new things is sooo good

I will only try certain things. Otherwise I stick to the way I have always done things. That has helped me be more accurate and precise. I am able to make my donation quilts faster and better. A lot of things I do now I don't even have to give much thought, just comes naturally.

Taking classes helps me keep my brain tuned up, too, although I try to avoid those that require buying yet another new tool. I've been quilting over 40 years and find that one of the best things about it is the almost daily opportunities for learning and trying new things. Sometimes using even a different type of fabric can be a learning experience.

The thought crossed my mind the other day that I should try paper piecing. At least give it a try. Haven't found a quilt shop in my area that teaches it and don't really want to go into the expense of buying everything until I'm sure it's what I like doing. You are braver than I am...LOL

It is certainly a challenge to stretch our skills. I have to be in the mood or interested in the color and design to step out of the box.

There are four projects in the bin right now that I'm working on at different times. Some are machine embroidery and others are quilt related.

We can feel intimidated by what we don't know. Sometimes that is even better that we don't know but learn.

There are many tutorials on the internet for paper piecing if you can learn that way. Hardly any expense at all if you learn the freezer paper method. Keep trying - it opens a whole new world for you!

BTW, I'm going to give paper piecing another go. I've done it before but it is not one of my strong skill sets, mostly so I got some odd angled star points right. I'll be making some small animals, just 6-8 blocks and I'll be ready to go on that project. Last time I thought I'd get the hardest out of the way first, two tiny hummingbirds. I am prepared to redo them which is a good thing! LOL. This time I'm going to start with the easy ones, horse and pig faces, then move on to the chicken and chicks, and then the hummingbirds last.

I'm hoping to make time each day (which isn't happening right now) to practice free motion quilting. It's the only way I'm gong to improve ... but I feel like I'm wasting materials, thread, etc. I've got to overcome that. I want to do more embroidery work and applique to incorporate into my quilts. I would like to try ruler work. I recently made some hot pads. Now that doesn't sound like learning much, but with 3 layers of batting (including the heat absorbing) + the top and back was a challenge to keep things from shifting when quilting. But I did it thanks to some help from those on on this Board.

I tend to want to try new things a lot. My problem lies with "new" colors..I seem to gravitate toward certain colors, so I am trying to branch out with my color choices..it has really opened up a new world for me!

Iceblossom: Go for it! Paper piecing is so much fun. There are different methods and it may take a bit to find what fits you. I am going to try som EPP here in the near future I am getting my supplies together and should be all set in the next couple weeks. This will be a traveling project that I will take with me to a variety of waiting rooms.

Sharonquilts: That is what I have been trying to do with this quilt. It doesn't look all that good to me but DH thinks it looks great (humm could I be to hard on myself??)! The only way to improve is to try. I found it difficult to manipulate the small quilt in the small space I had to work in. I was using my Juki. My everyday machine. I am pretty fair on the 1500se Brothers but could use more practice time there too now that I am not using the stitch regulator any more.

Donna13350: I too have colors that I prefer and almost all my quilts have at least some turquoise or teal in them. I can't seem to get away from those colors to save my life. I have an extensive stash and so color or fabric theme is never a problem. You are right to get away from the colors that bind us up is a big challenge.

I have put together and FMQ'ed the 20 block center of this quilt that I will keep for myself with all its imperfections so I can get a better grip on FMQ using my day to day machine. The next section of the quilt will be a 6" boarder that I will feather all the way around. I have done this many times on my grace frame but the is a much smaller machine and smaller space to work in. I will get it started tomorrow I hope. I have a very busy schedule this week and the time I usually save for sewing and quilting has been promised else where. So I must work later in the day and I don't have the time to get much done in the afternoons. I will keep you posted.

I am left-handed and dyslexic, so paper piecing seems beyond my ability (not for lack of trying). I can do fantastic applique which "floats" on the background, so I have decided at my age (in 80's) not to worry about new stuff--just enjoy what I can do.

Maybe you can find someone in your area who could help you with paper piecing.

Oh, Carolynjo, I have friends who paper piece like fiends and who have spent time with me. They've helped a lot but everyone agrees that I need more help! I've watched videos and read threads and make various attempts. I scoffed at first but I rather like the little ruler with no markings but the lip for the seam allowance, the spinning cutting board, I've gotten all sorts of help and gadgets but my mind just has not had the Aha! moment and I just don't get it.

I did a whole star quilt with paper pieced points and I can get that, it's just a couple of seams. But these intricate pictures and things, the precision required for some of it is just mind blowing to me.

I'm actually really excited about this project and want to work on it but have been dreading the paper piecing. But there's no way to get better without doing I guess.

Since my last go-round, I'm also going to use a smaller needle than I usually use. If that doesn't work, I'll try larger! Most of my blocks are relatively large -- I think the pig face as I've drawn it is about a 6" square, the horse face maybe closer to 8". The mama chicken also maybe around 8, but there will be 3 chicks who will be more like 3" each, they aren't too intricate. And then finally the hummingbirds. 4" finished I think but for me a relative lot of pieces and angles. I've already done a large barn I'm pretty happy with. I might do a sheep block, not sure. Again it would be about 6" and relatively easy. I have a rooster drawn out but don't think he's going to make it into the top.

The rest of the quilt will be various sized pieces of farm related fabrics. Crops grown in Washington, pigs and sheep and chickens, horses and a lake with fish and ducks leading on up to some deep woods, farms glimpsed in the distance and mountains and sky.

It will be quilted in an all over edge to edge chicken wire design using a slightly metallic thread and then (for me anyway) heavily embellished, I have things like bunny buttons to hide in the cabbage patch, an owl for the open upper window of the barn, a tractor applique for one of the roads. The fence for the horse corral will be pieced in white/grass strips and then a ribbon sewn on for the cross beams.

When I'm playing with my fabrics the quilt just builds itself, but I need to get those paper pieced blocks done!