I felt that way couple months ago, after a major bout with the flu. Just down, had a hard time bouncing back. I didn't even crochet, which is another creative outlet for me. I started made fabric cards, little projects, they don't take much time from start to finish, uses up the scraps. I made several birthday and thinking-about-you cards. They had lace, some buttons and just play with the design. Now I'm back in the quilting frame of mind again. Just play with little projects until you are back to your old self.

When I retired at age 37 from my company I couldn't stand to even look at a machine. Since I was sitting in front of one from the age of 17, 7 days a week sometimes up to 16 hours a day. Taking breaks to tend to the kids, the house and cook.
It took me about 3 years to get the desire to sew again. People ask me if I will reupholster their furniture or make them some clothes or even quilting I tell then no. I don't want my hobby to become a job.

My Dearest Quilters,

You have given me a lot to think about. I have tried several of the things that were suggested and now I have several more different things to try. I am lost without quilting because it was my escape. My way to relax. Yes, a good kick in the petunias is what I am looking for. I have been feeling unmotivated for several months in various degrees of unwantedness depending on the day. I feel like a coffee connoisseur that had to start drinking water. At this point I think my issue might not be caused by one thing like I was thinking. I think it might be the combination of reducing my quilting budget, can't find any quilters like me to quilt with, being stuck home with the kids, and lack of creativity.

I am still battling with depression after suffering post partum depression back in 2006. Things that would normally roll off others' shoulders tend to stay on mine. My post partum depression left me without a sense of creativity of any kind. Before this happened scrapbooking used to be my escape. When I could no longer handle looking at the photos or create a layout I was intoduced to quilting. With all the various kits available I did not have to make any decisions.

Most of the quilters I have met have been "Queenbees and Wannabees." I had a disappointing quilt retreat that was filled with a few of them that I am afraid has turned me away from retreats or LQS. I am trying to find another LQS that I can call home again. It is hard after you had found one that you loved.

I think I am feeling more optomistic now. I think I was looking for the one solution but I should realize that this is me I am talking about. I never do anything easy. I am eternally grateful to hear that many of you have experienced this feeling of quilter's block. Please, I would like to hear from more quilters.

I have taken quilting "sabaticals" every now and then. The desire to quilt always comes back to me! Sometimes it's a picture in a quilt book or magazine but usually it's something I have already started that I decide to finish. Just going through my projects made me want to get back to them. I looked at my UFOs one at a time (I have dozens) until they started to speak to me. I'd think about each one, list what I needed to do to finish it and before long one would really scream at me, "Finish me! Finish me!" and that got me going again and I ended up finishing 6 of them.

Over the winter I finished all my UFOs. I had to cut on spending. I had quilted 5 of them already and I have about 8 more to quilt. I am counting off the top of my head. The 8th one is not a UFO. I just have to find the perfect backing and quilt it. It is my special quilt so I have to find the perfect backing. I have more kits waiting but I did not count them because I haven't cut into them yet.

My quilts only tells me who they want to go home with. I wish the fabrics would talk to me. Then I can choose my own fabrics when I see a pattern I like.

Start a new project and sit at your machine for about 15 min a day, get a timer...When it goes off quit for the day...By the next day do another 15 min and if in the mood keep going, if not just do the 15 min a day and you will be amaze how much you get done, may it be cutting, ironing, sewing..That is the way I get started again like after a long vacation

Yes, that is what I have been doing to keep myself in the game so to say. You would be surprised at how long 15 minutes can drag. Sometimes it dragged so long that I feel worse than I started. I wonder if this is how quilters acquire so many UFOs? UFOs are tough on me because I am a finisher. I like to finish a project before I start on the next one. Lately I have been getting better or worse depending on who is watching. Before I work on another quilt I would usually work one until I can't due to out of thread color, no more perishable supplies (marker pens, fusible webbing, and etc.), finished top, or sandwich stage time.

I get tired of a big project sometimes so I put it aside and take some time with the grandkids or go shopping or read a book........what ever I want to do for a few days or a weekend. Then I make a small projuect like a table runner or pillowcase. Then the big project seems new again and I can finish it. Just a little variety, sometimes, can make a difference.

If I don't feel inspired or motivated I read and not quilt books. Something unrelated to sewing.

Sybil

I was a fanatic sewer in my younger days. made all my own clothes and as each of my neices went to K, I made them a complete wardrobe for 4 seasons. As a receptionist I started to do my cathedral window, small pieces hand done under my desk. that took me many years. I left it be for over 9 years then went ahead to finish it. My mother passed and she had been collecting some of my scraps cutting them into grandmothers fan. So when I retired and downsized and moved a new neighbor saw my CWquilt and invited me to join a small group. I think having new friends, talking quilts and gosipping once a week has brought the bug out again. I think when you find a friend with a sewing interest you will feel more comfortable. What about inviting some neighbors over to sew or mend or alter or create holiday stuff. Make the cookies and coffee just add people.

that is great you found some sewing and quilting friends!

Sometimes i will get out all my quilting books and just look at the pictures. More often than not, i will see something that will jump start the mood. Don't worry i think we have all been through that. It always temporary. Before you know it you will get back into the groove! Don't let your new machine scare you...just play around with all the stitches and see what happens! :lol:

We have a little branch of the library here that is in danger of closing due to budget concerns and a drop in patronage. I am thinking of asking to organize a little knitting group to meet there for an hour every other week. It will help them and allow me to meet up with some likeminded people. Plus there is a great bench that runs along an old fashioned window that is just begging for knitters or handwork stitchers to sit there and work. Perhaps you could find a way to do the same.

And I get the blahs too when I think I should be enthused about quilting. For me, when my life gets too hectic, I just can't concentrate. So I do a lot of reading in my free time and some knitting that I don't have to think about as much.

During recent illness and afterwards I felt like this , I was very flat as I wanted to join in the Funky House swap and I tried but I just could not manage it. I kept looking through all my quilt mags and got new books from the library to keep me interested in quilting. I came on this sight as it is so good for all kinds of reasons. I am also using a new machine which makes things go even slower till I get to grips with it. My getting back into quilting has been a slow process, I too have sat in front of my machine but could do no sewing! Just take one day at a time is my advise and do not try to force things. Gal

Dear Ladies,

Thank you so much for your encouraging words. They have a ring of testimonial authenticity that I am looking to hear or read. I know one of my problem has been not having success in finding like minded people. Since I don't have the opportunity to go out much or for long periods of time, my chances have rather been slim. Through my therapy sessions from dealing with the post partum depression, I never had trouble finding friends but it turned out I was attracting the kind of friends that would use me to help make them feel good. Since I had learned to recognize when a friendship starts to head that way there are not that many choices anymore. The area I had moved to are not very friendly. I am in my late thirties with four young children. Most of the people around me are retired, rich, or grown children. They are not too kind with mess and chaos associate with having multiple boys.

How do I go about meeting the people in my neighborhood to see about getting the quilters together? I always worry about doing that. Getting to really know the neighbors. What if there is an argument? Now there is war in the neighborhood or am I being too paranoid? I know how some quilters can be a bit steadfast about how things should be done and that is that. I always wanted to be in those old fashioned quilting bees that I read so often about in books.

Wow! An 820! You are so lucky!

But seriously, sometimes being so ill just kicks the stuffing out of you. Your lack of motivation may definitely be a side effect of being sick. Give it a little time and if it doesn't improve I would think a recheck by the doc might be in order.
Look at it this way, at least you have ventured far enough to get your greeting entered. Mine says, Hello, Let's play! ;-)

I just took the classes for my new 730E have had her since end of March, but these were the first classes I could attend. Learned soooo much!

Take care and be gentle with yourself.

I want to believe it is because of the after effects of being so sick but that was weeks ago. When the count start to be replaced by months I start to wonder. I really like your greeting. I might have to steal it. It took me days just to come up with "Happy Quilting!" I did put in the exclamation mark instead of a period. I am planning on never buying another sewing machine again. So I decided to want the mother of all machines. I have worn out three sewing machines in 4 years. The first one is really not my fault. The repair guy did it so I got a deal on a new one.

Sabrina, I am sooo sorry you have lost your zip. If it is spilling over into other areas of your life, then I would definitely have the doc check you out. On the other hand, I'll be once you take the class on your new baby, you will be just chock full of all sorts of new and interesting projects!
God Bless!

I just do something else. I don't feel a requirement to quilt; it's strictly a mood thing for me and I have no feelings of guilt if I'm not in the mood. There's no great demand for my completed quilts and it takes as long as it takes to complete one.

Go and do other things for a few weeks. Close the door to your sewing room or put your quilting all away. (I just went through about a month of that.) Picked up a magazine one day and saw a pattern that really grabbed me and then I was back in it full time! It felt like being afraid that after investing so much time and money into quilting that I'd finished with it and so had failed myself. A bit drastic perhaps but obviously we all seem to have more in common than we thought. Something I learned when suffering panic attacks: "Let time pass"

that is very good advice!

Happily the pattern I came across was the New Your Beauty one from Quilter's World that I'm doing with freezer paper! So fun!

Or, just have a quick dip in the therapy pool for a top up? Sometimes that can get you over the hump, and seeing the Dr is no bad thing - PND can sneak back up on you. Take care, and breathe Sabrina - I hope you feel a bit better soon. Either that, or get a whole heap of blue and black fabric and make how you are feeling. I am sure that every person on this board would send you some!

When I read Jennifer Chiaverni books, I certainly get in the mood to quilt...maybe even by hand!!

I clean and reorganize my sewing room. By the time I am done with oraginizing my stash of everything from fabrics, books, notions, I am ready and inspired to move on to the next project. It works every time. Sometimes so well I do not make it completley through the cleaning/reorganizing process.
Try it , if nothing else you will have a great space when you are ready.

Sometimes I just let it go for awhile, take a break.

Other times, I pick a UFO and say "Today I will do SOMETHING on this UFO, no matter how small." Maybe I plan to sew at least one seam, or square up at least one block. I hardly ever stop at that one small thing, though, and pretty soon the end is in sight, and I get anxious to finish. Having a finished project to admire usually gets me thinking of new stuff I want to do.

Find a place to sew where you go once a week. I got a group of friends together and we rent a room in the library, everyone pays a share whether they go or not, I pay the library the first of each month and they each pay me. The extra is put into a kitty. When I get the do nothing at home I know I will be quilting at least once a week. Right now no one is sewing at home, (gardening, vacationing, baby sitting or just life in general), but we all are sewing at the library.

I work in the garden, knit preemie hats for the hospital, work on my dollhouses or room boxes, read a good book, (mysteries) or just go take a nap. One thing I don't do is eat.

For me, this is where my stash of "works-in-progress" helps a lot. if I'm unmotivated, a often grab a project that is already half finished, and since I don't have to think and decide on a new project, making progress on this one, or even finishing it helps get me restarted. This is why I never mind having UFOs!

Strange. I'm in that state right now. I started having knee problems about 3 mos ago. Since I'm not a doctor fan, I've put it off. Now in pt and that takes up a lot of time.

I like to read and have been doing a lot of that, but I don't feel that accomplishes much. I really like to see some results from the day and quilting or sewing lets me feel that. I'm getting ready to start a new project today...just got to get in the sewing room and hope something happens.

Let's get going.

When I am not in the mood to sew I dig out my quilt magazines and just sit and look through them. I seem to be the go to girl for magazines as many of my friends pass their magazines to me first. After I'm done I pass them on. I almost always find something to inspire me--a pattern, a fabric or maybe the way the colors are put together. When I really don't feel like sewing I cut. I find cutting pieces very calming for me. Of course it means another project to finish but I still enjoy it. All else fails, I read about quilting -- I enjoy all the Jennifer Chiaverini books as well as various other quilt related fiction. Get your friends together and if you don't already have some project going, work together to make a quilt for charity.

If it's nice out I do soemthing garden related. Or I try a new recipe. Ot I come to this site. It doesn't take llong before I'm quilting again

Take a break. Learn something new. You'll know when you're ready to go back to it. It's supposed to be fun, right? If you force yourself to do it, you will lose the joy in it.

That's why a few years ago when my husband said to "get whatever you want" I chose a Janome over DIL's way more expensive Pfaff. I plugged mine in and started sewing, referring only occasionally to the slim manual instead of taking classes and plowing through a thick instruction book. I occasionally yearn for more room for a squashed up quilt but I'm still happy with it.

My best initiative was to start a quilt for "a gift". It is soooo motivational. Nothing greater than the anticipation of giving. In between working on this one, you can work on a UFO that you have been putting off.

i get down in the workroom and make the little quilts i give to Charity. They are easy and quick and at least makes me feel I am doing some quilting. On the other hand I look across the table and see all those projects I intend to do.

I too hit the sewing blues. Every day
I go into my sewing room and sit there looking around, putting my machine on and do nothing. My son has been diagnosed with Lou Gerhigs disease (ALS). He is only 34. I'm trying to make him a quilt to keep his legs warm but can't get started. Any suggestions?

I am suffering that right now. I have an order for 4 quilts out of someone's clothes and I am feeling totally unmotivated. I have finished 2 but for the life of me can't seem to get going on the remaining two.

I can't cut fabric when my vertigo is really active so I play video games.

Gardening or yardwork is good if I'm feeling well.

Oh Thea, I am so sorry for your unhappy news about your son. Think of how much comfort the quilt is going to provide for him by keeping his legs warm. Also, it will be like always being wrapped in your hugs.

Perhaps if you could find a pattern or material that was just perfect for him, that might spur you on.

Your are in my thoughts and prayers.