What do you do when you can't seem to get back into the mood of quilting? I know for some that maybe a blasphemy, but let us just pretend seriously for a second. I don't mean burned out of doing quilting. Maybe unmotivated might be a better description. Quilting used to be an escape. I used to sew at least 3-8 hours everyday faithfully. Now I have a new sewing machine but even that is not working to boost my enthusiasim because I have to take classes to learn to really use it.

What do you do when you suddenly drop the desire to quilt and know you really need to get back into it?

Find a new technique or fabric that inspires me :D:D:D

just get your new machine out and start playing with it, have fun, pretend you are on vacation by yourself and sew, sew, sew

My new machine is so fancy that I keep running into snags. I would have brought out one of my old sewing machines if the new one is not so heavy to move off my table. Until my class date I have to keep the new one out. Plus my DH proudly bought it for me. If I have it put away his heart will be broken. I will keep that in mind about bringing out the sewing machine. If I can figure out a way to have another machine out to sew on maybe I can get back into my escape again. Thanks!

sometimes it's seasonal for me. I am not as active during the summer. I don't let the down time guilt me anymore. Keep your eyes open for ideas, make notes, save images, you'll come around again.

I do small projects when I can't get motivated. The Bow Tucks bag has been a good one.

*Smiling* Go to the classes and learn the ins and outs of the new machine and that will get you motivated again! I am thinking it is the unknowing of the new machine that is putting you off??

What machine did you get? I just got a Babylock Espire and experienced a similar dilemma. So I signed up for the classes (had my first one last Monday) and cleaned my sewing room. THAT took a while. Now I am ready to go again.

When I hit the sewing blues, I usually look at the pictures section here and get inspired. Or I look through my magazines, find a pattern and make a plan. By that time, I am ready to sew again.

Unfortuneately I was feeling this way before I got the new machine. I think that might be why my DH bought it to try to cheer me up. I was sick for 3 weeks where I had to stay on my bed and do nothing but hand work. I don't feel like I need to be bed ridden anymore but everytime I go into my sewing room I just sit in front of my machine. Sometimes I turn it on. I even entered a nice greeting for my machine to show when I first turn it on. I am thinking too that the new class will help me to feel more confident in using my new machine. :thumbup:

I have the 820 Bernina 8 Series. I never owned a Bernina before. My other machines were Brothers, Babylock, and New Home.

Looking at the pictures as been awestruck. There really are some very talented people here. :thumbup:

Maybe you have a bit of a post illness syndrome, and it has knocked you around a bit? I would try a class or an on line tutorial on your machine, and see if that helps. The pictures are good, or put out a call for some magazines from other quilters? I am happy to send you one from Australia, if you think it might help. PM me with you address and I will post it.

I am in the same boat, just can't get motivated.

I think you might be right. I have three boys playing baseball and I can't sign up for much classes. I have one BOM I am still doing but it is not enough to keep me busy until next month. My next new BOM class is not until June. That seems so far off right now if you can believe that?

Thanks for the offer on the Australian magazines. I had a friend that had given me all her Australian Patchwork Magazines. I think I am getting the name wrong. I am good on magazines. I did go and look at some new ones at the magazine stands. Nothing really interested me though. :|

Oh I am so glad to hear that! :) I was worried that I was being a difficult whiner. It is so nice to hear I am not alone in my feelings. Thanks a bunch! :wink:

I know what you mean. Sometimes I am just not in the mood for quilting. I then try to work on other crafts. I just made a necklace I saw online and a few weeks ago I made a couple of cute pincushions. Nothing like a new magazine or a quilt class to get you back in the saddle. Let us know what gets you back 'in the fold'.

Is there a retreat in the area? Can you give a class at your guild? Sometimes you just need a break, or a kick to get you going.

I get that way everytime i finish a top. I dont have any thing cut yet for a new top so cant get started, if i had something cut i would work on it. I am trying to start a project but i need some fabric and cant seem to find something to go with a dallas cowboy fabric that i bought to make my son a quilt. I need a certain kind of blue and everthing i have brought home doesnt go wrong color blue. I only have two choices Walmart and joanns and was at both of them. We have two LQS's but cant afford their prices. I found a nice white to make the stars but the blue i just cant find. Any suggestions.

I was enjoying spending time in my sewing room, tried to get there about 10am til 4pm. I have so many UFO's and at least two in the room waiting for borders. I pull them out, but get nothing done. Have a backing loaded on the frame going on two weeks now......

I get that way when I have too many projects started in my mind. I just have to put them all away and resign myself to work on one at a time. and motivate myself to go go go. this board is a plethoria of ideas and beautiful quilts and friends willing to share that sometimes I just have to turn my computer off and look what I have here and work with that. ex saw the pantry, immediately sent for veggie/fruit prints. duh I couldn't wait and am struggling to finish what I have to for gifts and holiday gifts.

Sometimes the urge just isn't there for me. It usually doesn't last long. I spend some time with my quilting mags and on this site and soon inspiration comes and I'm back at it.

I usually clean up the sewing room for when I do feel like doing something and spend a few days looking through old quilting magazines or, I go to Barnes and Noble and pick up a magazine on something totally other than quilting like beading or photography.

Go buy new fabric. Something out there will inspire you!

Don't force yourself. It will come back in time, when you're ready. Not sewing isn't against the law. :D

A swift kick in the petunia! ;-)

I usually do something else for a while. Crochet, cross stitch, yard work, anything different. Usually just takes a week or so and I'm back at the machine.

I usually go to the library and get a stack of quilting books to look at. They always inspire me!

Hi I know the feeling. Seems like the only sewing I was doing was when I was going to the weekly quilt group. But I finally moved my sewing room around and now I have my desire to go there and sew.

I had this problem too. Then my friend and I started having "sew days". I go to her house once a week, she feeds me breakfast and lunch and we sew all day long. Sometimes her daughter joins us too. Between "sew day" and this message board my spirits are high and I am having a great time!

I hope you aren't suffering from depression! That also was part of my problem and quilting has brought me some relief.

I make up "kits". I use ziplocks and put the fabrics, pattern, thread, etc. in there and keep a basket full of these kits under my cutting table. When I need a project I just shop in my basket!

I read, if I get burnt out I know I need a little me time.(no sewing machine.

Try a small project join the June Doll Quilt swap...maybe you just need something small to focus on, with a short deadline.

I know I was like that about a month ago, worked my way through it, but now with kids home from college my schedule is a bit messed up. Hopefully after this weekend things will settle down and can get back in the grove.

For me, the relief is to do something else! Don't sew, don't read quilt magazines, don't play around with your new machine, don't shop for fabric. These things all were very good distractions for me when I WANTED to sew but couldn't because of home renovations. But your problem right now is that you DON'T WANT to.

If your health allows, go for a walk every day. Find a good novel and get lost in it for a week. Pick a project around the house (organize some old photographs in an album).

Give yourself 7 - 8 days. Vow to yourself to not go back into the sewing room for sewing until a certain date has passed. It would be like counting down to a vacation or wedding or something. You might just get antsy to sew!

Ditto on feeling the same. Whew! I am glad that there are others out there. I was afraid this was a permanent thing.

Rita

Hey, I'm with you right now. I have not sewn a stitch in 3 weeks I even have the fabric layed out on the cutting table and that is as far as I got. I hope I will get to it this weekend. But that is what I though last weekend. LOL

YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

I had just finished handquilting THREE larger quilts and I was just too tired to do much of anything sewing-wise. I started making handbags - that cured me - they were short and to the point projects and now I'm back to handquilting my 'for pay' project - and I'm loving it. Also, getting together with others who enjoy the art of quilting is always a motivator for me.

I set up both machines and take turns using them as I learn the new one. New machines are so complex today that it can definately deter you for a while as you can not just go go go like the older one. Switching back and forth can keep your desire peeked while you learn. Happy Sewing :thumbup:

Try Kaufman Kona cotton, they offer many shades of blues, maybe you could find it there. It's online everywhere, like Hancocks of Paducah.

I just LOVE your idea!!!

I've skipped some of the posts - so -

If one's quilting is a hobby/pastime/relaxation/tension reliever - -

then why would/should one feel guilty about not doing anything with it for a while?

As my Mom would say "It doesn't need to be fed or changed - - - "

When I can't seem to get motivated I usually just drag out all my magazines and start looking at all the pages I have marked with a project I wanted to do someday. The other thing I do is do something completely different, like clean out a high kitchen cabinet I haven't looked in for years. This usually makes me want to quilt.

To the person who received all the Australian magazines from a friend...lucky, lucky your. I love the AP&Q magazines and just found out that here in the U.S. we can't subscribe to them! What a bummer. Of course I also learned that if I could subscribe it would be higher than the $10.00 I pay at the LQS. Oh, well, it's only money.