What I learned about quilting
 

What I have learned about quilting in the past few years;
1. Daisy chaining small pieces for quilt blocks saves a lot of thread: and, creates a new toy/game for the puppy if it slides off the back of the desk.
2. A fingernail is a great tool. Placed in that elusive groove it makes it easy to guide fabric for 1/4" seams; unfortunately, it does tend to break. Replacements take forever.
3. Die cutting pieces is a wonderful time saver: and, the unattended mat makes a great chew toy.
4. Instruction manuals give great information once you learn the language.
5. Directions are only suggestions; follow only when they apply - sort of like speed limits.
6. When a "mess up" isn't seen until the guilt top is done - just say you're following ancient traditions. A flaw must be present to avoid upsetting the gods.

would like to add:

7. The yardage required information for a quilt is only someone's guesstamation. The out of production fabric that you love and is the focal point in the quilt will be the one that you only need 4" to finish the project.

8. Your sewing machine will act up if it knows you are in a hurry. (electronic telepathy).
9. Your sewing tools like to hide in mysterious places. (Underwear drawer? Don't ask).
10. Someone will tell you after you show them your finished project - you can get one just like that in Marshall's for $39.99.

Now back to sewing after I put pork barbeque in the crockpot, and eat my breakfast.

All so true!!

One thing that I have learned about quilting is that perfection isn't near as important as having fun while quilting. The other thing is that I can't figure out how some tools disappear when I just used them two minutes ago.

love your writing!!!

I've also learned, "Finished is better than perfect". That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Yes.....and the quilt gods must be kept at peace......thanks for your wisdom...made me smile as we have all been there!

I agree wholeheartedly!! Especially don't want to offend the Gods!

And only God is perfect , so your quilts do not have to be perfect.

I've learned,

#1, there is no such thing as perfect. If no two snowflakes, leaves, people, etc, etc are alike then which one is the perfect one???

#2, it's only fabric, nobody dies.

#3, if it's really, really bad, I really, really can wad it up and throw it in the trash or cut it up and use it in something else.

I can add: when you have worked frantically overtime to finish a request by a deadline, the person who asked you to do it in the first place, says - oh, thanks a bunch but I decided not to give that as a gift now. And I don't have any use for it. But thanks anyway......

I have learned that spending time on the quilting board quiets my soul, improves my outlook, and begins to teach me that there are so many ways to do things. Thanks!

I've also learned that, if it turned out really, REALLY bad, the animal shelter absolutely LOVED them!!!!

I've learned that my dog loves chewing on my pin cushion. lol

All to cute.

As the adopter of 3 rescue dogs, I would just like to say a huge "THANK YOU" to all the quilters out there who donate their fabric crafts to animal shelters. It warms my heart to think this craft I've decided to learn has so many wonderful gifters of comfort and love in it.

Michelle

the first lesson i learned was that there are no more kind or generous people than the folks on this board. They will encourage and support you through every challenge

This was sew true!!! I think I learned all this stuff too!

lol-you are cracking me up this morning.

You have the same gremlins as me.

cats like them, too. :)

i never worry any more whether or not i will find somebody who likes a quilt i've made.
might be a people; might be a critter; but somebody's gonna cuddle up in it. :)

I like how all of you think!!!!

You've learned the most important thing of all, keeping your sense of humor through the entire process and through the years! Toooooo funny!

Thanks for the 'words of inspiration' this morning!

Ditto to that!!

That was the premise behind Native American beading...there was always a "spirit bead" somewhere in the piece that was "out of place". It was said to have been the Great Spirit reminding everyone that he was the only perfect one...

I loved reading your post this AM. I have also learned those patterns labeles as "easy" doesn't mean I won't make a beginners mistake.

Many years ago I purchased a magnificent quilt done by the Mennonites from a community here in Ontario & I was told that they purposely put in a mistake because "only God is perfect" & that works for me too.If people want perfect then buy plastic, wood is wood because it has character & so do quilts. My quilts have lots of character but made with LOTS of LOVE.

Patience, patience, and more patience.
If something is bugging you, go walk away or put it away for a couple of days. An AHA moment can strike at any time.

wad it up and throw it in the trash

OH NO! Please don't. Read all the posts about giving things to animal shelters. But the better place, to me, would be to give it to St. Vinney's or Good Will. I have picked up at least 4 quilt tops at those places and finished them and then re-donated them. (On one I had to take out whole rows, but the sewing was so bad that it wasn't hard to do that.) That way at least your work that you have already put into it will be of some use to someone.

...maybe that is where my pin cushion ended -- your pooch! I have looked everywhere. I know I had that one! I can seen it in my head but it is no where. I had to go buy special needles.

If I want to wad something up and put it in the trash there is absolutely no reason not to. It's my stuff. I am allowed to do whatever I wish with my stuff, including pitching it in the trash. I don't have to make excuses. I don't have to put effort into giving it to a thrift store. I don't have to continue working with something to give it to dogs. I do not have to do any of those things. And nobody is going to "guilt" me into doing any of those things if I don't want to.

You seriously have permission to just wad it up and pitch it in the trash if you're totally done with it. If you want to salvage or redeem it in some way, you have permission to do that too.

:thumbup: :thumbup:

Love your learning list, they fit.

Thank you for putting a smile on my face this morning. Just can't seem to get motivated today. Too cold!!

The Quilting Gods: we must appease them whole heartedly! Be sure to bring coffee, chocolate and patience .. LOL

Brilliant observations! Mine are slightly modified, since I have an older dog who doesn't mess with my quilting, but 2 cats who do. They go to prison (a closed room) when I'm laying blocks out on the floor for assembly!

You have hit the nail on the head. This morning I was trying to top stitch around a Bow Tucks bag I was making - first the bobbin spit out extra thread, then the machine decided to go back into bobbin threading mode and it took some effort to get started, then I broke a needle and I still couldn't get over the hump on the bag and the bobbin ran out of thread. That's when I decided to quit, besides I had to take DH to an eye Dr. appt. Oh well, perhaps this afternoon will be better.

I have learned that I cannot get enough done because I spend too much time reading ths board! Lol