I was reading Harriet Hargrove's 'Machine Quilting' book and became immediately depressed. The intricacy of the quilting in that book is something I don't think I will ever achieve.

Then I started thinking...do I want to be a "master quilter?" I decided I would rather be a cozy quilter than a master quilter. I can be so obsessed about seams and points and lines that I decided if I become too picky it will take the joy right out of it. I like to make quilted things and dolls for gifts and enjoyment and therapy and am considering selling as well, and I want them to look "Nancy Perfect", but I also need to feel happy about the process and the end result.

So, to what standard do you hold your quilting?

Not perfect by any means LOL
I try to keep my piecing and quilting to the standard if it looks good from a few feet away then it is good 'nuff :D:D:D
I would never hold a maganifying glass to anyone's work and hopefully they would not do it to mine :wink:

I would say I am a cozy quilter. I want to get things finished - I can't do perfect and finished .... I would lose interest way before I hit perfect. (is there such a thing as a perfect quilt?)

I always try to make things as perfect as possible but in the real world that seldom happens. My friend always tells me "It's made with love and if you have done your best that is all that matters." Bless her. I have long understood that I will only ever be a quilter of utility type quilts. Although I greatly admire those who do art and show quilts I am very happy just doing simple snuggly quilts. :-D :-D :-D

What a great question! I hope people are comfortable answering this because it is important to have this question answered in our own minds as it rules our work ethic. As for me, my goal is always "DONE." My step-father never finished anything and as a young adult I realized his issue was his goal, perfection. Of course I have the requsite basket of UFOs just like everybody else, but I do try to set a yearly goal of number of finished projects and strive for it.

Cozy quilter sounds awesome, I want my quilts to be used and loved not on display somewhere for people to look at.

I use a microscope at work, I don't want to get into perfection when I quilt. It's a hobby and I enjoy it tremendously . I do notice that with practice my quilts are getting better and more within a tighter tolerance. Still when I admire some of the work I see here on the board and at the shows I have to remind myself that those artists had to start somewhere too.....:) :mrgreen:

I really like the term cozy quilter...thanks! I'm still new at this and I'll never be perfect. If I hold myself to that standard, it will paralyze me from ever doing anything, because I'll never reach perfection. And I'll drive myself nuts. I do totally admire beautifully made quilts that demonstrate real artistry. I drool over some of the projects posted here, as well as at quilt shows and in books. But if I make that MY personal goal, I am setting out to fail. I can only hope to keep gradually improving with each project. COZY is the perfect description of my ultimate goal!

I'm a cozy quilter too.

I want to be proud of what I do, but I also don't want to get wrapped around an axis over 'pefection'. Once a top has been pieced, quilted & bound most people just see the finished project and don't 'inspect' it w/the same critical eye that we do while we're making it. Would it be nice to win a blue ribbon or some kind of award? Sure. But is that why I quilt? No. I am one of those people that no matter how hard I try, nothing I make is PERFECT. I've decided I'm ok w/that. I like to think that everything I do IS perfect - perfectly imperfect *giggles*

I too like "cozy" quilter...
My standard? I try to improve on each project. I figure if I keep trying to best my best, I am doing what my school's mission statement asks me to do: be a life long learner!