What's wrong with me?
 

I don't know what my problem is. I love picking out fabrics, I piece blocks happily, putting them together with or without sashing is no problem, adding borders can be fun, sandwiching is ok, but making myself sit down to start the actual quilting is next to impossible. What's wrong with me?

Maybe you're just apprehensive about the results,so you don't move on. That first stitch, like the first step of a journey, can be the hardest. Do you machine or hand quilt? If you are FMQ on a machine, do something small like a table runner to get the feel of it & then do sections of your quilt. Before you know it, you'll have it done & you'll be really pleased with yourself! We all have parts of quilting that are fear inducing, so you are not alone!

I don't think there's a thing wrong with you!
There's just parts of "the process" we like better.

You must be my sister :). I get to the quilting part and just stop. It takes weeks to get up enough nerve to put that first stitch in the quilt.

I get stuck at all different places during the process of each quilt I make for no reason :) I just move on until that spirit hits me again which is why I have all those ufo's! Hahaha

I used to be like that when it came to fmq. I was afraid to find out that I couldn't do it. Once I did it a couple of times, I found out that my stitches were fairly good. I was afraid that my stitches would be all over the place. I found out that it was fun. You just need to jump in and do it. Good luck.
Sue

I used to be like that when it came to fmq. I was afraid to find out that I couldn't do it. Once I did it a couple of times, I found out that my stitches were fairly good. I was afraid that my stitches would be all over the place. I found out that it was fun. You just need to jump in and do it. Good luck.
Sue

Sorry for the double post. Don't know what happened.
Sue

Sorry you have that problem. I enjoy all of the quilting process. I am happy to get one done so I can start another. I have a rule for myself. I totally finish one quilt before starting another.

I'm your sister too! Perhaps we are long lost triplets, separated at birth!

I hate the actual quilting and like both of you, I have to psych myself into starting the actual quilting.

The hardest part is figuring out how I want to quilt it what thread ect. This can slow me down a bit. I to like jingle find I have to finish one quilt before starting another.

Worse than the quilting is the ripping. Unfortunately I had a terrible wrinkle in the middle of my most recent quilt. I have spent the better part of a week ripping. I had to break it up yesterday with fun by cutting and sewing a different quilt. I love quilting as there are so many varied parts to the process, but I hope I don't ever have to go to the ripping part again. Rip, rip.

Not a thing!!! You just like all of the other parts of quilt making a LOT more than you like the actual quilting. There are lots of folks like you out there!! Most of them send the quilt out to the long arm quilter at that stage. :) You could consider that...though you might be like me, unwilling to pay the cost. Perhaps you should consider a different type of quilting....I have found that I really like doing SID, the others, not so much. Or maybe you want to tie them instead of quilting?

Or maybe you just need a nice reward...more fabric, for example??? Or chocolate, or good music in the background??
Or just someone saying "You can do it!!" You can, you know.

Dina

Nothing's wrong with you! Some people just enjoy one aspect of the proses more than another. In my guild we have several people who only make the tops, we also have a lady who only does long arm work, one who works mainly with panels and uses her DM only. to each there own, do what you enjoy doing.

Glad to know I'm in good company! However I want to get this one done and I just can't seem to move forward on it. At the rate I'm going I guess I might as well just start hand quilting on it.

that's what's holding me back at the moment. I have some reverse stitching to do.

I was like that until I got my midarm frame setup. Now I'm *really* happy I have a stockpile of quilt tops to quilt! I just don't like sitdown quilting on my domestic machine, even though I've done it. I ***do*** enjoy moving the machine around on a frame setup. Fun, fun, fun!

I don't even get that far. I've decided I'm a block maker or maybe a top maker. Can't tell you how many stacks of blocks I have or tops that need borders.

There's nothing wrong with you. I think many quilters have similar problems with one aspect or another of the process. It seems to me that we all have difficulty "launching" into the part of the process where we have least faith in our skills. I'm guessing your strengths are design and careful piecing. If that's the case, your quilts may not need elaborate quilting to make them shine anyway. I know I spend too much time obsessing over "just the right" design. Don't beat up on yourself though. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU. Don't even think like that.

My least favorite parts is marking my quilt top. I'm always struggling with how to best mark it, and with what, and at the same time terrified I'm going to ruin my quilt by not being able to get rid of the marks afterwards... So yeah, everybody has a part they're not too fond of, and most of the time that's the part that you continually put off.

I think that is my problem. Especially now with the issues I am having, hand quilting is so much harder now. And there is no way I could quilt on my DSM. It about killed me just putting the bindings on the three quilts that Leesa quilted for me. {Maybe it was because I ended up binding all three within two weeks.} Someday I might get a mid-arm but Leesa is going to be finishing up for me in the near future. I just tied two baby quilts, and that was hard enough.

I am terrified at almost every stage of the process. Picking out a pattern can take two days. Pulling fabric results in a pile twice as big as needed. Then it ferments for a few days until some say "No" and some say "Yes" and some say "Maybe". A trip to the fabric store may be required. Cutting really scares me. Then piecing. Then doing the sandwich--I am always certain there will be folds. Marking is a day or two more, because the idea of designing the quilting pattern is also pretty scary--what if it is just stupid or doesn't complement the piecing? Quilting takes a day or two up o two weeks. The only fast part is the binding, because I am eager to get to the hand stitching on the back. Love that step.

But almost without exception, only DH knows how difficult each stage is. People just see the results and they love it.

I have more experience piecing so it comes easier to me. I'm a novice when it comes to quilting so it takes me a while to get up my nerve to start that process. Once I do I am learning to enjoy it too!

That sounds like what I used to do. When I had over 20 quilt tops, I finally bought a long-arm machine and quilted like a demon. First couple were iffy, while learning, the rest came together real good. So......I think you're just ready for a long arm machine. Now, if I could find an easy way to attack those bindings....

Yes! An added bonus of hand quilting - it goes so slowly you can formulate your quilting pattern as you work - you don't have to design the quilting pattern entirely. One small stitch at a time. Less intimidating that way!

Some people like to make the tops. Others like the quilting. I'm always happy when the top is finally completed and I can do the quilting. I'd rather quilt than make the tops!!

I hate cutting and ironing!

Mom-6, you are just fine! I love all the processes of making a quilt except...you guessed it...getting started with quilting on my midarm frame. I do have some ideas for quilting, but I often stand in front of the quilt on the frame and scratch my head, lol. When that happens, I simply force myself to take that first stitch, and I am okay after that. Sometimes I surprise myself. It does become easier with time.

I hear you! I have several tops that are awaiting basting and quilting. I even have the backing for most of them. I spray baste, so I can't even use the arduous process of pin basting as my excuse. In essence, I don't know how I want to quilt them and I'm afraid to mess them up with less than beautiful FMQ. This is especially true of a quilt that I made with all quilt shop fabrics ( an unusual luxury for me). Now my fear is that by the time I finally do some thing with it, I will no longer be in love with the pattern and fabric choices. I'm considering just paying to have it quilted so I can start using it.

You're in good company. I love piecing, don't mind binding, and love the quilting part ... but sandwiching - ugh!

I think you should accept that you are a "piecer". Enjoy that aspect of quilting and let someone else do the quilting for you. There are a lot of us that prefer quilting to piecing. We all have our strengths and what we enjoy doing the most and we should embrace them. ;)

Nothing's wrong with you, I'm pretty much the same way, get the top done, then....procrastination sets in! LOL!

I don't think there's ANYTHING wrong with you!! "The actual quilting" is probably my least favorite part of the process, as well... my left arm gets tired, I'm not as confidant, I'm not as skilled, and I definitely like to move faster that I can when quilting!!

I guess I hope there's nothing wrong with you... because if there is, it's wrong with me, too!!! :-D

I really didn't like quilting with my sewing machine and struggled to get quilts done, so I bought a mid-arm quilting machine (Viking Mega Quilter) on a frame and now I love to do the quilting! No more basting and crawling on the floor either! These machines are easy to find used on Craig's List and Ebay for very reasonable prices ($1000. to $1500.)

I am a "topper" too. I love that part of the process. I use a long arm quilter or eventually do them myself. I would like to get better at machine quilting but do not want to stop piecing long enough to practice. Lol

I understand, I have to be in the mood to quilt them or they will sit UFO for awhile. I have 3 on the shelf right now that need quilting. :D

What about making a few mug rugs to practice your quilting . They'll probably turn out just fine and you have the benefit of using them yourself or giving as gifts.
.

I took an old sheet, sandwiched it, and just quilted all over it. Some I marked, some I just freehanded and now I am not so afraid. I used the old piece to cover my machine for a long time, now I don't even know where the thing is

I'm with you. I go back farther than you though in that I dislike the sandwiching. Then the quilting is a struggle because I find it hard to manage the bulk of the quilt on the mach. So if there is something wrg. with you, I'm in line with you.

I had a friend who lived fulltime in a big motorhome. All she did was quilt. Had piles of tops everywhere til you couldn't sit down anywhere without picking up a pile of tops. The big thing was that she didn't even care that none were finished. Just wanted to create tops.