Are quilters perfect?
07-02-2017, 06:34 PM
#81
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 547
Originally Posted by Sewnoma
Please, be my guest! 
My first quilt was absolutely abysmal. I didn't even KNOW about quarter-inch seams, and almost none of my seams lined up right, and I had all SORTS of newbie problems. But I finished it, and it's on my bed all summer long every year, and unless I look close I can barely notice all my many, many, MANY mistakes. It's a good reminder that even a "bad" quilt is better than a boring blanket.
In fact I often drag that quilt downstairs when I'm teaching a new friend how to quilt and she's getting overwhelmed by wanting perfection. I tell them it's my bed quilt and show it off and ask how she likes it, and when she's done with the compliments I bring it closer and start pointing out how many of my seams are over a quarter-inch away from where they should be(!!), and how wobbly my quilting is, and how I had to re-sew the binding in several places, and where my backing was too small and I had to cludge in a piece...
It really helps them relax and realize that my seriously messed-up quilt looked JUST FINE until I started pointing out problems, and so will theirs! (And I help guide them, so that their first quilts turn out a lot better than mine did!)
My first quilt was absolutely abysmal. I didn't even KNOW about quarter-inch seams, and almost none of my seams lined up right, and I had all SORTS of newbie problems. But I finished it, and it's on my bed all summer long every year, and unless I look close I can barely notice all my many, many, MANY mistakes. It's a good reminder that even a "bad" quilt is better than a boring blanket.
In fact I often drag that quilt downstairs when I'm teaching a new friend how to quilt and she's getting overwhelmed by wanting perfection. I tell them it's my bed quilt and show it off and ask how she likes it, and when she's done with the compliments I bring it closer and start pointing out how many of my seams are over a quarter-inch away from where they should be(!!), and how wobbly my quilting is, and how I had to re-sew the binding in several places, and where my backing was too small and I had to cludge in a piece...
It really helps them relax and realize that my seriously messed-up quilt looked JUST FINE until I started pointing out problems, and so will theirs! (And I help guide them, so that their first quilts turn out a lot better than mine did!)
07-02-2017, 06:39 PM
#82
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Myrtle Beach, SC
Posts: 8,095
I'm of the school of thought that says "Finished is better than perfect."
If you go through a quilting magazine, look closely at the pictures of the quilts that are included in the magazine. You will see that even the quilts in the magazines are not perfect! There are not-quite-matched squares, triangles that aren't quite triangles (but close enough) and so on. That's what allowed me to realize my quilts didn't have to be perfectly constructed, just perfectly filled with love.
If you go through a quilting magazine, look closely at the pictures of the quilts that are included in the magazine. You will see that even the quilts in the magazines are not perfect! There are not-quite-matched squares, triangles that aren't quite triangles (but close enough) and so on. That's what allowed me to realize my quilts didn't have to be perfectly constructed, just perfectly filled with love.
Last edited by cathyvv; 07-02-2017 at 06:43 PM.
07-12-2017, 04:44 PM
#84
Super Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,585
No, I'm NOT perfect -- I don't claim to be. I've always been taught to "do the best you can". In my book, that means that we all "strive for excellence", knowing perfectionism is out of reach. Anyone who claims she doesn't make mistakes is not doing anything, and that's the biggest mistake of all.
I am happy if I'm doing the very best I can, always striving to improve, always striving for excellence, not perfection.
I am happy if I'm doing the very best I can, always striving to improve, always striving for excellence, not perfection.
07-13-2017, 01:45 PM
#85
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Stanley NC
Posts: 981
Originally Posted by sinceresissy
No, you don't have to be perfect. That is one of the things I love about quilting. It's just for my pleasure.
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