Onebyone

I like specialty rulers and want the videos how they are used to make the blocks for the quilt. I don't mind buying a ruler I will use maybe once. I consider the cost as part of making the quilt, just as the cost of the fabric, pattern, and thread. I enjoy using the right tool, much less hassle in the long run. There was a time in my life I couldn't buy the small things and I learned it does matter to me.

Watson

tropit...I wasn't offended. I thought it was funny that she has a ping pong table that she doesn't play on! I can only use mine to lay out things on when someone doesn't want to play. Then, I have to move everything. And it certainly isn't in my sewing room. It wouldn't fit! I barely fit in my sewing room, sometimes.

Watson

Iceblossom

Funny thing, ping pong table (and/or room to have one) is high on my list of desirable quilting items. If you have a garage, you can fold up the table when not in use, back out the car, and boom! down goes a surface big enough for a twin quilt and at a nice height.

Unfortunately, I don't have a garage or enough space to store, much less open out.

In terms of perfection, I feel it is something I could achieve, or close enough, if I wanted to. However, I find it strangely comforting that I have never had to deliberately make a mistake to keep myself humble, plenty of mistakes every project! My quilting experience allows me to fix my mistakes more than prevent them...

Jordan

I enjoy watching the quilting videos. Sometimes I learn a trick or two and sometimes I don't but it is fun to see what everyone is demonstrating.

SallyS

I've learned a lot from quilting shows, take what I want from them and let the rest go. They've exposed me to things I wouldn't have known about otherwise. When I was on a quilting show, I was told, if things weren't perfect, to just continue. Yes, there's a lot of practice beforehand, but there's a lot to learn, too.

Tropit, you gave me another way to think about shows, and some laughs, too. Still, the perfection I see gives me something to strive for. Thanks for the topic!

ekuw

Well said Onebyone. I totally agree with you :-)

Anniedeb

I use quilting shows and videos as a learning tool. So many times I think, I just can't figure this out, so I find a show/video, watch it, and go "well duh"!!. I'm my own worst critic, and spend a ton of time nit-picking and redoing things I think aren't good enough. When I look at all the pictures posted here, I think "Wow" I could never be, do or produce something of that quality! I will never achieve perfection, but I do enjoy trying to!

leaha

years, and years ago, my BF wanted to learn how to quilt, so I told her I would teach her what I knew, (not all that much at the time ) She was in northen calif. and I was in ALaska, so got out my camera and put it on my tripod and away I went. She got mistakes and all , she learned what NOT to do by watching me do all wrong things I did, she just had to wait until I figured out how to do it right, she never made my mistake's. Far from perfect, LOL

JanieW

I guess I’m boring. I make quilts, too. I have yet to make one without a mistake or ten. I do want my seams to match and my points to be pointy so I fix my mistakes. I think if you’re going to go to the expense and time to make a quilt you may as well do it as best you can. I have fun and a passion for sewing. I love it when a block goes together just right.

Back to the original topic, I agree that a lot of the quilting shows aren’t reality. I love Leah Day and Angela Walters because they demonstrate that they make mistakes; some they can live with...others not so much. It drives me nuts to watch Eleanor Burns vidéos where she throws her scraps on the floor. Somebody had to clean that up.

patricej

"Amen!" from the back pew!