There are times it just won't work!
06-03-2013, 07:17 AM
#31
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,369
Life lessons! I agree, move on.
When I first began quilting and thought I had to be obsessed with the 1/4 seam, I bought one of those plastic see through jobs that tape down on your machine to enable you to get the seam width just right. Or wait....maybe it was a guide for HSTs. Whichever, I've never used it and never will. I'm a long time experienced sewer/dressmaker and should have known better but when you are new to a particular hobby, you think you have to avail yourself of things that will "help" you master it. Just be grateful if your cost for those unnecessary "helps" was small, as mine have been.
I have a hard time throwing things away (raised by parents who lived through the Depression does that to you) but I've thrown bad projects away, fabric and all, and useless tools, and hope I will again, rather than keeping them around in my way, thinking I may either "fix" or use them someday. Liberation, it's wonderful!
When I first began quilting and thought I had to be obsessed with the 1/4 seam, I bought one of those plastic see through jobs that tape down on your machine to enable you to get the seam width just right. Or wait....maybe it was a guide for HSTs. Whichever, I've never used it and never will. I'm a long time experienced sewer/dressmaker and should have known better but when you are new to a particular hobby, you think you have to avail yourself of things that will "help" you master it. Just be grateful if your cost for those unnecessary "helps" was small, as mine have been.
I have a hard time throwing things away (raised by parents who lived through the Depression does that to you) but I've thrown bad projects away, fabric and all, and useless tools, and hope I will again, rather than keeping them around in my way, thinking I may either "fix" or use them someday. Liberation, it's wonderful!
06-03-2013, 07:27 AM
#32
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: PA
Posts: 2,879
Accountants have a term for this "sunk cost". You've already spent the money. But just because you've spent money doesn't always mean you have to continue spending money to make something work. So there - it's an official business term!!
Sometimes it is best to just let it go and move on to another project! Hope the next one is better suited to you!
Sometimes it is best to just let it go and move on to another project! Hope the next one is better suited to you!
06-03-2013, 08:55 AM
#34
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: North Fork Ca
Posts: 8,234
I adopted that philosophy some time ago, and my sewing room is sewwwwwwwwww much easier to find things that I need. Fabric, no, I haven't had the courage yet. That piece might fit in an applique or maybe a papar pieced spot. But, I'm learning, and getting better at it. Thanx for the fun post as a reminder
06-03-2013, 10:30 AM
#36
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Fort Myers, Florida
Posts: 605
I used to make clothes for my family several years ago. There were a couple projects that just would not work at all for some reason. After some thought, I simply threw the project into the wastebasket, pattern and all! It may have been wasteful, but I sure felt much better after that. Life is too short....
06-03-2013, 10:39 AM
#37
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Fort Myers, Florida
Posts: 605
"Why do we think we need to hang on to an item when it is no longer a benefit to us?"
In my life, it's a carryover from grandparents and parents who experienced the Depression. They held onto everything possible that came their way because there was precious little money to just go buy something. We've all heard the saying - "Use up, wear out, make do, or do without."
I was talking with a dear friend last week about how long it's taking us to downsize. She said, it's interesting, during our working years we collect stuff, then we spend our retirement getting rid of it. LOL
We change, we grow, and what we once wanted, we want no longer. I just donated 4 boxes of stuff to a resale shop, 1 box of fabric and 1 bag of yarn to the Senior Center. I think of it as "freeing it up to the universe" so someone else may find something they can use or perhaps find a treasure.
In my life, it's a carryover from grandparents and parents who experienced the Depression. They held onto everything possible that came their way because there was precious little money to just go buy something. We've all heard the saying - "Use up, wear out, make do, or do without."
I was talking with a dear friend last week about how long it's taking us to downsize. She said, it's interesting, during our working years we collect stuff, then we spend our retirement getting rid of it. LOL
We change, we grow, and what we once wanted, we want no longer. I just donated 4 boxes of stuff to a resale shop, 1 box of fabric and 1 bag of yarn to the Senior Center. I think of it as "freeing it up to the universe" so someone else may find something they can use or perhaps find a treasure.
06-03-2013, 01:52 PM
#39
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Florida
Posts: 4,099
US is the most wealthy country and we buy whatever we want at the time. I think that's called greedy. Then as we become more realistic we spend time and money getting rid of it. Many times I've read-give it to charity. I think this is placating our guilt. I'll admit it. When I had plenty of money I bought way more than I needed-I was greedy. That has been pruned out of my life by grace and regeneration. Now I'm free to be the person I can be and I've started using my creative abilities. What freedom!
What to do with the excess? I've started teaching and use some of it in my classes. Maybe I'll give fat quarters to students 1)who need the most encouragement, 2)improved the most, 3)enjoyed the class the most, 4)the newest to quilting. I let friends shop in my stash. Recently a friend needed some batiks to complete value/color runs 2 1/2" strips. She's got 1 1/4 yds of my fabrics and we're both happier. And had a good time doing it together, traded fabric for experiences with friends.
Foot Note: I saw only US locations admitting to having too large a stash. How about UK, Canada, Aus, NZ, S America, C America..... or other?
What to do with the excess? I've started teaching and use some of it in my classes. Maybe I'll give fat quarters to students 1)who need the most encouragement, 2)improved the most, 3)enjoyed the class the most, 4)the newest to quilting. I let friends shop in my stash. Recently a friend needed some batiks to complete value/color runs 2 1/2" strips. She's got 1 1/4 yds of my fabrics and we're both happier. And had a good time doing it together, traded fabric for experiences with friends.
Foot Note: I saw only US locations admitting to having too large a stash. How about UK, Canada, Aus, NZ, S America, C America..... or other?
Last edited by petthefabric; 06-03-2013 at 01:58 PM.
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