Butterfli19

I've sewn since high school. Clothes for myself, then daughter and son, flower girl and maid-of-honor gowns for family and friends, then tiring of garments moved on to cloth dolls, then quilts, and lately curtains, bed sheets and pillowcases for my grandson's toddler bed, and a few handbags thrown in.

I love to sew. It's relaxing, therapeutic, comforting. I love making things for people and our home.

Two years ago I purged stash and am now left with one large plastic bin, 1/4 - 2 yd cuts. Looking at all this fabric, it lends itself to quilts, bags, place mats, probably doll clothes/quilts/pillows - small things - that I decided I wanted to use up before buying any more because after all these years, for me, accumulating stash is a waste of money.

The problem is, I don't want to cut it up anymore. I love what I kept and the thought of cutting it into little pieces and quilting over it is causing me great sadness. I want to see the fabric.

Looking around my house I have made curtains for my living room, kitchen, small bathroom, and grandson's room. For his toddler bed I have made two sets of sheets and four pillowcases and a puppy flannel quilt. It's the fabric I want to see, the fabric that dresses it all up and I am at a turning point because I don't think I want to quilt any more, but I still want to sew.

So my question to you is: have you ever been sewing right along and then one day you put down your needle and ask yourself if this is really what you want to do? Or do you keep sewing what you sew because of the time and money you have invested in fabric forces you to, or because you have promised so many things to so many people you just have to keep on?

If this has happened to you, how did you readjust?

ManiacQuilter2

Use to, but no, not anymore. I am happy to take my favorite fabrics and make them into a gorgerous quilts that someone else less fortunate will appreciate the act of kindness. Just remember, you can't take it with you and who will appreciate it as much as you do. I am making charity quilts for foster kids some of them only have the clothes on their back when they go to a summer camp. I am delighted to make them a quilt that is bright and cherry with a pillowcase (required) that matches. There are people less fortunate than I am but how can these kids, lock in this system, succeed in this economy unless someone anonymously (required) tell them someone cares. Good Luck. Hope you find your mojo.

GingerK

Who says you have to cut your fabric into little pieces? There are many whole cloth patterns around. And for that matter, who says you have to do anything with the fabric in that bin--at least right now. Take a break from your sewing room and just let everything 'rest' for a while. An idea will come to you one day and you will know what your next endeavour will be.

Over the years I have taken many breaks. I no longer sew clothing because I just do not enjoy it. I have repurposed much of my clothing fabric--to the great joy of a few charities. I have a basket of batiks that I just cannot bear to cut up. They make me happy just as they are--for now--and that is okay with me. Someday I will find a way of using them that will also make me happy. I am in no hurry.

The one thing I have learned is that i will not like the result if I do not like the process. I am at the stage in my life that I want to do things that make ME happy. Right now it is working on my niece's wedding quilt because she is an awesome person who deserves my best attempt--not because it is something I SHOULD do.

Take a breath and relax. You don't have to decide anything today.

toverly

I haven't done it with Quiting so far but I did do it with Scrapbooking. After purchasing enough "stash" to do about 20 Scrapbooks, I looked at the 10-12 that I had completed and said, "Enough." Our lives are documented. Yes, I still have that stash, one of these days, I may pick it up again or give it away. I did purge it then put it in a condensed form keeping only what I loved and basics. One of these days, I may do the same with sewing then who knows what I'll do, paint, woodwork, stained glass. It never hurts to walk away for a while, you can always return.

Onebyone

I lost interest in with many hobbies, painting, crochet, crossstitch, jewelry making, wool rug hooking, weaving, and scrapbooking. The amount of money I had in supplies, classes and workshops wasn't a guilt issue with me, I was excited to go on to something else. So far quilting is still fun for me. If I had quilt promises to fulfill I would make an easy quilt top, send it out to be quilted and move on with no apologies.

Butterfli19

So it's okay then? lol Maybe I should just change my focus to baby and kids. I seem to be drawn to the happiness of those fabrics and patterns.

Here is a little view of my grandson's curtains.

Rodney

If you need a break, take one. Find something else you want to do. If you love the fabrics you have, keep them. There's no harm in it and maybe someday the urge will hit you to use them somehow. Most of all, don't waste your time doing something you no longer enjoy. Do what makes you happy. I have several hobbies I switch back and forth on as the mood strikes me. I'm interested in pretty much everything. My biggest challenge is limiting myself to the hobbies I have.

Rodney

You posted while I was typing. Cute curtains! If sewing for children makes you happy, do that. If you run out of family or friends to sew for there's always children's charities out there that would appreciate your efforts.
Rodney

Jeanne S

I wonder if you selected a quilt design that uses larger pieces of fabric would help. I also have some beautiful fabric that I think should be the focus, not an intricate piecing pattern. There are lots of modern quilt designs that use fewer fabrics in larger pieces with lots of white space that really let those special fabrics shine through.

Tartan

If you are enjoying other things right now, don't stress about it. Love what you do and do what you love!