Discouraged
 

The past few months I have had trouble figuring out my quilt patterns. I don't know why but it is causing me a lot of discouraged moments. I, almost, feel like quitting quilting but I have so much involved in it with fabric and a new machine that isn't a good idea either. Does anyone else get discouraged? What do you do about it?

take a step away. Do something else for a time, like look at old magazines and try to rediscover why you liked quilting in the beginning. Maybe you are working on things that you don't like? or aren't your style? sometimes, we just need a rest and time away. When you get back, it may be better.

Maybe do something quick and easy. The feeling of accomplishment might get you going again. Do a few simple potholders.

I agree.. It took me until now since just before x-mas to want to quilt again.. Or even be in my sewing room.. Take a break.. It will call you again.. tuck that project away and when quilting calls begin a new one. Sometimes UFO's are meant to be UFO's..

oh definitely. At least once a month. I go on sewing binges. as I call them where all i want to do is sew and then a few weeks of not going near fabric at all. Especially when I am having difficulty with a pattern or a top is just not doing what i want it to or looking right. I find stepping away from the sewing is good for me to figure out what to do next with a top or a pattern. if you want to get sewing maybe find a baby who is just born or going to be born and make a simple fun cute baby quilt for them. that is always how i get going. everyone i know is getting a new baby in the next year or so it seems. makes me want a 3rd. and if making a baby quilt is not your fun thing then just go pet some fabric and not worry about patterns or blocks and maybe pick out two or three fabrics that you love and just cut some squares out or strips and just sew them together and see what you get. sometimes it is just a matter of plowing right threw the feeling and not worring about perfection or doing it right. I make doll quilts for my dd and ds when I get stumped and no baby quilt is needed. they are always good inspiration to get sewing especially since my dd is almost 4 and constantly wanting to make little quilts for her dolls.

Oh, I'm always getting discouraged but find my way back to sewing/quilting eventually. I'm still learning so much, so I make lots of mistakes, too. Like sahm4605, I'll go on sewing binges and feel all excited about fabrics and patterns, and then won't want to go near any of my UFOs for a week or more. Guess you're like us! Don't let yourself get totally discouraged!

Not sure if "discouraged" is the correct term - I just lose interest on occasion. Sometimes it is the project and sometimes I just have so many other things to do. Coming to the forums always perks me up - particularly looking at the pictures. Before I know it I'm back in the saddle. Suggest you make a small project. A quick finish may be what the quilting doctor ordered.

Sometimes I too get discouraged or confused .. unsure ... about either a fabric, a pattern choice, a technique ... whatever.

My sewing room is the small bedroom at the beginning of the long hallway. I have to walk past it to get to the bathroom or my bedroom - so I pass it several times during the day.

When I'm having one of these moments I make a point of clearing off my cutting table (which sits in the center of my sewing room so is easily visible from the doorway as I walk past), and placing the "offending" quilt flat out on the table with nothing else on it. I have no choice but to look at it several times a day. But, in walking past and looking at it, I get ideas. Patterns suddendly "make sense", color choices pop out and hit me, new techniques look clear, and idea's come to me. If something occurs to me while walking past - I'll pop in and audition it, work out the math, draw sketches, or even just run it over in my brain some more. Eventually ... it comes. I've had projects (bargello are a good example as I usually take a lot of time auditioning colors/fabrics for those) sit there for weeks just looking at me. I've even had visitors make comments that led to the right idea. I may pop in and remove a fabric and replace it, make a quick sketch, hold a thread up to it to audition quilting motifs, and often I'll walk away because not every idea is a good one :)

So, walk away ... but not completely. You never know where inspiration or sudden clarity is going to come from, or when.

Dear Discouraged
 

I get discouraged with quilting quite often. I'm a newbie so I try the patterns out on scrap fabric first. A lot of times no matter how careful I am with cutting and sewing, the block will come out wonky or the wrong size. This frustrates me to no end. I'm stubborn and find it hard to walk away for awhile so I just keep plugging along. But, it's probably a good idea to take a break and recoup some enthusiasm. Hang in there. Good Luck!