What quiltmaking skill level have you assigned to yourself?
 

Just wondering -

I consider myself advanced/confident beginner to intermediate level.

I do "easier" patterns/designs very well.

How about you?

I consider myself roughly a confident beginner, but certainly not an advanced quilter. I have made a lot of quilts, but none of them would win the first place ribbon in a contest. For some reason that I cannot figure out, my quilts always come out trapezoidal.

Shari

My skill level tends to fluctuate depending on the project and my engagement with the idea! I still think I'm a beginner in many ways but when I objectively look at some of what I have done I realize that when I'm really excited and committed to a project I can stretch into the intermediate level. I remember declaring at the beginning of the pandemic that triangles were beyond me... now I find myself looking for more patterns for HST adventures. With every new skill I try, I do find myself regressing (mitred borders have been my latest trial/frustration) but that's all part of the journey, I guess. :-)

I think we also have to consider our reasons for quilting and what is our desired goal. In many ways dealing with my vision and other issues, I feel my "best" quilting is behind me. Or maybe it is just my fussy old school choices that are behind me. So no New York Beauty or Pickle Dish on the to-do list, and although I think I will someday make a pretty great Mariner's Compass, the current project scope is much more limited than original plans.

So my goal for quilting is an artistic expression for me, but a craft project as a result. For me, a quilt is a craft -- a usable object that I can use and live with art on a daily basis. I am not making them for the next generation but for the current recipient and my goals are "machine sewn, machine quilted, and machine washable".

An award winning quilt may also be all those things but not really meant for the day to day practical living with pets and worries about spills -- projects that have to be handled with gloves and kept out of the light, and refolded and correctly stored with muslin or acid free linings every couple of months. I say that isn't a quilt -- it's a pony! There is absolutely nothing wrong with textile art and I'm constantly amazed by the skills of people around me, but it's not what I do and it isn't how I grade myself.

So for what I do, I consider myself extremely knowledgeable and proficient/above-average skills for what I do -- but there are a lot of things I just don't do. My skills are high even if my fabric selections are "taste specific", not everything I make suits my tastes either!!

I also prefer to make things that are user-friendly. Basically the quilt can survive the three Ps - if laundered promptly and in cool to warm water. (Poop, pee, and puke) It can also survive blood - again, if laundered promptly and in proper temp of water.

I will admit to being "peeved" if someone abuses something I've made. I do mind bleach, burns, and tears.
I have heard about once it's been given, it's no longer yours - yada, yada, yada. I still mind if the item is not taken care of properly.

And it's okay to not being "into" quilts. But if they are not your thing - tell me, and give it back. I hate to throw pearls into acid.

At one time I would say advanced but definitely not expert. As I have made plenty of those beauties, I am now back to intermediate to beginner quilts. My goal is to use what I have in stash for donation quilts. Most going to DCS kids. They will be happy with simpler quilts and appreciate them as much as I enjoy making them

Intermediate. I’m proficient and efficient with what I’m doing. My fabric cutting is perfect, my seams line up, and my quilting is good. I’ll occasionally try something a little more difficult but I pretty much stay with what I’m used to. I make quilts for enjoyment, not to pull my hair out over something that way beyond my capabilities.

I start out advanced. By the time I finish up I become a confident get it done quilter. I lose interest in doing each step perfect the farther along i get.

If a pattern is for a "Confident Beginner" I'm confident that it will be fairly easy for me. That being said, I'm not ready to categorize myself as "intermediate". I've been asked to teach a workshop, though, and wonder where their confidence in me comes from, although my teaching skills are 'advanced". I'm willing to tackle things that are complicated but only in small doses which might explain why I love round robins so much.

Guess I'm "intermediate" and will stay that way. I've been quilting for 50 years or so. I can machine piece, paper piece, and cut well, but my hand applique skills have deteriorated with aging hands. I still can't do free motion quilting (too stressful) although I do machine quilt with a walking foot. I make what pleases me and don't pump out as many projects as I used to. It's all fine with me as long as I enjoy what I do.