Sewing Thread!

[SnapdragonQ]

My comments are not directed towards anyone, just happen to be following your post about your dad @Callender Girl

As mentioned so few people understand about quality work and the pride that goes into it. It's not about perfectionism for perfect's sake but rather about the love of the art and the attention to the quality.

 

[Callender Girl]

@SnapdragonQ, I hope no one took offense. I understood you were referring to the post about Dad.

 

[Hermits Garden]

Quilting is about bringing people comfort, not perfectionism. However quality work deserves to be recognized.

Perfectionism is paralyzing! I did hand quilt a set of four wall hangings--each was 45" square. Took freakin' forever, but I was thrilled to have done it. I might hand quilt again, if I live to be 107. But for me it was the challenge, not perfectionism. The wall quilts were for a pattern to sell in my Etsy shop, and I needed finished works to photograph. They mark the changing seasons in our house, and remind me I was able to stick to it long enough to finish.

But perfectionism--so many people don't start a thing they long to try because they're afraid of being imperfect. I was learning to draft patterns for doll heads and bodies out of cloth, and the best advice I got from other doll artists was: start three at a time. That takes the pressure off--let them be individuals, flaws and all.

I don't know how to machine quilt, and just have a little table top machine, not a long arm, but I will learn to do small projects. If I ever make a full size quilt for our bed, it'll be the old school tied quilt--I know I have patience enough for that.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Guess I have two cut out better get a start on one have quilt batting in my closet.

 

[SnapdragonQ]

@SnapdragonQ, I hope no one took offense. I understood you were referring to the post about Dad.

I don't think anyone did, but we were typing at the same time and I was thinking about my start in quilting and my experiences.
But looking at the timeline of posts, I kinda thought if anyone came and read this later it might appear as if my comments were aimed at you or your post about your dad.

Perfectionism is paralyzing!

Ain't that the truth!! And it put me off trying for a long time.
I was not taught quilting by a family member, parent, or grandparent. There were no quilts in the family either. I learned to sew as an adult with a kid and a job.

I'm self taught and while I'm good at it now, I certainly was not when I started. And so many times a lifelong quilter would come along...the ones who were taught hand sewing from the time they could walk, or talk, and grew up believing it was the one and only way to quilt...as if those old Singers were never even invented, and they would be so demeaning of my efforts. Not all of them were like that, but enough were that it really stung.

At the time my quilts were for comfort. Imperfect stitches are just as warm as perfect stitches. They snuggle the same and bring the same level of comfort. Some people acted like making a quilt for my child, while working and doing everything as a single parent, wasn't a worthy effort if it wasn't done completely by hand and all the stitches perfect. Never mind I wasn't sitting at home all day while the husband made the living and supported us, and also nevermind I have a bum hand from an accident that would not allow me to hand sew even if I wanted to...but those ladies judged me anyway.

Thankfully some good quilting advice I eventually got was...if you can't see it from the back of a galloping horse, then it's fine! And it was. And I kept trying despite the naysayers about my lack of sewing pedigree.

I don't know how to machine quilt, and just have a little table top machine, not a long arm, but I will learn to do small projects. If I ever make a full size quilt for our bed, it'll be the old school tied quilt--I know I have patience enough for that.

I started with a tiny 4lb table top machine! Made numerous quilts on it too because it was all I had. There ain't nothing wrong with that! If you could have seen me shoving a big full sized quilt through that itty bitty thing...scooting it across the table as I went...you would have laughed your backside off.

Took me years to build my skills and save up the money to buy a bigger domestic. I still could not get a longarm though until I moved. My last place was tiny and I could only sew on the dining table, which doubled as the office and homework table too.

To me quilts come in all shapes, sizes, and reasons. Some are for show, some are for art, some are for gifts, and some are for their intended purpose...comfort. All are equally important.

 

[Hermits Garden]

Anybody enjoy crazy quilting? I like the combination of patchwork and embroidery. I've never made anything but small projects (pillow covers, etc), but I love the look.

 

[Callender Girl]

I'm also a fan of how crazy quilting looks, but I've never made any projects. Hope someone who has posts some cool photos.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I often use hanky of ladies old time or a hot pad as center in a quilt.

 

[SnapdragonQ]

Anybody enjoy crazy quilting? I like the combination of patchwork and embroidery. I've never made anything but small projects (pillow covers, etc), but I love the look.

I haven't yet, but intend to. Especially since I've seen videos of it being done on the longarm. I know that sounds weird but I can do small decorative stitches on it and anything that combines steps is a winner for me.

Kind of like QAYG (quilt as you go) but on the longarm, which I sometimes treat as a giant embroidery machine anyway.
Albeit one who's brains (me) often malfunction, but like Bob Ross says..."Happy little accidents"

 

[samanthaoverton]

Finished my first quilt not that long ago.

A lot of things I’m not happy with but it’s my first so overall I can’t complain.View attachment 3037397

Beautiful.