Wednesday 8 May 2013

Quilting slump no more ....

I hope ....
For the last month or so I've been in a complete quilting slump.  I just didn't want to quilt   I couldn't go near my sewing machine. My mojo had just completely disappeared.  This was made worse by guilty feelings about all the WIPs I have at the moment.

Yesterday I went to my friend J's for the day, and the plan was to sew our little fingers to the bones.  (Don't worry, there was also going to be gossip and food involved!)  I decided I'd quilt a table topper the day before so I could hand sew the binding down while I was there, since I knew that J would want to work on a special quilt she's making.

Anyway, over the coffee and choccie biccies that are an essential start to our days, we started talking, and it turns out that J was feeling rather the same.

That's when we had a light-bulb moment.

We both had the same problem - we were feeling completely overwhelmed by the number of projects that we had on the go at the same time.

So we came up with a solution - we were not going to start anything new until we had actually finished a few things.

So J got out her first ever quilt, which only needed binding, and she cut and sewed binding strips together and then sewed them onto the quilt.  Now she will sew the binding down on the back, and that will be a finished quilt. (There will be photos in a couple of weeks, when it's finished - it's a stunning quilt.)  I sewed the binding on my table topper, then I took it all off cos I had not done it carefully enough, so I had cut off every single point.  This morning I sewed it back on, and now it just needs sewing down.  (I've just pinned it to the back for now so I could take a photo to prove to J that I had done it!)

So now I'll move on to something else, which will probably be my Country Charmer quilt, but may be my Diamond Drops, or I may finish another couple of table toppers.  I don't know yet, but what I do know is that all of a sudden I want to sew again.

15 comments:

  1. Sounds like a good plan and when you work with some else in the same manner, it too encourages.

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  2. So glad you're kind of getting back in a groove - it happens to all of us.

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  3. I'm glad you're excited about sewing again. I've been feeling the same for a couple of months but not fretting or stressing about it. This happens and it will pass.

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  4. We all need a finish from time to time. I'm working hard right now to only work on WIP's and UFO's, but I don't want to restrict myself so much that it becomes drudgery. Just have fun, and don't push yourself!

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  5. Know just how you feel Sue ! Quilting turned into a chore for several weeks - something to do with the dismal weather perhaps ? Sun's out most days now and I'm back sewing too :-)

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  6. Glad you are out of your slump!! Hey, I went to a quilter's (deceased) garage sale and she had at least 150 and MORE UFOs in ziplock bags!! Made me feel a whole lot better about having 'so few'! She would make 4 or 5 blocks and then move on...and she had a stash 'to die for'! Hey we have to laugh at times like this...right?
    Take care and happy stitching!
    P

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  7. That rutt can get pretty deep sometimes.

    Glad you're happily sewing again.

    Hugs

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  8. It's permitted to take breaks when we need them, at least I find in order to keep it fun that's what I have to do sometimes. I've been working on UFO's this year and break it up with new projects now and then. Those finished quilts are just the best. Your table topper is really nice. Glad to see you are back among the quilting.

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  9. I've been feeling the same for months, so it must be catching. Yes, I have so many unfinished things, but don't have any close friends to share with. Most live on the other side of the world. Maybe your postings will spur me on.

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  10. Yeah for quilting friends, they are the best! Glad you found your mojo, good luck with the UFO progress, I did it a couple of years ago and it made me feel great.

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  11. Sue, sounds like you have a perfect plan. It is so easy to fall in love with a project every day...I know...I do it! But it does take time and effort to finish everything we start. Love the idea that you have someone to share your mojo with. Go girl!

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  12. I think there are times when we all get slumps like this. Many years ago I was in the same position and I started nothing new until all the UFO's were either finished or given away to friends/victims. It was a GREAT feeling when everything was dealt with.

    Glad you're back on track now :}

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  13. Saying no new projects until I finish some does not work for me. I get inspired by a picture and off I go pulling fabric for the next project and ignoring those already started. You will probably do much better at it than me.

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  14. I feel the same with my projects. I hope to get out of my slump soon. No new projects for me either.

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  15. I found I was experiencing the same - way too many projects hanging over my head, some of them pretty old. I've finished a couple of them and I might discard a couple of them too (without any guild I might add).

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