I need a kick in the backside

OK, my dear quilting sisters, I give you permission to place a solid kick up my behind. Why? Because I can't seem to get into the quilting groove. I keep making tops and then they hang on the banister. Instead of making the sandwich and quilting the darn things, I make more tops. My pile of UFOs is growing to unhealthy levels and my list of quilt-worthy people is also growing. Why can't/won't I finish them? I have a wonderful quilting machine and I feel so timid just to think about it. Please help me to get out of the non-quilting quandary.

I tend to do the same thing this time of year. I think it comes from when I was hand quilting everything. It was just too hot to sit and quilt in the summer, so I made all my tops. It's still pretty warm trying to shove a quilt through my domestic machine, but you have NO EXCUSE! Haha, really, I'd love to have a sit-down long arm. I'd like a regular one, but would need a new house for it to fit into first, and I hate moving.

I am actually thinking the same thing. I just made my first quilt top, and I'm scared to quilt it. I don't feel so alone now. Let's just DO IT!!!

I wish I could help you, but I'm feeling a little overwhelmed myself with my projects. I have 5 tops done and sitting waiting.......waiting! I have all the charms put together for another quilt. Just finished two quilts for GD's and have another one to complete before August. Unfortunately, we have to have clean clothes and eat once in awhile on top of other things in life. I'm so out of sync, that we're having meatball sandwiches for dinner because I couldn't get up enough energy to make the spaghetti. lol

When you get your mojo back, send me some!

Seems like you are just putting off the sandwiching and actual quilting part. That truly is the hardest part about quilting, so that is understandable. Take the bull by the horns, and show those tops who is the boss. Or maybe if you can afford it, send them out to be finished. My philosophy is this. A top alone is not going to keep anyone warm, or give a quilty hug to someone. Nothing better than a hand made quilt to cuddle up to.

You will only get better with each one....get a move on!!

Rest assured lol I don't consider finished tops UFO's....we move a lot so anything not pieced can get lost but tops are complete! Just my logic

I really enjoy the piecing process and designing the backing but not so much the sandwiching, quilting and binding. So yes I have a stack of pieced tops. I don't really consider them UFOs because it isn't my intent to follow it all the way through to completion. If I need a quilt quickly, I search my stack and finish it up. I don't worry about starting a project and not finishing it. I never make the same quilt twice so each project is always a learning experience. Sometimes, I just don't like what I am doing. Life's too short to waste my time pushing myself to finish something I don't like; especially in the quilting aspect of my life. There are far more important things in life to worry about than an unfinished quilt!

Once I got a few successful tops quilted on the long arm, it spurs me on to get another one going. I am not afraid of making a mistake, and maybe I stay too much in my comfort zone of the type of quilting I do, but I look forward to beginning each one, and enjoy finding new ideas for quilting patterns. Let's just say, so far, I've kept it simple, no feathers yet, I will get to that some day. I love the opportunity to make the quilts for the PICU, because they are "low risk" quilts, if they don't turn out perfect, I am less concerned than if I were making one for a gift to someone in the family. I say, just do it! And enjoy the rewards.

I also love to bind, that signals to me, a quilt will soon be able to be used and loved, and I don't fear it at all.

I make a quilt top for the enjoyment of making the pattern and for the joining of the fabric, print, solids or whatevers. BUT i have to have the quilt i make be for the right person. so i wait until that comes along.

Are you afraid of ruining the quilt with your quilting? That's my problem. I don't want to take a perfectly nice pieced top and wreck it with my mediocre . I recently had to put up a sign in my sewing room that says, "Finished Is Better Than Perfect." Not that my quilt tops are perfect by any means, but you get the idea.

I have been in a quilting funk lately also. The other day I was finally in the mood and decided I was going to do some quilting only to discover that the light ring is half burned out on my sweet 16 and the lights that aren't burned out are flickering. I found out that this is a common problem. A new light ring is in the mail. Hopefully once it arrives and my hubby installs it, I will be in the mood again.

I make a lot of runners as I have no need and no one to give full quilts to since all that want have them already . So I find a pattern I like and make it shorter each way and use them for foot quilts and table runners and dresser toppers.

I definitely have to be in the mood to quilt, or sew for that matter. If I am not really into it, I usually make a mistake. I have several tops in need of final borders before they can be quilted. I also have four rag quilts to finish, but ever since I broke two needles on one of them, I put them away and have not looked at them since. I keep thinking I don't need them finished until Christmas so I have plenty of time. I should know after last year that something always happens to change the plans, so guess I better get back at them so they are FINISHED!
I'm thinking after the 4th of July weekend I will get back to all of my UFOs. I really need to be cleaning the house, planting some flowers and pitching stuff for the next two weeks anyway. Always something to do, right?

I think we all have that mood sometimes. I really don't like the setting up and basting part. It means crawling around on the floor (and sometimes the floor isn't big enuff!) Then when I get that done, I have to figure out what pattern I'm going to do .The...when I'm finally at the machine I have to take a deep breath before I make that first stitch (sorta like jumping into cold water!). Right now I have 10 of 30 applique squares done and I got bored so I started another top. I'm leaving them on my table so I can't ignore them too long. Just jump in..the water's fine!!!

Well, I don't allow myself this privilege because if I did I would have to move out of my house and use it just to store quilt tops. LOL Really though, I just don't start another until the first is finished. It is the way I know I have to do it because I know myself so well. I do also use the quilt as you go method at this point so doing the sandwiching and quilting really is part of the process.
If you are an experienced quilter I would pick the one that I want finished first and start. If you are not an experience quilter I would do some practicing on scrap and then pick one that would be a simple quilt. Maybe one that you want to simply do stitch in the ditch and use a decorative stitch. You do need a good walking foot fort SID though.

I am with most everyone else, the planning, buying the perfect fabric or vice versa then getting the top made is what is exciting to me. I really don't mind sandwiching either since I have a decent place to do it but moving on to the quilting part slows me down and I sometimes lose interest.
Do not feel alone, I have a friend that has about 50 tops pieced and not quilted. She also has a long arm but she does do quilting for others and that probably takes up most of her time.

I did manage to get a quilt finished today, it is in the washer and when it is on the bed [ours, yeah!] I will take a picture.

I'm sorry you are in a funk with finishing your quilts. Do you have someone who can help you sandwich them? I know with a friend it all goes better and you are more apt to get it done.
I usually always finish one before starting the next, but the past little bit I have one done and started on others. My problem is I don't want to piece the back, and now I'm not even sure where I put the fabric for the binding, and it's for me so I always think there is no rush.
Maybe just take a break from sewing. Whatever you do, best wishes!! :)

Sorry, Darling, not gonna be able to say a solitary word about this habit of yours.....as I am exactly the same way!

Can't kick you or I would have to kick myself too! I have a pile of 12 tops.
Just no desire to quilt them... no urgency.
so, I am pacing myself, I dropped 3 off at a LAQ, so I could get a little sticker shock to push myself to get moving!

Here's what I do when I have this "backup" i fold them all and put them away and take one out at a time. It doesn't overwhelm me to look at one and the work of sandwiching (which I do not like either). I think I don't like it because of the room to do it. I'm 71 getting up and down off the floor and my knees can't take much .I don't usually mind, baby quilts or table tops or runners, it's the larger quilts that are the problem. You'll get there and have a great sense of satisfaction and no one will have to kick you!

Wow, that was the gentlest butt-kicking I ever got. lol I think I need to get me one of those signs as a visual reminder that "Finished is better than perfect!" I say it all the time - maybe I don't really believe it.

I did clean up the loft yesterday (after a stern husband said: WOMAN - get up there and clean your quilting spaces! He is so cute.) AND I pulled one of the sandwiched tops down and started the quilting. My plan was to quilt it in black but when I got to the quilting in a lighter part I realized that I had grabbed the navy thread. grrrrr. Am I taking it out? Nope - I shall continue as is. My quilting isn't stellar but it is acceptable.

Making a mistake is a worry in the back of my mind and I KNOW that it is silly to think that way. I JUST STARTED FMQ so why would I expect to be great at it. It will take a lot of practice to get there. I'm just happy that I made it past the "I suck" stage. lol

Looks like there is hope for me after all. And it is comforting that I am not alone in this attitude.

Jean the machine: I agree with you tops are fun, and i like the binding.
But seriously, it is kinda hard to get started when it is hot and humid.
Just take it one step at a time and good luck

I have been struggling all afternoon to put a quilt together.
I tried again to do the quilt as you go method which I like to do but when its time to sew them together that is when I struggle, the front panel will match up but I wouldn't win any prizes for the way the back looks.!!
Practice makes perfect so they say.
I will have to make another one then LOL
If any one has any advice on how you put front and back together after quilt as you go I would love to know about them - thanks in advance.
It's made my day to know I'm not the only one who just wants to piece and create!

I thought I already gave you a kick several months ago - you mean that one didn't last? Sending another:
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Don't we all need one now and then? Think they should make these like 'wooden nickels' and 'round tuits'.

Oh, and stop in and have a cuppa with me.

Oh don't feel bad, I am so far from being at my sewing machine that I can't even hear it calling me anymore. Trying to get the house cleaned out and ready for the new furniture the DH will be bringing home WHEN ever he can get back home. I have so much around here to do without him here to help. So don't feel bad....you will get back there.

I made a promise to myself that if I spent the money to have a nice sewing machine and bought a table and of course lots and lots and ......of fabrics for my stash, that every quilt I piece I have to finish before I start a new one. I want to start a new before I even start. So I am a newbie at this - not sure how long my promise will last. Just finished a quilt each for my mom and dad for the 60th wedding anniversary - stars with pics in them. Love this new thing to do now that the kids are grown.

As one who has six quilt tops ready to be sandwiched and quilted, I'm in line with you for a good kick. My only excuse is that I use my dining room table and that is the catch all just inside the door. I am so tired of having to clean up everyone else's mess before I can do anything. Once I get it cleared off, I'm either out of time or out of energy to go any farther. Or both. I have about half an hour now, but it would take me most of that to put everyone else's stuff away. So, here I sit. Some day I will have my own room. I just keep repeating that to myself.

I get stuck when I have them sandwiched, I will let them stack up and then all of a sudden I have three or four or more quilts needing quilting and I hit the pedal to the medal and get them done......so far I have one on the quilt frame (hand quilting with perle cotton) another one I am sewing the binding down to the back and another one on the design wall waiting to finish sewing the body together so I can start on the borders and I have two more to make (all of these are designated for someone) and then maybe I can get to the pattern I purchased the other day...plus I am in the mystery quilt here as well.....don't have too much going on ....do I?

I think FEAR is the real culprit. We expect perfection from ourselves, we may not be sure if the design we chose will look 'right, we don't have the right colour of thread, the sun is not perfectly aligned with anything.......last one is my personal favorite. At the end of the day, if we don't quilt it....it's not a quilt. (Quoted from my oldest daughter)

For newbies like me, I highly recommend checking out Leah Day as she has some lovely "Beginner" level quilting designs that can help get over that initial fear of what to do and messing it up.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.....the first one being a boot in the butt to get me moving.

dwil23, is there anyone you could "evict" from the house to get your own room? We decided that company is highly overrated and instead of maintaining a guest room I got a sewing room.

I did work on the quilt some more and all I have left now is trimming and adding the binding. That part is fun for me - I even sew the binding on by hand in the back.

For those of you who manage to finish one project before starting a new one - my hat's off to you.

Sandy, my butt-kicks are very compartmentalized. I don't apply them across all needs. lol

Dear Martina,

I just feel like you, therefor: you are not alone with this problem. that`s why I will not kick you. The basic problem is: there are toooo much wonderful patterns and fabrics! So we have to kick the fabric designers and the pattern poster .... no, not really.

But now, how can you solf your problem: do you have any quilting friend around you or somebody who is interested to see how this "finish work" happens? Invite them and make a show out of this unliked process. This will change your sight on that part of the quilt ...

or you give the tops away to a longarm quilter

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Renate

Dear Martina,

I just feel like you, therefor: you are not alone with this problem. that`s why I will not kick you. The basic problem is: there are toooo much wonderful patterns and fabrics! So we have to kick the fabric designers and the pattern poster .... no, not really.

But now, how can you solf your problem: do you have any quilting friend around you or somebody who is interested to see how this "finish work" happens? Invite them and make a show out of this unliked process. This will change your sight on that part of the quilt ...

or you give the tops away to a longarm quilter

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I like the way you think. Let's kick those other creative people who ensnare us with their pretties. YEP! lol
As for the inviting people over - oh dear, then I would have to clean my house and that is a whole new kettle of fish. I think I'll just finish things and post pics on the forum.

I only learned to sew about 2 years ago because I had empty nest and my hubby bought me a wonderful sewing machine, because i always said i wanted to learn, made and quilted 7 quilts that first year, all for others, the funny thing is I met Eleanor Burns and she said to me Honey I plastic quilt, now being new I just thought that was a term i wasnt familiar with, she went on to explain , she opened her wallet pulled out her cc and said look I like to piece not fight so when I finish a top I plastic quilt it. Cracked me up, fast forward to a year later this past april, my husband purchased me my gammill, I love quilting, piecing I do just to get to the quilting part, I am now quilting baby quilts for a chemo charity, and doing alot more quilting, I get afraid , I get fustrated etc,, but just like learning to ride my motorcycle I cant and dont expect perfection. I am not afraid to pick out or leave a small mistake on my own things. I say all that to say this you didnt learn to run before you walked, just do it , or send me one if your willing and Ill quilt it for you. Im not up to fancy now it would be simple but I would do it just to help you jump the hurdle and help you get going.