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I strive for excellence...not perfection! If you expect perfection from yourself you will never stop beating yourself up. I would recommend you lay your sewing aside for at lest one day and don't worry about it. I think all the suggestions you received here are very good. You need to be kinder to yourself....quilting is a skill we learn from practice and more practice. Your work in your album is very good....Hugs, Barb
I agree with the ladies who suggested that you make larger squares and then cut them to size so they are exactly the size you need. Also over time I notice that I am now sewing a scant 1/4 inch seam. Then, if I need to take in a bit more I'm not ripping out seams. These scant seams allow just a tad more fabric to work with. I definitely am not a perfectionist. My favorite quilts are the vintage ones with grandmas make do scraps from everyone's clothes. That odd print that she had to add to have enough. I have a couple of those that I found at flea markets and my dream goal is to be able to make something as interesting as those.
Brenda
Elenor Burns does not get it right every time. No one does. I'm sorry I can't help you with the problem.
Good morning Cheri! Please don't give up. Is there someone you can get together with to perhaps watch what you are doing? Sometimes, it's the littlest thing that we don't see ourselves. I know it can be frustrating after we've spent all our time being so careful and then not have our pieces match up. I've been at this for about 17 years and I still have troubles sometimes with what you are talking about.
I do remember one time that someone said when you are cutting, those lines on our rules can be pretty 'thick'. So, they make sure their fabric is a thread to the right or to the left of that line. I don't know, I wish I could come over and watch ya!! I watch my sister and she swears that she is sewing a straight line, but when I watch her, her fabric is not lined up with the point in the presser foot to give her an accurate 1/4" seam. It took her awhile to tell me she was having a hard time seeing where she was going cause her lighting was good - haha!
How about a class? I get so much information from those - even from other students in the class.
I wish I could help cause I can feel your frustration.
I can give you some HUGS though!!!!!!
Hugs,
Hang in there. I just take a deep breath and try again. I am not a perfectionist and that does help. As long as it's close I don't worry to much.
I am relatively new at quilting...a beginner actually. I know how you feel. I am taking a free class from "Craftsy", called the Block of the Month with Amy Gibson. This has really helped me. As far as cutting goes.... I really have struggled with it. BUT, I am getting much better. When it comes to templates; I trace around the template on the fabric, or trace around the paper to make sure that I am more accurate. I also may baste a seam first to make sure that my points and seams line up correctly. If not, basting is not hard to take out and try again. At the time we are ready to give up is the time when we are about to miss the miracle of learning a new skill. I have been a perfectionist for most of my life and learning to quilt is teaching me that not being perfect at absolutely everything is A OKAY. Whew! what a relief. You are a good quilter. We are all here with you.
Have you checked the tension on your machine? If things are ending up too small it could be take up on your sewing machine being the culprit, not your cutting.
The shape cut ruler is a real help when cutting, it has helped me enormously. I also have started sewing a thread or two less than a 1/4 inch seam and my results have improved. Just keep plugging away, once everything is together, quilted and washed they are all beautiful.
I have yet to make anything where everything lines up as it is supposed to. My motto is: If it isn't going to be judged in a show, or hung in a museum, the little mistakes just make it that much more 'home made'. We all strive for perfection,but few ever attain it. Take a chill pill, walk away from it, and tell yourself, nothing in life is perfect, so why should I worry about a few place mats. I am sure they will look wonderful when they are finished.
when I first started quilting, nothing and I mean nothing lined up....my blocks, my seams, etc....just learned this year I was using the wrong rotary cutter (for me that is). Now my cuts are better and I am no longer shaving my rulers....yes, shaving my rulers...anyway I kept plugging at it and improved over time...learned how to fudge this and that and never had a reciepient (sp) ever complain about a guilt or placemat that I gave them! Your work is beautiful and remember only God is perfect
One thing that might help with the templates is to glue a couple pieces of rubber or sandpaper on the underside of the template. It's very easy to move them when cutting with a rotary cutter. I'm like you watching the videos of them speed sewing. I can't do that and make things turn out right even though I've been sewing for many years. I do pin at the points to make them match, also in a few places if I'm sewing a long seam. Using a 1/4" foot helps a lot too. As everyone said, practice and time will help your skill. When all else fails, walk away and come back to it the next day. Not meaning to sound like a religious nut, but if it's not going well I say a prayer for help.
Good luck. Ann