Oh yes indeed! Experimenting and testing ideas and designs is so much more fun than repeating the exercise 24 times to make a quilt - isn't it? We should start a club!
Back in my knitting heyday I used to come up with some hair-brained design ideas. I would knit one sleeve and the front - just enough to prove the pattern would work - and then lose interest. And of course a couple of years later when I decided I really MUST finish some of them, I couldn't remember how I did what I did. In those days I was also a computer programmer, and as everyone knows a good programmer NEVER documents their work rofl
I have got a little better at documenting things - at least for other people and for classes. Things that are strictly for me still remain pretty much in my head though.
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Sally Swindells
I've just had a sewing area (very small) sort out and the things I was wandering about at the end trying to find a home for were my UFO's, so I've had a batting cutting session and am not allowed to start any more machine piecing projects until I've finished this year's tops. I have an on-going hand paper-piecing project, an applique cats one and also a hand quilted bag, so I am allowed to hand sew, but if I sit at the machine I must quilt - or put bindings on. I prefer natural light to quilt in, so the hand sewing is really for the evenings.
I'm doing DSisIL a quillow for Christmas and have two lap quilts that have been sitting patiently waiting since the Spring. As its gone chilly over the last couple of days, lap quilts in a finished state would be welcome. I've also got a couple of 'cheater' panels for table runners and a cushion for local Christmas Fairs. If they don't sell at one they move on to the other. If they don't go then they come back with me for another occasion. Then I have another lap quilt that has been half quilted since last winter. Not really a lot but enough to take up room when they could be finished and travel into another room and either be given/sold or used. Also DH will be out for the next two days, so I can spread over the table/floors for a few hours, and eat standing up in the kitchen!
I still have my king-size quilt to finish off, but have lost enthusiasm for it a bit, so thats at the bottom of the list as its just for the guest room.
Sally at the Seaside ~~~~~~~~~~ (uk)
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Julia in MN
When I was programming, I was kind of obsessive about documenting my stuff, but I knew that I was going to have to maintain & support it. I figured it was easier to document as I wrote than to try to figure it all out later.
I'm not that way with my quilting, but I can see where it would be helpful. I bought fabric for a couple simple baby quilts a few months ago, but didn't label which fabric was to be used where. When I actually got around to doing the tops a couple weeks ago, it took a bit of thinking and measuring the fabric to try to figure out how I had intended to use each color.
Ragmop/Sandy--contrary and that's just fine w/ me, thanks ;-P
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Kathy Applebaum
I don't know about most quilters, but it's certainly common. The majority of my customers had multiple unquilted tops before they started coming to me. IIRC, the most was over 40, but we've whittled that down now. *grin*
I find there are three major reasons for unquilted tops: lack of confidence in quilting skills (and quilting designs), not enjoying the quilting process, and not being happy with the aesthetics of the top. Lack of confidence can be solved by practice, taking a class, or paying someone else to do it. Not enjoying the process can be solved by paying someone to quilt it or by deciding that you simply like piecing tops and don't care if they aren't finished. Not being happy with the aesthetics of the top is an argument for reworking it, because you probably still won't be happy with it after it's quilted.
It sounds like yours aren't quilted because you aren't confident in choosing the quilting design. I'd suggest layering one, basting it, and starting with the "structural" quilting -- things like stitch-in-the-ditch and outlining, which won't show much but help to define the piecing/appliqué and help hold the quilt together. As you do that structural quilting, ask yourself what the quilt is telling you. Is it a structured, static piece that wants lots of structured, straight-line quilting? Is it a loose, free-form piece that wants bold quilting with lots of movement? Is there a motif in the fabric that could be repeated in the quilting? Is the piece so busy that whatever you quilt won't show, so you're agonizing over nothing? (This last one is pretty common.)
Take a field trip to your LQS, and take a good look at the quilts on display there (a quilt show would be better, if there's one going on nearby). Really study the quilting. Is there enough? Too much? Does the quilting enhance the quilt, detract from it, or somewhere in between? How about the thread color? There's no right or wrong answer to any of these -- the point of your field trip is to figure out what appeals to YOU, and to give you the confidence to plunge right in.
The last thing you can do as a confidence builder is to make a quilt sandwich of any left over blocks, and quilt those in different styles. They're just scraps, so you can be as wild as you want. You'll see what it appealing to you and what isn't.
HTH!
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Kathy Applebaum
Mine neither. :)
Unbound quilts are another story...
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Sandy Ellison
Howdy!
Susan, thank you! You make the quilting world delightful for those of us who love to quilt. I mean it, I enjoy getting some/most of these tops and completing them into future heirlooms. (Altho' I can't say I'll ever love this current project w/ it's polyester-filled blocks; it's tough! to quilt, but the cotton fabrics mixed in are cute, gorgeous, funny, happy, beautiful, and make the process at least somewhat enjoyable.) I even like the binding process.
I've said several times, "There's a reason some of these old tops were never completed, or were never quilted." Some aren't worth it! Some piecers got bored, some made a mess, some got lost. My own mom got lost in a Broken Star top. She was doing just fine until she got to the easier (to me) part of putting the corners on, so she sent it to her aunts who finished the top; years later I quilted it w/ pleasure. Mom likes to embroider. LOL
While I enjoy having a couple of projects going at the same time, I most enjoy Finished quilts (of all sizes) that can be used, given away, hung on the wall. For a while I had a possible plan here on the ng to travel the country, visiting RCTQers, helping them Finish their quilts, meeting new friends... but I kept adding to my own fabric stash and now need/want to stay here to Finish my own quilts. I like to have a big quilt to work on and a take-along project, usually a small, lap quilt, baby quilt, wallhanging, that tucks into a bag w/ my take-along baglette of handquilting tools (thimble, finger cot, thread, needles, scissors optional). I enjoy the entire quilt process, from acquiring fabric to the last stitch of binding. Labels: that's not quilting; I don't have to like making labels.
Sounds like you have some sample quilts in the making. Like hug quilts, you can put those different size blocks and partial tops into a bigger plan, a bigger quilt. IF you decide to go that far. You enjoy what you're doing in your quilting world; that the good part.
Cheers! Ragmop/Sandy -- handquilter, Finisher ;-D
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Martha
....
I find there are three major reasons for unquilted tops: .... not enjoying the quilting
you simply like piecing tops and don't care if they
And then pass them on to someone who likes quilting. I've taken care of several tops for a friend like that. Then the quilts go to Linus, or equivalent, as contributions from both of us.
Martha
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Debra
I think this is why sampler quilts were first made. I have no wish to make 20 of the same block, heck I don't want to make two of the same block, but 20 different applique ones is a totally fun thought. Debra in VA See my quilts at
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Debra
Have you thought about putting pix of the tops online so we can see them? Some of us might be able to give you the perfect quilting pattern idea if we could see the tops.
Debra in VA See my quilts at
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Susan Laity Price
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Susan Laity Price
Sandt, Any time you want to visit my studio to help me finish a few things you are welcome. I have a very comfortable guest room complete with a comfy chair and Ott light. The private bath is handicapped accessible. Meals would be included although we eat much better on the nights my son is home to cook. I would even provide a guided tour of about fifteen quilt stores.
Susan
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Phyllis Nilsson
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metbury
I have tried dozens of times to access this website from my computer:-
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I am using Windows XP and Internet Explorer 7 (I have tried turning the computer back in time to IE6). I have searched for any reasons, tried a whole variety of settings and I cannot get on the web site. The owner says it is working and he is getting orders through it. I went to a friend's home and tried it on her computer and it came up without any problems whatsoever. Other sites are loading on my computer without any problem. Can anyone throw any light on this for me please? I would be so pleased if someone could save my sanity!
TIA Eileen
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Michele
When you downloaded IE7 it automatically changed your security settings. I don't know why but it did for me. You will need to go in and move the setting up a notch. I had the same problem when I first downloaded it too. Try that and let me know. If there does not work there are other things to try.
Michele
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Homework Assignment
i do!!!! I have three quilts in various stages and don't seam to finish them! I don't think I like finishing them and so I have been thinking I should bring the tops to a quilt shop for finishing!
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Sandy Ellison
Howdy!
I'm saving this post in my RCTQ file. ;-)
Thank you!
R/Sandy
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metbury
Kathy,
No I don't have any controls set but I think I may just set some. I never thought of curbing my addiction in that way before!
Yes, I know that Firefox will let me into the site, I am just a bit chicken about changing from Internet Explorer.
Eileen
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Patti
Heavens! A computer question that I can join in with >g< My husband uses Firefox, while I continue to use Internet Explorer. He is the computer savvy one, so I am sure Firefox must be at least as efficient as IE, perhaps better in some ways?. I like what I've got used to >gKathy,
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