Tinabodina

Good Enough is fine. Quilting taught me how to slow down and take my time. I have yet to make a "perfect" quilt and I hope I never do. That would mean it is more of a job and not the relaxing passion I enjoy.

himnherr

I'm with you. I sew for relaxation, too, and when I try to be perfect, it's no longer relaxing. I try and do my best- and enjoy the outcome. After posting a few comments on this board about the booboo's on a quilt I was showing, I realized I was just saying it in case someone else noticed it first. That way I had already acknowledged that there were booboos. Not anymore- I have one (my 2nd one) that I will NEVER post on here, but the rest I do/will and will just sit back and enjoy the kudos, whether they're perfect or not.

candi

I am new to the quilting world, but way addicted already :mrgreen: I do shoot for the stars, pick out or design patterns that are mostly beyond my skill level, I do my best, and I am always happy with the results and look at every quilt as a learning experience. This makes the whole process very enjoyable and stress free. Of course it helps that I am noticing that the "best I can do" keeps improving:)

Short an Sweet

I agree, I will rip out if it's a bad mistake but never more than twice, lol then Ok is good enough

Phyl

Hi Mattee.....
For me, quilting is supposed to RELAX me, not add additional stress to my life. (I have enough of that. Don't we all?)
I make quilts. I give away quilts. I do them at MY pace. (My sister is patiently waiting for two years for her quilt.) I make them ONLY for people I want to make them for. Do NOT ASK for a quilt! I absolutely CANNOT quilt on demand. I teach a beginner's course with retired teachers and have only learned the project in the months before the class myself! I make mistakes and the class and I solve them together. They know, I know, we are in this for FUN!
One of the best hints I can give you (and the quilting police do not like it but I don't like the quilting police!) is to work on the batting and the top together WITHOUT THE BACKING!!!! (Shhhhh....I hear the QP gasping and I see them holding onto their hearts!) Or do the back and the batting without the top.
I can then concentrate on smooth work on the one side. When that is done, I then attach the other side and concentrate on doing it without puckers. It works. It is soooooooooooooo much easier.(And because the batting is completely attached on the one side, you don't have to do as much quilting on the other.)
I have only been quilting for just over five years and in this retired teacher's life, I have given up listening to people who HAVE TO BE RIGHT, I trust my own instincts or ask friends who are kind, gentle and loving, and am grateful for everyday. Some days are harder than others but making life more enjoyable for me is a worthwhile project. I spent the first fifty-five years doing for others, the way others wanted and now the next fifty-five years are for me. Join me. Love yourself and know MOST of us on this board would love a quilt from you made with love and kindness. We would even be happy if the threads didn't MATCH!!!! (JOKE........right????????) Take it easy on yourself and breathe deeply and kindly! Stick with the positive, never PERFECT people. Sigh...........welcome to quilting heaven.
Oh, yes.......when looking at quilts......it is like looking at children's photographs.......they LOOK like PERFECT kids but when you see them in reality, they might not be so perfect. Wouldn't you like to show off your children or grandchildren in pictures when they sit still, don't cry, poop in their diapers, and smile rather than see them in person while you are at a quilt meeting? Pictures can be perfect.................but our precious angels, just like our precious work, look a bit more "scrappy" in reality!!! (And we love them immeasureably!!!!) LOL!!!!!!!!!!

doxieloverred

I wish my personality was more like yours! I do settle for good enough, sometimes because I get frustrated at my lack of being able to make it perfect, no matter what I try. I hate it at the time, but after finishing, usually see that the problem area really isn't that bad and that no one will notice unless I point it out. For years, I did not do the same crafts as my mom and sister because their projects were always so fabulous and "perfect". It took me a long time to realize it's not a competition! Now I can enjoy my work so much more and celebrate the new things I have learned or say to myself, "OK, I know to do this another way next time". I've worked very hard at learning to accept less than perfect but it is a struggle, and probably always will be. All perfectionism does is drive you crazy-- and I'm crazy enough! :)

Late Bloomer

Everything you all said is absolutely correct. I try, but there are the usual flaws as mentioned above, but my daughter tells me that it only shows that it was handmade and it is beautiful to the recipient. I do hand quilting and the stitches will never pass muster in a show, but I do not care and neither does anyone else. Just enjoy the process!
:thumbup:

FranM

If you give a quilt to someone and they make a bad comment on a part of it, they aren't much of a friend. They should be happy that you put that much work in to something and thought enough of them to present is as a gift. Gifts should NEVER be critiqued.

ahafun

I've read this for years (about the "humility block" ) and it seems incredibly presumptuous to me. There is no perfect human and there is no perfect ANYTHING done or made by humans.
{and there is certainly no need for a so-called "humility block" because every quilt has mistakes, including big show winners!}
Quilting was once more of a necessity than it is now, but I believe quilters have always derived great pleasure from quilt-making. If your own personal bent is to do it as nearly perfectly as possible, go for it. If your own personal bent is to just do as well as you can without concern for perfection, go for it.

Let's enjoy our journey! :D

quiltmom04

Quilting - because we aren't pioneer prarie women who NEED to quilt to keep our families warm - should be FUN! Do the best YOU can do at the time. Try not to be careless, and your results will gradually get better as you progress - often without you even realizing it. But I think the more you obsess over everything, it often gets worse instead of better. I also say " FINISHED IS BETTER THAN PERFECT!"