Do you ever quilt when you're not feeling it?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Tri-Cities, Washington
Posts: 757
Do you ever quilt when you're not feeling it?
I was having tension issues (for days) and after trying many things I think I have it figured out enough to try FMQ on my actual project rather than just practice pieces. But after many many practices I feel exhausted and am just not feeling it. I was just going to meander inside an appliqued silhouette that I put on a jelly roll race quilt but now I think my FMQ looks pretty choppy, not smooth like I know I can do. I was probably so focused on the tension problem as well as being pretty frustrated that I know I was not enjoying the practicing. I decided to get away from it and see what's going on here for awhile and in the process I wondered how many of you get to this point and do you push through or do you take opportunity to give yourself the break you need before pressing on?
#3
If I try to do anything with the sewing machine when the mood is somewhere else, it will invariably end up in disaster. It is best to give it a rest and find a good book, or do some internet window shopping!
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: oregon
Posts: 1,371
In order for me to do a decent job of FMQing,I need to be calm,relaxed,uninterrupted. It helps to have a dose of an adult beverage,and play appropriate music. If it isn't working out,I set it aside and cut scraps into squares for a while.
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Slidell, Louisiana
Posts: 6,951
I think for any part of making a quilt, if I'm not into it, it's asking for mistakes, so I tend to do whatever I'm in the mood for at the time. I've read many posts about having different projects going at one time, so that you can work on what you feel like doing at that time.
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2,140
By the time I get to the FMQ part, I usually start a new quilt so I have my hand applique work to take with me to work on while I'm out. So when I get too frustrated with one, I can always switch to the other. The only time I would really push through would be if I had a deadline for a client. Quilts for family or friends are usually a little late because I refuse to keep working on a quilt to the point I hate it if I'm going to have to see it over & over again every holiday.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 451
Yes, push through only if a deadline. Otherwise, I'm not motivated to make the choice to do something I don't "have" to do. Right now, I'm FMQ'ing some tops that have been languishing for almost a year. I'm learning fmq is not something I enjoy that much..usually after 15 mins or so, i notice i'm tensed up and overly critical of my work...then i remember, "better done than perfect". to me best is "fun and done perfectly". lol
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
oksewglad
Pictures
33
07-11-2012 12:34 PM