Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • Overwhelmed by a project? >
  • Overwhelmed by a project?

  • Overwhelmed by a project?

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 05-07-2011, 11:10 AM
      #1  
    Super Member
    Thread Starter
     
    GladGrams's Avatar
     
    Join Date: May 2009
    Location: Norway
    Posts: 1,509
    Default

    Does anyone else experience this? I can get so overwhelmed just reading the directions that they put of even beginning.

    For example I bought the book "ABC 3 D Tumbling Blocks", the ruler and got the fabric together... now I am sitting thinking this is really complicated and I put it off. There is so much cutting little triangles and hoping the fit together... OMG :oops: :oops: :oops:
    GladGrams is offline  
    Old 05-07-2011, 11:19 AM
      #2  
    Super Member
     
    ssgramma's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Mar 2010
    Location: Bowling Green, KY
    Posts: 2,024
    Default

    I did my first paper piecing because of a wallhanging kit. But I took some other fabric and auditioned the work, didn't look too bad so I made 2 more and turned them into a tablerunner for DIL. That way I got practice on something new but didn't blow the kit :-)

    But mostly I like to make it up as I go then I don't have to read. Just sing and draw/color or throw blocks on the design wall LOL
    ssgramma is offline  
    Old 05-07-2011, 12:09 PM
      #3  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Oct 2010
    Location: Iowa
    Posts: 8,816
    Default

    Yes, I think we all feel that way at times especially when we read through the directions the first time. Take it one step at a time and soon you will have a lovely finished project. Norway, huh? My ancestors are from there (on my Mom's side).
    Murphy is offline  
    Old 05-07-2011, 12:29 PM
      #4  
    Super Member
     
    katier825's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Mar 2009
    Location: FL
    Posts: 7,084
    Default

    I think it happens to most of us at one time or another. If you feel overwhelmed now, maybe put it aside for another time. I don't even bother to attempt to cut or sew anything with complicated instructions unless I'm home alone and can concentrate without interruption.
    katier825 is offline  
    Old 05-07-2011, 03:01 PM
      #5  
    Super Member
     
    hopetoquilt's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Aug 2010
    Location: New Jersey
    Posts: 2,860
    Default

    I just bought that book. BTW where did you get your ruler for it? I want to try it but I ALWAYS get overwhelmed at the picking the fabric part. I don't have confidence that my fabric choices will be right or that I will get enough/too much. I get over it though. Just gotta be in the right mood to move forward. This is my hobby so I only quilt when I want to.
    hopetoquilt is offline  
    Old 05-07-2011, 03:10 PM
      #6  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Jan 2011
    Location: Nawth o' Boston
    Posts: 1,879
    Default

    Whoa, that just happened to me with a quilt in one of the magazines. It looked fairly simple but the directions were cryptic. I had no clue how they got from bits to blocks so I put it away for when I get better at this... and can read between the lines.

    Once I felt like I was missing instructions I checked the website to be sure there were no errors in the instructions (nope) so I cut the pattern in graph paper, folding it up and taping it together. Then I could follow it. The way I look at it is, whatever helps me visualize it.

    :thumbup:
    SueSew is offline  
    Old 05-07-2011, 04:54 PM
      #7  
    Member
     
    lastwood's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Apr 2011
    Location: Commerce City, CO
    Posts: 42
    Default

    There is a youtube video showing her making this quilt. I just saw it about an hour ago while on my computer at the library killing time.
    lastwood is offline  
    Old 05-07-2011, 05:03 PM
      #8  
    Senior Member
     
    Pamela Artman's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Feb 2010
    Location: Michigan U.P.
    Posts: 963
    Default

    I helped my mom with a quilt when I was visiting her a few weeks ago and the pattern was daunting to say the least. There were so many different pieces for the three blocks in the quilt, plus a pieced border. And the pattern was very confusing because it didn't tell you which fabric was for which block. To make matters worse, we were substituting brown fabrics for the black and a solid for a print. It was sooooo confusing! Before I started cutting, I wrote on the magazine page which fabrics were being used for each part of each block. Then I labeled some sticky notes with "piece A, block 1" and "piece D, block 2", "piece H, border", etc. As I cut, I put the sticky notes on the stack of pieces so when I was done cutting, we could sew all of block 1, then block 2, block 3 and the pieced border. After cutting, I pinned and pressed while my mom sewed and we got the top done in a couple of days! It was the most confusing quilt pattern I ever tried to follow, but my labels worked and it turned out beautiful!
    Pamela Artman is offline  
    Old 05-07-2011, 05:27 PM
      #9  
    Senior Member
     
    Join Date: Dec 2008
    Location: central California
    Posts: 636
    Default

    I would encourage you to make your self try just one block to find out if it is really going to be that hard. I had started a quilt with curved piecing in it and got it cut out then let it sit for many years because I was so afraid of it being too hard. Finally I decided I would try one block, if it was as hard as I had thought then I could let it sit longer, but I would know for sure. I tried it and it went together very easily, I then sat down and sewed all of them in just a couple of days!! Yours might go that way too.
    roselady is offline  
    Old 05-08-2011, 12:07 AM
      #10  
    Super Member
    Thread Starter
     
    GladGrams's Avatar
     
    Join Date: May 2009
    Location: Norway
    Posts: 1,509
    Default

    Originally Posted by hopetoquilt
    I just bought that book. BTW where did you get your ruler for it? I want to try it but I ALWAYS get overwhelmed at the picking the fabric part. I don't have confidence that my fabric choices will be right or that I will get enough/too much. I get over it though. Just gotta be in the right mood to move forward. This is my hobby so I only quilt when I want to.
    I went to her website and bought it. I bought "the set" with the ruler and the sticky plastic tabs she recommends. Good luck.
    GladGrams is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    brookemarie19
    General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
    25
    09-18-2010 03:03 PM
    Twisted Quilter
    Main
    99
    07-21-2010 05:46 PM
    harryb1834
    Main
    12
    04-05-2010 08:00 AM
    lucille77
    Main
    38
    01-11-2010 04:52 PM
    cminor
    Main
    15
    01-02-2010 08:09 PM

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is On
    Trackbacks are Off
    Pingbacks are Off
    Refbacks are Off



    FREE Quilting Newsletter