Perspective

Why are we as quilters so hard on ourselves?

I honestly do not know why.

I am very hard on myself many times. Sometimes when I get in my groove and make a quilt and then look at it, I am disappointed.

Sometimes when I make a quilt I look at it with such jaundiced eyes that after it is done, I am very critical, but even as I look at it for problems, I have a hard time appreciating it. Sometimes I hardly even like it.

Then, after it just sits a while, I take a few moments and go back and look at what I made. At times I pinch myself that I really did that. I can’t believe it actually looks that good.

Recently when I made that Hillside Houses quilt top, I was almost disappointed in it. Then, a day or so ago I looked back at it - and I really, really like it. I can hardly believe I was so disappointed. I mean, I tried not to come across as disappointed in the blog post, but there were things I really didn’t like about it that I did. Since then I’ve gotten over that and when I look at it, I really do like it.

I know that this one I made with the Upcycled Greens series was really just sort of blah to me. Since then I’ve quilted it. :) Can’t wait to show it to you. I know it’s opposite of what I normally make. But I’m actually considering shrinking the pattern down to a 60”x80” look and seeing if I can make something similar for charity quilts in red/black/gray.

 

No name yet

When I made these, I didn’t really think they was all that cool until I’ve taken some time to actually absorb how much work it was to work the shades and pieces into the designs.

I’ve had more than one person tell me this one is super nice. I had just thought of it as a 6+/10. Now that I’m more removed from when I made it, I really do think it is nice.

 
 

I think some people react this way to their own quilts because they are perfectionists.

I am not a perfectionist, so I know that this is not my problem.

I think - as I reflect - for me, anyway, it mostly one of two reasons.

  1. It didn’t turn out as nicely as I had in my head. Somehow I had thought that it would look one way and it didn’t. I know this one was like that to me when I made it. Over time I have liked it more and more. I thought the amount of scrappy-ness made it almost ugly when I made it.

 
 
 

2. I don’t actually take the time to actually look at the finished quilt. I’m very busy looking closely at the leaves and don’t take time to enjoy the forest, if I may use that analogy.

As I work on a quilt, especially one of many pieces, the details are up close and personal. I often don’t take enough time to actually sit back and enjoy the finished quilt or even just the top. I’m too busy off to the next one!

So here’s to my goal of just enjoying the quilts I make more than I have been. It’s a completely unable-to-be-tested goal, but it’s still what I need to do.

It’s not something that actually will effect you - this one is my problem - not yours.

You see, I’ve been one that TOTALLY enjoys the actual process of making the quilts - from the cutting to the planning to the piecing. The finished product is my goal, of course, but I really like just the act of making them. I find it relaxing and rewarding to take fabric and make something from it. (I do enjoy other sewing as well as quilting.) The bonus is when the fabric is blah or even ugly. Quilts give me a double whammy sense of accomplishment as you end up with an extremely practical item.

So there you go. It’s reflection time today. Not sure why. Just wanted to share this with you.

The quilts with the names on it except for Hillside Houses are all on the free patterns page.

Have a great day wherever you are reading this!

Thanks so much for coming along with me on this journey!

Becky Petersen9 Comments