Hi ,
Do you feel pressure to finish every quilt as fast as possible? I'm still mulling over the responses to my newsletter about quilting grit and the book Grit by Angela Duckworth. Yes, 3 weeks later, this is
still on my mind!
Is your grit, or ability to stick with a project, hampered with a need to rush from beginning to end? I often feel this pressure to speed stitch which was also mirrored in this quilter's comments:
Recently I realized that I go at a project with the aim of finishing as fast as I can. My time is limited, or I have a deadline to finish by. What happens then is that I either rush and make mistakes, or I don’t finish because I am frustrated or
disillusioned.
My goal for this year is to slow down and enjoy the process. As my son would say, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. I will close saying, the important part is to actually overcome the obstacles and finish.
As a professional quilter, where my time on a quilt extends the cost and minimizes the profit (and yes, pro-quilters have to think this way!) the need for speed can be very
addictive.
But speed doesn't seem to improve my grit. Looking back over the past several years, I see a pattern of distraction and impatience that caused many quilts, books, and pattern ideas to be folded up and put away.
All this is to say, the Pantograph Guidebook update is
taking longer than expected. I began shooting photos last week, but due to a family crisis, I am now making very, very slow progress.
What should we do when things slow down?
I've decided to accept this slower pace and push back my deadline. Any progress is good progress so I'm setting very small goals each day. If I can prep the fabric and load a frame and shoot 1-3 photos, that's progress.
It's very
tempting to pull out more fabric and start more projects. In times of crisis, piecing is my go-to, but I know better. Pulling out more fabric, creating more chaos and mess will only make my already-overloaded brain that much more challenged. And I know I'll be even less likely to finish either project.
Has this insight been helpful? What have you observed about your quilting grit in the last few weeks? I'm curious to know if this permission to take more time and enjoy
the marathon that is quilting was helpful. Reply to this email and share your thoughts!
Free Kiwi Cabinet with Kangaroo & Joey Sewing Table