Hi ,
Do you find your desire to quilt coming in fits and bursts? Do you sometimes switch between different crafts like knitting to quilting and back again to keep your projects feeling fresh and interesting?
I ask because like many creative quilters, I do a lot more than quilt. I knit, crochet, spin, dye wool and cotton, cross stitch, and embroider. The desire to do all of these different crafts flows in irregular patterns. I never know when I'll wake up craving hand piecing or machine quilting!
Of course, there's an upside and downside to this creative flow. The upside is it feels great to do all this stuff! It feels great to start new projects and follow new inspiration wherever it leads.
But the downside to popping from project to project is a lack of focus. Focus and steady attention are extremely important to mastering a skill. Bouncing around from knitting to crochet to quilting when you don't have comfortable skills with any one of them will only result in disappointment in every single one.
To gain skill, you have to sit with it for awhile. You have to learn your way around it and get to know it. I remember the first time I picked up a crochet hook. It felt like the most foreign thing in the world in my hand! After a few months, it felt natural and easy, but when I switched to knitting, I was once again a clumsy beginner, this time juggling two needles instead of a single hook.
Still, taking the time to focus on whatever craft you're interested in is very important. Take your time, gain the skills you need. Give yourself permission to learn and get comfortable and confident behind the machine, needles, canvas, etc.
And yes, this can take months, or years to accomplish!
It is a common mistake to confuse talent with experience. No one is born naturally able to quilt, any more than children are born naturally able to read and write!
The only thing that sets one quilter apart from another is the number of hours she's put in behind a machine or with a needle in her hand.So if you're in the beginning phase and still working to find that comfortable, confident place with quilting - stick with it! Dig in your heels, baste a stack of quilt tops, and glue yourself to that machine. You will see progress with every quilt you finish.
In the end, your reward for focused learning will be the ability to switch smoothly from quilting to piecing to applique, or any other craft you love with ease and confidence. All it takes is focus, practice, and a willingness to learn by making mistakes.
Speaking of quilts, we're
starting a brand new version of Express Your Love this month! This version is all about piecing:
