I have chronic startitis! I get all excited, get the materials together, and then... ooh! Look at that video with that cool pattern! Look at that gorgeous fabric! And my squirrel brain is off to the next pretty project 🙄
I feel the same way. I WANT to start, but seem to put it off. I have 2 quilt tops I made several years ago. I keep thinking...just do it, finish them. This video was for me
I have some bins I keep my time out quilts in. Some of them stay in there for years. Some forever. But I sometimes go back and wonder why I stopped, but I’ve enjoyed getting back to them and finishing them. Yes we do get excited and start new projects, that keeps us motivated. Thank you
Okay, I definitely have quilt guilt. As I watched the video, I could feel the tension leaving my shoulders and my brain relaxing a bit. This was SO helpful. Why is it that we feel so much better when someone else tells us it's okay to have unfinished quilts...and starting new quilts before finishing them? So now, I'm going to put the seam ripper away, bundle up this quilt that is causing me way too much anxiety in the "Time Out Corner" and move on. I am already loving this philosophy, but I'm afraid there are a lot of baby quilts in my future. LOL
When I first started quilting, I felt strongly that I MUST completely finish one project before I began another. Over the years, I began to experience the frustration and burnout you described. What has worked for me, is I've given myself permission to have four or five projects going at once. When I hit that wall with one, or maybe I"m simply tired of looking at it, I put it away and pull out one of the other ones, or even begin something new. This has helped my "quilt guilt" a lot! I quilt because it gives me satisfaction and peace, and like you said, Christen, I don't want to quilt to be frustrated!
you're amazing!! I was having such a hard time with this pattern that had four at a time flying geese. I had never done these before and It had me cursing and breathing fire so i put it down and now its been 4 months since i've sewn. Now we moved and i have a nice sewing space and i dont want to sew! This video seriously inspired me to cut into some super cute fabric and get it going again!! Girl keep making these videos!! Youre seriously great. thank you!
Christen the only thing that keeps me from finishing a quilt at this point is lack of materials or lack of knowledge from you! I love your simplicity and helpful insights into a quilters heart.... Thanks! Today I got my mini iron and 12" ruler to guide my rotary cutter. I'm so excited....
Love the time out corner idea! I expect that, if it's lack of skill that causes too much frustration for us, that using the timeout idea would give us time to gain a higher level of skill. Then the next time we take out the quilt our skills might be ready. Perhaps putting a "take another look" date on the project box would be helpful. We can always move the date even further forward if we still aren't quite ready for that quilt, but we may surprise ourselves with how much we've learned in the "time out" time!
Great pep talk! I seriously only know one quilter who is mega organized plus, cleans her quilt room after every quilt, in fact she's quite perfect. Here is the disclaimer; she is retired, has plenty of money and has no children! I know a lot of quilters and she is the only one I know like that. I do love her anyway, she's very talented and taught me many things. I usually bite off more than I can chew, thats my MO. However, since I started my RUclips Channel I'm always needing content and consquently, getting a lot of projects done! I really enjoy your channel.
I let it sit in the corner for a while, then work on it for a hour a day until it's finished. Blocks that are in time out just become a smaller quilt. I really enjoy your channel.
My problem is getting started on some projects. They looked so cool when I purchase the kit and then found out how overwhelming it is. I also put so much pressure on myself to finish more projects and use up all this fabric I purchased. I just finished a quilt for my new grandson and decided I need to force a break from sewing to hopefully relieve some of the stress. I want to enjoy it again!🙄🙄
TY Christen! Very well timed! I have become a slave to my "to-do" list, and just before I watched this video I deleted almost 50% of it. I mean, do I really need a reminder to get the mail, or do the laundry? Good grief! I even had a schedule to make a memory quilt from my late husband's T-shirts! Well, that was because I wanted to make a small one for each of our girls plus me (six, all together!), but do I have to get them all done by Christmas? No! They aren't even expecting them! Thank you for giving me permission to relax and just let everything come whenever it comes. Luv you!
Self imposed deadlines are the ones that weigh on us the heaviest. Its good that you were able to recognize that and immediately take off the pressure. I know you'll get them worked on and finished!
Yep I can relate. Honey, I have bins of fabric that I have no plans for yet! This video makes me think of some orange wool chunky yarn I had that instead of getting rid of it, I must have knitted half a dozen different items with it. I’d rip out all the stitches because I didn’t like it and start something different! I think I eventually threw some of it away because it was starting to look “used”!
I can honestly tell you I have seen soooooo many more from other quilters :D If its really hard to see for you, you can make a plan to work on one every other month. Thats 6 a year - easily doable! And then you would be making progress!
Apparently, I found my answer while watching your post! I noticed some steam rising behind you over your left shoulder. Couldn’t take my eyes off of it till the video was finished. I’m easily distracted!! 😂
Thanks, Cristen. I needed that pep talk. I have a few quilt tops pieced but then relegated to the "holding" bin. They need borders and then backing made and then quilting and then binding. But at the point they go into the box, I am so done with them. And I have felt guilty - but not so much now. Thank you!
I have LOTS of UFOs of my own but I'm also the one that EVERYONE brings their rejects to so I have a HUGE overabundance of them. One thing that's helping a LOT is our group is making placemats to be distributed to shut-ins for Thanksgiving (I sometimes use Christmas fabrics for the backings so they're reversible). Those orphans, left-overs, etc. are making some BEAUTIFUL placemats which is helping the pile go down tremendously. We did it last year and made 96 but there weren't enough to go around so our goal is to make 125 this year. So far I have 77 (not all made by me) in storage at my house and there are others being stored at someone else's house. If we exceed our goal we figure it's a jump start on next year. Yay!
TY so much for your timely videos, Christen! You always bring joy and positivity to we fellow quilters. I tend to have "Gaze-itis"; where I go thru RUclips vids and other media, without planning out and DOING any new WIP's or quilt tops that are already finished, (they just need a backing and quilting!) ugh- You ROCK girl! ty for your perk-me-ups! Hugs. Rachelle
I'm going to coin the phrase, "Swedish Death Quilting". Dövaddsticka or is it Dökvilta? Who's to know? Anything you say in Swedish sounds darn cool! Simply need to work through unfinished projects (and use up that stash) before departing this plane of existence! My UFO backlog is not enormous--I'm only starting my third year as a quilter. I don't see accumulating quilts in my home, and I have a very short list of people for whom I plan to make a quilt for. I love making baby quilts--they are fun easy, and how I started out my journey. (I used to sew home decor and simple garments). I didn't realize that I couldn't cut, press or sew up the the snuff that a quilter needs to until I made my first quilt!
I'm working on getting all my UFO'S and WIP'S finished. The current project is taking longer than I planned. It may have to get put to the side as I didn't buy enough fabric for sashing. Miscalculation there. No worries tho, I have at least 20 others to choose from until I get the fabric I need for that one. My unfinished projects have gotten out of control. Two finished, will finish two more before I start a new one. Then will finish the newly started one and finish 4 more before I start another new one. My goal for 2023 is to have all projects completed and start 2024 finishing as I start.
I keep a spreadsheet of my projects and the progress made and why I started it. A gentle reminder of them and does help keep me focused. Some are pretty old, but remember the saying 'what was old is new again'
@@debbieheuck8325 that's amazing! I would love to chat sometime and see your spreadsheet organization. Always looking to learn how others view their successes! 🙌🙌
Lol. Loved this video! The time out idea is wonderful! Recently, someone suggested I give away some of my UFOs and fabric! Omg! The idea of it! Lol. Love your videos! I like the idea of a swap! Would you be willing to coordinate one?
Hi, thank you for watching! The idea of a swap is better coordinated locally I think so you can choose something that sparks your interest, but I will think on it and see if I can figure out how to make it work on a larger scale! I'm happy to give it a shot. Feel free to email me if you have any suggestions
I have a class that teaches every step of the quilting process! We actually sew a quilt together via videos. I would love to help you finish your quilt stitch.academy look for Modern Quilting Made Easy 2.0
I understand where he is coming from... but it depends on the reason why you're quilting. I really enjoy the act of mixing colors and designing patterns and the actual sewing is what brings me joy. being able to gift the final quilt is just the cherry on top. You can check into scrap bag sales or even some quilt guilds do a swap of leftover fabrics that you can get at a steal to play with for low cost 😘
I have chronic startitis! I get all excited, get the materials together, and then... ooh! Look at that video with that cool pattern! Look at that gorgeous fabric! And my squirrel brain is off to the next pretty project 🙄
Squirrel brain 🤣🤣 lol yes... all the pretty fabrics!
I feel the same way. I WANT to start, but seem to put it off. I have 2 quilt tops I made several years ago. I keep thinking...just do it, finish them. This video was for me
You are not alone!
I love listening to you. Wish you were my neighbor. You are real. Just adore you. Thanks for all you do for all of us.
Aw thank you. You are so so sweet. That made my day 🥰. I'm glad it was good information for you!
I have some bins I keep my time out quilts in. Some of them stay in there for years. Some forever. But I sometimes go back and wonder why I stopped, but I’ve enjoyed getting back to them and finishing them. Yes we do get excited and start new projects, that keeps us motivated. Thank you
Okay, I definitely have quilt guilt. As I watched the video, I could feel the tension leaving my shoulders and my brain relaxing a bit. This was SO helpful. Why is it that we feel so much better when someone else tells us it's okay to have unfinished quilts...and starting new quilts before finishing them? So now, I'm going to put the seam ripper away, bundle up this quilt that is causing me way too much anxiety in the "Time Out Corner" and move on. I am already loving this philosophy, but I'm afraid there are a lot of baby quilts in my future. LOL
Shelley, give yourself grace sweet girl 😘 I'm glad this videos and message resonated with you. It sounds like you needed to hear it 😘
When I first started quilting, I felt strongly that I MUST completely finish one project before I began another. Over the years, I began to experience the frustration and burnout you described. What has worked for me, is I've given myself permission to have four or five projects going at once. When I hit that wall with one, or maybe I"m simply tired of looking at it, I put it away and pull out one of the other ones, or even begin something new. This has helped my "quilt guilt" a lot! I quilt because it gives me satisfaction and peace, and like you said, Christen, I don't want to quilt to be frustrated!
Beth, you've got it down. That's amazing that you've found a way to keep your joy!
you're amazing!! I was having such a hard time with this pattern that had four at a time flying geese. I had never done these before and It had me cursing and breathing fire so i put it down and now its been 4 months since i've sewn. Now we moved and i have a nice sewing space and i dont want to sew! This video seriously inspired me to cut into some super cute fabric and get it going again!! Girl keep making these videos!! Youre seriously great. thank you!
Aw give yourself some grace, sweet friend. We create because it brings us joy... not stress. I'm glad you cut into some pretty fabric! 😘😘
You've given me permission to start another quilt while I'm in the middle of my current project
You didn't need my permission, but I'm very happy that you've given yourself the permission to do what you want to do without guilt 😍😍
Christen the only thing that keeps me from finishing a quilt at this point is lack of materials or lack of knowledge from you! I love your simplicity and helpful insights into a quilters heart.... Thanks! Today I got my mini iron and 12" ruler to guide my rotary cutter. I'm so excited....
oh girl, you absolutely have this! You can do it! 😘😘 I believe in you!!
Love the time out corner idea! I expect that, if it's lack of skill that causes too much frustration for us, that using the timeout idea would give us time to gain a higher level of skill. Then the next time we take out the quilt our skills might be ready. Perhaps putting a "take another look" date on the project box would be helpful. We can always move the date even further forward if we still aren't quite ready for that quilt, but we may surprise ourselves with how much we've learned in the "time out" time!
I love that perspective! from an "I can't do this" attitude to a "I cant do this YET" attitude! Wonderful! 😘😘
Great pep talk! I seriously only know one quilter who is mega organized plus, cleans her quilt room after every quilt, in fact she's quite perfect. Here is the disclaimer; she is retired, has plenty of money and has no children! I know a lot of quilters and she is the only one I know like that. I do love her anyway, she's very talented and taught me many things.
I usually bite off more than I can chew, thats my MO. However, since I started my RUclips Channel I'm always needing content and consquently, getting a lot of projects done!
I really enjoy your channel.
Thank you so much. It's so nice to know we aren't alone, right?? I'll have to check out your channel 🥰
love the idea of a "time out corner"!! You are such an encourager :)
Thanks. I'm so glad it was helpful! 🤩
I let it sit in the corner for a while, then work on it for a hour a day until it's finished. Blocks that are in time out just become a smaller quilt. I really enjoy your channel.
Smaller quilts 😂 now THAT is some problem solving! I love it
My problem is getting started on some projects. They looked so cool when I purchase the kit and then found out how overwhelming it is. I also put so much pressure on myself to finish more projects and use up all this fabric I purchased. I just finished a quilt for my new grandson and decided I need to force a break from sewing to hopefully relieve some of the stress. I want to enjoy it again!🙄🙄
Thats the last thing you want a fun hobby to be... stressful! I hope you find a way to make it enjoyable again!
TY Christen! Very well timed! I have become a slave to my "to-do" list, and just before I watched this video I deleted almost 50% of it. I mean, do I really need a reminder to get the mail, or do the laundry? Good grief! I even had a schedule to make a memory quilt from my late husband's T-shirts! Well, that was because I wanted to make a small one for each of our girls plus me (six, all together!), but do I have to get them all done by Christmas? No! They aren't even expecting them! Thank you for giving me permission to relax and just let everything come whenever it comes. Luv you!
Self imposed deadlines are the ones that weigh on us the heaviest. Its good that you were able to recognize that and immediately take off the pressure. I know you'll get them worked on and finished!
Yep I can relate. Honey, I have bins of fabric that I have no plans for yet! This video makes me think of some orange wool chunky yarn I had that instead of getting rid of it, I must have knitted half a dozen different items with it. I’d rip out all the stitches because I didn’t like it and start something different! I think I eventually threw some of it away because it was starting to look “used”!
We all have those projects! Crazy right? - Your talents are far too great to be wasted on something you don't even enjoy 😘😘
So glad I stumbled upon your site. I have 17 quilt tops hanging in my closet ..
I can honestly tell you I have seen soooooo many more from other quilters :D If its really hard to see for you, you can make a plan to work on one every other month. Thats 6 a year - easily doable! And then you would be making progress!
Apparently, I found my answer while watching your post! I noticed some steam rising behind you over your left shoulder. Couldn’t take my eyes off of it till the video was finished. I’m easily distracted!! 😂
hahaha Its my oil diffuser. I love it and run it all the time while I'm working!
Thanks, Cristen. I needed that pep talk. I have a few quilt tops pieced but then relegated to the "holding" bin. They need borders and then backing made and then quilting and then binding. But at the point they go into the box, I am so done with them. And I have felt guilty - but not so much now. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful! You are so welcome!
Thanks for this video.
Thank you for the timeout corner idea! Right now I have only two projects that I have put aside. But you've helped me get past the guilt!
I'm so glad!
You are too cute...and absolutely correct. Thx fir the pep talk. I needed that. Blessings
You are so welcome 🥰🥰
Thank you so much...I really needed to know that I'm not alone.....stay awesome
You are so welcome! Keep doing what makes you happy!
I have LOTS of UFOs of my own but I'm also the one that EVERYONE brings their rejects to so I have a HUGE overabundance of them. One thing that's helping a LOT is our group is making placemats to be distributed to shut-ins for Thanksgiving (I sometimes use Christmas fabrics for the backings so they're reversible). Those orphans, left-overs, etc. are making some BEAUTIFUL placemats which is helping the pile go down tremendously. We did it last year and made 96 but there weren't enough to go around so our goal is to make 125 this year. So far I have 77 (not all made by me) in storage at my house and there are others being stored at someone else's house. If we exceed our goal we figure it's a jump start on next year. Yay!
That's an amazingly sweet project 🥰
TY so much for your timely videos, Christen! You always bring joy and positivity to we fellow quilters. I tend to have "Gaze-itis"; where I go thru RUclips vids and other media, without planning out and DOING any new WIP's or quilt tops that are already finished, (they just need a backing and quilting!) ugh- You ROCK girl! ty for your perk-me-ups! Hugs. Rachelle
You are so welcome! I am easily distracted too... I call it "research" ;)
I feel like you’re calling me out!!😂😂
lol not you specifically... but perhaps it is a message that you needed to hear? 😂🙋♀️
Why yes, yes I do! 😆 great pep talk! Thank you!
You are so welcome!
I'm going to coin the phrase, "Swedish Death Quilting". Dövaddsticka or is it Dökvilta? Who's to know? Anything you say in Swedish sounds darn cool! Simply need to work through unfinished projects (and use up that stash) before departing this plane of existence! My UFO backlog is not enormous--I'm only starting my third year as a quilter. I don't see accumulating quilts in my home, and I have a very short list of people for whom I plan to make a quilt for. I love making baby quilts--they are fun easy, and how I started out my journey. (I used to sew home decor and simple garments). I didn't realize that I couldn't cut, press or sew up the the snuff that a quilter needs to until I made my first quilt!
This made me laugh so hard. oh, Elle, I absolutely LOVE "Swedish Death Quilting" YES!
I'm working on getting all my UFO'S and WIP'S finished. The current project is taking longer than I planned. It may have to get put to the side as I didn't buy enough fabric for sashing. Miscalculation there.
No worries tho, I have at least 20 others to choose from until I get the fabric I need for that one.
My unfinished projects have gotten out of control. Two finished, will finish two more before I start a new one. Then will finish the newly started one and finish 4 more before I start another new one.
My goal for 2023 is to have all projects completed and start 2024 finishing as I start.
What a beautiful goal! I wish you the best of luck 😘😘
@@ISeeStarsQuilting Thanks, I'm going to need it!
good suggestions thank you feeling less guilty
Thank you! Nice to know that I am not alone!!
Never 🥰 you have a whole quilt family!
The Quilt Police have never been to my house! It’s a good thing!
I keep a spreadsheet of my projects and the progress made and why I started it. A gentle reminder of them and does help keep me focused. Some are pretty old, but remember the saying 'what was old is new again'
@@debbieheuck8325 that's amazing! I would love to chat sometime and see your spreadsheet organization. Always looking to learn how others view their successes! 🙌🙌
Your safe from the quilt police. 🤣 they don't have much to say if you dont listen!
hope you are survivng the weather down there
Aw thank you! We had a few tree branches come down, but everyone is safe and back to normal today! I appreciate you checking on me! ❤❤
Lol. Loved this video! The time out idea is wonderful! Recently, someone suggested I give away some of my UFOs and fabric! Omg! The idea of it! Lol. Love your videos! I like the idea of a swap! Would you be willing to coordinate one?
Hi, thank you for watching! The idea of a swap is better coordinated locally I think so you can choose something that sparks your interest, but I will think on it and see if I can figure out how to make it work on a larger scale! I'm happy to give it a shot. Feel free to email me if you have any suggestions
How to finish the quilts. Thanks for all the information
I have a class that teaches every step of the quilting process! We actually sew a quilt together via videos. I would love to help you finish your quilt stitch.academy look for Modern Quilting Made Easy 2.0
Background music too loud and distraction
I have to finish quilts or my husband thinks I'm wasting money on fabric.
I understand where he is coming from... but it depends on the reason why you're quilting. I really enjoy the act of mixing colors and designing patterns and the actual sewing is what brings me joy. being able to gift the final quilt is just the cherry on top. You can check into scrap bag sales or even some quilt guilds do a swap of leftover fabrics that you can get at a steal to play with for low cost 😘