World Wide Quilting Page
Question of the Week
Question for the week of October 19, 1998:
Our question this week comes from Patricia Dewees
I am having difficulty getting motivated to do
anyhing. I've been to shows, bought new fabric, new gadgets, even taken
classes to find some new motivation and nothing seems to help - any
sugestiions as to how to get back into the swing of things?
Suzanne LaPorte :
As one of my fellow Quilting Guild members said, "Just do it!" Guess what? It worked and I am finally on a roll. I also found that if I worked on a project that was near completion (or start a small project) that I seem to get enthused by just seeing something completed and up on the wall or over a couch. The holidays are great for this as there are so many small wall hangings, table items or bell pulls that take less time than a regular sized quilt. Also ... try to get some of your "needlework" buddies together for a stitch-in once a month. It forces you to sit and take a stitch.
Jerriann :
I have had the same problem, so I joined a guild and min.group. I aslo got a friend to come over and together we worked on our on project .Having some one around to share with got me going again.
Theresa :
I am just coming out of one of those
"slumps". The thing that got me going
this time was getting back to what I enjoy most about quilting; for me blocks that make a new design when put together. You could try getting out your books or sitting down at your computer and drawing and coloring. Usually a design becomes just to good
not to try.
Judi from Seattle :
I also have had periods in which I just couldn't get going. I have a stash big enough to make quilts for the rest of my life. I have been to classes, but just couldn't get excited about it. As others have mentioned, perhaps you are depressed. Rain is very depressing for me, so I quilt to make myself happy. I just had to wait until I saw a pattern that I could not resist, and I was off and quilting again. (Unfortunately, I was buying more fabric too, cuz, I just had to have the perfect fabric for project. If you love to quilt, you will find your way back to your stash and make something fabulous, the very moment that you do. In the mean time, take care of your self and enjoy the break. I'm sure it won't last long!
Celia, from Odessa, Tx :
Sometimes with so many things to choose from, and seeing other quilts on display can be too much to focus on a project of your own. Pick one block that you like, and go ahead and work on it as you are able. Don't judge your skills or enthusiasm, or compare lack of motivation with anyone else. Do one block just for your own pleasure, and see how it goes. You might consider saving your blocks as a sampler quilt in the future. Or perhaps, use it to remind you of what you learned as you were working on it. I have some blocks I've done to practice on before going on to the actual project and I think of each one like a quilt journal, or entry in a diary of my quilting endeavors. Are you having feelings of fear, or doubts about your "expertise" in quilting?Try to let go of those fears, and do the things you know you can accomplish. Take one step at a time, and just keep on until you can see the results of your efforts. You might consider using the block as a pillow, or put in a pretty glassed frame, or put several together for a table runner.
Have you other burdens on your heart that are blocking your motivation? If you need to clear your mind, try taking a walk, and talk to God about how you feel. Or just listen to whatever music you enjoy, and let your thoughts unwind. I hope these ideas help. I know when I pray, it helps me to see things in a different perspective.
Dee :
When I am stuck, I work on something small. I love quilt designs and so I work on "playing" with a quilt design by making a potholder. I give these as gifts. Whatever works for you.
Rebecca in Massachusetts :
I find that I work much better, and with more joy, when I am doing something for someone else. Think about the joy on that special person's face when they recieve a gift you made just for them! That motivates me.
Patti :
I have been going through the same thing and just reciently, I found a friend that likes to quilt and sew, so we have decided to start a once a month get togather on a Saturday so we can motivate each other and be excited for each others accomplishments. We have only done it for a couple of months, but it seems to be working. I'm also doing joint efforts for breast cancer quilts. It helps me.
Marinka Ellen :
Dear Patricia,Perhaps the mere wanting to create is not enough. Might you not get better results if you had a reason rather than a wish? Perhaps it is not the motivation but the need that is lacking? Conversely, have you seen your Doctor lately? Perhaps your iron or blood sugar has taken a nose dive. Why not start to explore within yourself? Kindest regards, Marinka
BSVITAVSKY@YAHOO.COM :
I WOULD SUGGEST GETTING A VARIETY OF THE QUILTING MAGAZINES THAT COME OUT MONTHLY OR SEMI-MONTHLY. PICK A PROJECT--ONE THAT CAN BE FINISHED IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. THIS MAY MOTIVATE YOU TO TRY OTHERS AND THEN YOU MAY BE SURPRISED TO FIND THT ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER. ON A MORE SERIOUS NOTE, IF THINGS YOU USED TO DO NO LONGER BRING YOU ENJOYMENT, IT'S POSSIBLE YOU ARE SUFFERING FROM DEPRESSION--ESPECIALLY IF YOU JUST CAN'T SEEM TO GET MOTIVATED. THIS IS AN READILY TREATED DISORDER AND I CAN LET YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT THE SYMPTOMS IF YOU THINK THIS WOULD BE USEFUL. (AS YOU MAY HAVE SUSPECTED, I AM A PSYCHIATRIC NURSE WORKING IN THIS FIELD AS WELL AS AN AVID QUILTER.
TO PATRICIA,FROM ANITA. :
AFTER YOU GET YOUR CHORES DONE FOR THE DAY,GET OUT YOUR QUILTING THINGS AND GET STARTED. ONCE YOU GET STARTED YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO STAY AWAY FROM IT.
Lisa :
Maybe you should just try "making" yourself work for a certain amount of time. Sometimes then, the motivation starts coming back and I really want to do some more. I think the desire to do something that you enjoy is sometimes clouded by the thoughts of all the other things that you "have" to do. Tell yourself you have to do this for you and get to it like a chore. Then the fun comes in and it's not a chore any more!
cyn wilde :
have you ever taught a quilt class, to children or teenagers ? Watching them eager to learn from you might give that old feeling back . . .
Anthony in sunny Tampa :
Read a novel, take a long relaxing bubble bath, eat a peach, kiss the cat, go to a movie, pray for rain. In other words, relax and just have a good life. Motivation cannot be forced. Perhaps it's time to take a break. Someone said it earlier. Guilt is a poor motivator.But if you must... What works for me is having a deadline. Promise someone something. Maybe a Christmas wallhanging for your sister-in-law. Having a deadline forces me to get off my duff and get it done. (And since it's only for your sister-in-law it doesn't have to be anything complicated, she'll love [or hate] whatever you produce.)
Sometimes just getting back into production jumpstarts the creative juices.
Deb, UK :
I have also had this problem. I find it helps to have at least three completely different activities "on the go" at the same time. Mine are quilting, embroidery (crewelwork at the moment) and rubber stamping. Switch when you feel you need a change, and above all, don't turn any of your activities into a chore! Women feel too much unnecessary guilt as it is! Hope this helps.
Jean :
Let someone else be your motivation just for now. Maybe a family member or a friend has an idea for a quilt that's they've always wanted you to make. Let their creativity rule you. I'm sure pretty soon you'd be thinking how you would like to change the idea to one of your own, but don't give way just yet. Wait until this special labor of love from you is completed then go for it. Sometimes having something to look forward to, the anticipation of it, can bring out that motivation you need.
Michelle :
I think every quilter goes through a "slup" of one kind of another sometime in their quilting life. I had the same problem when I couldn't get my double wedding ring quilt to work for me. I put it aside and have gone one to other quilts, smaller ones sometimes are very rewarding, because its fast satisfaction.
Sue :
I've just gone through the same thing. I had so many projects started, and nothing finished. I made myself choose one project, and I finished it, I chose another, and I finished it, and then still another. Soon I had accomplised so much that I felt I could do anything! Now I want to work on just one project at a time, finishing it before I move on to something else. Even though we love to craft, if we take on too much, it can be as overwhelming as taking on too many other tasks. God's blessings!
Elena :
There is no easy answer. What works for me may not work for you. The ideas that everyone has posted so far are good, and I hope they work for you. Have you considered that the problem might be deeper? If something else is bothering you, or causing you undue stress, it may be eating into your creativity. If you aren't feeling creative, then of course you won't feel motivated to quilt! You might want to just take a good hard look at your life....you might discover a hidden problem. Don't force yourself to quilt; if you don't feel like it you will just start to dislike it. I hope you get your motivation back! I have gone through periods of non-motivation too. Sooner or later, my motivation returns. Looking back, the periods of non-motivation occured during periods of high stress.
Michelle :
It might help to try a mystery quilt. I was having trouble because I was stuck trying to figure out what colors and what type of look I actually wanted to do for this quilt. I found I didn't have to think about anything with a mystery I just had to folow the directions and lo behold there was a beautiful quilt at the end. Good luck.
yvonne :
I started taking my timer and working only for hour or two and finally I got so interested I'm on my fourth quilt
jean :
Sign up for a class somewheres so you will have to get the projects done for class.
Marcia :
Dear Pat, Sometimes the problem is too much to choose from... having a hard time deciding where to start. Just start something! Or pick a ufo to finish! Tell yourself you will work one hour each day for a week...I'll bet you will be on your way. Good Luck
Mina :
The most inspirational words I have ever heard came from Susan Powter - "The motivation is in the doing."Try just one interesting block - actually stitching it not just looking at it from a book. You may find that before you know it you're stitching a whole quilt - possibley a miniature- but in essence still a quilt!
Marinda Geter :
I too had this problem and at the worst time when I was almost finished w/a quilt for my sister-in-law. In order to get back into making a quilt for her I started a quilt I couldn't resist and a project for church. I just plan more than one thing at a time. But since I sleep, eat, and dream quilts that's just me
Deb :
Ask yourself why you think you SHOULD quilt. Guilt is a poor motivator. You may be a little contrary, like me, and need to forbid yourself from quilting for a certain amount of time. There's nothing quite so much fun as breaking a rule!
RC :
I find the need to switch to cross stitch or painting every now and then. Then resume quilting after a break.
Charlotte Seaton :
With Christmas just around the corner, make a Christmas wall hanging for your family and neighbors to ooh and aah over. If you want to get into something bigger, make a Christmas quilt for your favorite chair. My family can never wait for the Christmas quilt to come out of the closet.
MAUREEN :
START MAKING QUILTS FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD HOSPITAL FOR BABY'S WITH AIDS OR BIRTH DEFECTS. THE HOSPITALS ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THIS TYPE OF PROJECT. MAYBE BY DOING SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE IT WILL GET YOU MOTIVATED. THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE LARGE AND USUALLY WORK UP FAST AND PROVIDE A GREAT FEELING FOR THE ONE MAKING THEM.
Maria :
Definitely join a guild. Commit to a Block of the month or a progressive quilting project. I'll always complete work for someone else before I do mine. At least I'm quilting.
Leslie :
Try to find a group to join, whether it's a guild, a group of friends or a quilters retreat to go on. I always seem to get motivated when I'm working on some kind of group endeavor.
Jill :
The first way I have found to get motivated was through our local Quilt Guild. Our quilt guild was a great motivater because not only did I learn different quilting skills, but a few years ago they helped members of the guild create quilting bees that met in small groups (up to 10) in locations chosen by the members of the bee. Our bees do projects together to benefit hospitals and individually for our own person satisfaction. The best part of both of the bees is the personal help you can give one another. I am now venturing out into the internet to discover quilting in various parts of the world.
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