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Question of the Week

Question for the week of July 19, 1999:

Our question this week comes from Elena

I love quilting, but I find that I often don't have time for it - How do you work quilting into your busy schedules?

Jennifer :
I am just learning how to piece and quilt, but I treat it like my stitching...I put projects on a rotating schedule so I'm not working on the same thing all the time and I don't have a tendancy to get bored with the project I'm working on. I also try to make time in the evenings once dinner is over and we've relaxed for a little bit. I also have found that I have to be in the mood...if I've not had a very good day I am more incliced to make mistakes and so I don't work on my projects. Good luck!

Mary Johnson :
To repeat what seems to be most common among the answers ... "Do a little bit at a time." I work during the school year and don't have long stretches where I can enjoy my quilting. But it is set up and ready to go and I work for 1/2 hour each day when I come home for lunch. This summer I have had more free time so have done several quilt tops, knowing that I will have handquilting to do when school starts again. I, too, work on things while watching TV with my husband. Keeps us BOTH happy.!!!
Jeanne :
I have to make time. I belong to the local guild and go to the bees. 2-3 hrs a month, anyone has time for that. I spend many more hours than that, but anybody can do it.
My friend Barbara has spent 5 years making a Grandmother's fan. It's almost done. A few minutes here and there, a couple of hours at the bee...
eventually, you have a quilt.
Anne Schweisguth :
I've found that I cannot wait until I have time to work on a quilt related project. To get anything done I have to make it a priority and schedule time for it first even if it is only a half hour, one block etc.
Judy :
I have a full-time job and 3 kids. I find that the only way to keep sane is to ensure that I have "me" time - and my husband says that I am much easier to live with when I do. So I have given myself 2 priorities - fitness and quilting. I alternate days, and each day I have 45 minutes for either a workout or time in my sewing room. As a priority, I find that most days I can work around these times, or even combine them with other things I like to do - for example, spending time with my husband ( quilting while we listen to music ), my kids ( I let my boys pick out the fabric scraps for their quilts ), and my friends ( I've met every other Wednesday evening to "stitch and bitch" with the same group of 6 women for 8 years ). Now I'm learning a bit about computers, and this was the first place I came!
gslusher :
A teacher at my school, which is a great quilter told me to set aside one hour after dinner ever night and do one square and I tried this . It Works. Happy quilting
Carin :
I find that I can and really want to do quilting when there is nobody at home with me - no distractions. I just try to grab 1/2 hr or however long I can into spurts-maybe at one time, just chain piece, iron seams to the side, layer etc. when I worked I made time for it every morning for 2-3 hr. making sure that everything was straightened up by a certain time. In that winter I had made a 32" square wall hanging top. Only thing is now that I quit the job, I haven't finished the hand quilting :) lol. I guess that's the way it goes.
Carie Binhammer :
When I have more time, I work on a larger project; when I only have a minute, I quilt on a small wall hanging or similar project. It means I always have several projects going at once, which can be overwhelming, but is mostly great, because I never get a chance to get tired of a project!
Cher Culver, Anchorage, Alaska :
I work two jobs so I know how you feel. But I have my machine and supplies all set up to use at any time - also keep my iron and ironing board all ready. Each night that I am home I try to do a bit of sewing/work on quilt projects for an hour or so. Also try to fit it in on weekends either during the day while I am doing a load of laundry or something like that, or in the evening.

Happy quilting

I also keep handwork portable type projects ready to carry with me and take them along to work on during lunch hour, waiting for an appt, etc.

Robin :
I usually stay up too late, or I take my children to a water park for the day. They're having fun and I get about 4 hours not only to myself, but STITCHING TIME !!!! I love to applique.
Val :
I find that it's easier in the afternoon while my twins are napping and my oldest is outside. I work on the quilts until the twins get up, take care of them (they are 2) and then send them out with big brother. I get at least a good 3 hours that way. Some of it is interrupted however, but even getting the stips or squares cut out helps
barb :
sometimes you just have to give up something..like doing dishes! let dad or kids do the pm chores. I like to cut part of my quilt one eve and then sew on another nite.
Nancy Kemp :
I have a room totally dedicated to my quilting -- TV, recliner, drafting table, "flannel" wall, etc. TOTALLY mine (along w/my cats). Everyday, usually the evening or nite before bed, I go there to "unwind" -- I just continue working on a project, or at the very least I do hand applique while sitting in my recliner while watching TV to relax. Because I don't have to put anything away, I leave my "project(s)" and return when I have time -- even if it just 30 minutes.
Peggy :
I find small bits of time, using my lunch hour
to work on an applique pattern, quilting or piecing
while riding on long trips, having a portable
project ready to go at any time. When my grand
daughters are visiting, I will go to my sewing
machine and set them up with creative projects and we
all just work away. I bring my portable machine
into the tv room and quilt away. Where there is a
will, there is a way!
Joyce in Midland, TX :
I own and operate a quilt/fabric shop so I don't have much time either to quilt -- so I do it at night while my husband watches TV (which he likes very much) and I'm not leaving him alone while I am in another room doing "my thing". Also setting time aside (like a hair appointment) to quilt works too. Working on a simple project at night with husband watching TV is good so you can pause every few minutes to talk to him a little!!
Susan H :
I love quilting also. What I do is get
up a little bit earlier in the morning
and sew.
scrappykat :
Just make time - start off with 1/2hr.
instead of watching the boob tube -
sew instead or hand sew while watching - and before you know it the habit becomes you or whatever you do change the pattern a tiny at a time and before
you know it you will enjoy 'your' special moments more. God bless you
Marty Kelley :
Quilting is better than TV...When I am at my wits end..sit down and quilt.
Lynette :
Sometimes I use quilting as a reward for myself. After spending "2" (as an example) hours doing housework, work at home, or something yucky, I reward myself with that many quilt hours. It really doesn't ever balance out, I owe myself so many quilt hours, but at least I've got my work done and can quilt guilt-free.
mlp :
I find one of the best times to quilt or applique is while my husband is watching tv. I'm by his side, yet I'm not driven bonkers by his constant channel surfing. I 've also found that if I can't sleep at night, a half an hour or an hour of quilting relaxes me. Just don't stay up all night to finish that project.
Wendy :
I started making Friendship quilts which kept me up most of the night as I always wanted to see the next sashing go on. I am sure that if you select a quilt with a lot of variation to keep you really keen, you will find the time, believe me.
Julia :
I stay up late and get up early.
taryn :
I have chronic fatique syndrome & fibromyalgia. So I have learned to ration my strenght and energy. My Husband says I'm happier while quilting, so he doesn't care if the housework sits for a week. I will break down the tasks into small jobs. and rest between jobs. I also have to change position often. I will work for 15 to 30 minutes then go wash the dishes. I can no longer work because of my illness, but I can produce a quilt& and feel useful.
nancy merritt :
Try taking a quilt-in-a-day class. The shop usually helps you with pinning, pressing, etc. It's a great way to get a quilt top pieced. I usually let the local church do the hand quilting. They are very reasonable.
fmk :
I have had to change my 'methods' of
quilting time. I enjoy quilting much
more since I get up early and get my
work done in an organized way and I do
extra baking and cooking and freezing and
once my morning work is done I feel more
free to go to quilting and not feel
pressured and guilty about not doing my
work. Much more relaxing. It also
motivates me to get my work done because
my crafts and quilting are waiting.
Gail B :
I hve my room set up so that I can just sit down and work. I get up before my family and work for 15 to 30 minutes at a time. Lately, I've been working on miniature quilts, because I feel like I'm making some progress.
QuiltnSara@aol.com :
One way is to not start large projects. Baby quilts are "do-able", and are a great size to finish before you get sick of them. If you want to make Christmas projects, start in July, work 15 to 30 min. a day. I am an early riser, and work in the early morning when DH is still sleeping. It is easy to get frustrated, life keeps getting in the way, just remember this is a hobby, like golf, tennis, or other hobbies.
Lori :
I always have more tham 1 project going
at a time. I try to have a quilt or
wallhaning in a basket by the T.V. so
I can do hand work while i watch the
news. I am luck enough to have a saewing
room, so i have a project in the cutting
phase and 1 in the machine sewing stage
at most times, so like the others said
if I find myself upstairs with a few minutes
I can sit at the machine or cut something
out and those few minutes can really add
up. I do get alot of work done watchidng
the news.
Leslie :
Here's the rest of my answer! When my mother was sewing lots of dresses for my sisters and me, she tried to do a little bit every day. Even 5 or 10 minutes cutting strips or chain piecing adds up in the end.
Leslie :
I find time for hand quilting and applique at my kids games, swim lessons, etc, but had a hard time getting time to piece blocks until I was able to leave my machine set up all the time. Since we live in a small condo, this meant putting a long skinny folding table in front of my closet with my machine on one end and cutting mat on the other. Fortunately my DH is very supportive of my quilting "habit" and puts up with the reduced space and even rigged up a light for me. Then I followed my mother's advice (from the 60's when she was sewing lots of dresses for my sisters and me) and do a little bit every day. Even if it's only 5 or 10 minutes cutting some strips or doing a little chain piecing, after a while it adds up.

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