This is not a good idea.
I’m thinking about joining another quilt-along. It’s hosted at Old Red Barn Co., and it’s a fairly simple-looking but lovely quilt, just about twin-sized.
Here’s why I’m thinking about doing it (aside from the fact that I’m a glutton for punishment)… I’ve been seriously toying with the idea of making some twin-sized quilts for my mom’s lake house. In total, there are seven twin-sized beds there, but I’m going to start with the room that only has two. So I’d like to make two matching/coordinating twin-sized quilts.
I’m considering doing it with the Michael Miller Farmers Market line. Seems appropriate for a lake house, no? Or possibly the Paula Prass Flights of Fancy, as recommended by the quilt-along host (and it gets you extra entries for the prize, but it’s also quite lovely). Or any number of other fabric combos that I’m falling in love with. (Damn, you online window shopping!)
Here’s why it’s a BAD idea…. um, do I really have that kind of time?! Between the nine-patch quilt-along (nine-patch-a-day through early July), take two of the failed baby blanket (must be done by June 9, it’s coming along…), a twin-sized ragged square quilt I need to get cracking on for a custom Etsy order (should be done by early August, though I suppose it’s flexible)…. and, oh, LIFE! I don’t know.
Part of me gets a bit uneasy with too many WIPs. I think I worry that, in my excitement to start something new, I’ll never finish the things that were already in progress. I get a little nervous when my to-do list gets too long. My new white board next to my sewing table helps me keep tabs, but still.
On the other hand, I know people have many more things going at once than I do. And there’s nothing saying that I can’t set these twin quilts aside if I need to, and not exactly keep pace with the quilt-along…
My final consideration in the lake house quilt project is that, well, I don’t want to tell my mom about it ahead of time. I’ve mentioned the idea of making quilts for the house, and she thinks that’s a perfectly lovely idea. But I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself, and so I don’t really want her asking about their progress, you know? I’d really like to just present them when they’re done. And if that’s next May for Mother’s Day? Fine.
So, what do you think? Join in? Take a deep breath and step away from the fabric?
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I am one for getting excited about a new possibility and starting a new project – there’s something about the rush of creativity when I’m desiging that thrills me to the core. But I too hate it when my to do lists get too long and they feel like a drag on me. I then get so overwhelmed that I get stuck not knowing what to work on first and as I result I get nothing done.
When we were getting ready to move, I purged 8 trash bags full of fabric, at least 10 quilting WIPs and a couple of large bags of yarn and knitting WIPs. I gave them to folks who were going to finish things off and donate them to charity groups. It was one of the most freeing things I have ever done and it was wonderful to go to a show and see dozens of benefit quilts made from fabric I’d donated. It felt amazing to be out from under the weight of all of those unfinished projects and potential projects. It has totally shifted my perspective on buying new fabric, etc. and I have vowed not to let myself get that bogged down again….Of course I’ve been knitting for 35 years and quilting for 20 years, so I’ve had a lot more time to build up a stash of WIPs.!
I say follow your heart and if you want to dive in, go for it. But also know that if it starts to be something that feels like a burden instead of giving you pleasure, you don’t have to let it bog you down. There are people who will finish those quilts and they will warm someone less fortunate. That feels just as good as finishing them yourself.
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I say jump in! It looks to be a pretty straightforward and simple design, so if you have to stop and put it aside for a while, it should be easy to pick up again later. And it sounds like you’re planning to buy fabric you love, which should make it easier to stick with it until it’s completed.
Evelyn’s last blog post..Happy giveaway day!
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