deschampsia

Uninspired

How do you inspire yourself to finish projects you aren't enjoying?


My baby is three months old this week and I still haven't finished her quilt. I knew before I even started that I hate everything about quilting. My only previous quilt is the one that I made for my son, and I hated every step of it. But since I'd done it before I felt obligated to do another for the new baby.

Right before the baby was born I finished the piece work. Over Christmas I did the appliqué. A month ago Eric drew in the "Amish Waves" pattern I wanted over the checkerboard and two weeks ago I actually got it all machine quilted. Now I still have to complete quilting the sides, cut the bias binding, and bind the edges (no mean feat, it is supposed to have a scalloped edge). 

It has been so much work and such a slog and the end is around the corner but not yet in sight. I just want it to be done.

Tags:
This also appears in:

Next Posts

Previous Posts

Comments

Beca
Oh you've done so much on it! The end is closer then the beginning! If it were me, I'd use that as my mantra I'd clear off a full weekend - or otherwise give myself a strict deadline - to finish in. A doable deadline, but one with a little flexibility in there for unforseen kid-related demands, contractor issues, etc.. :) I work best with a hard deadline to work to, and I just try and focus on what a relief it will be to be have it off my plate and how nice it will feel to have a sense of accomplishment once it's completed.

And then if you have another baby, feel happy buying one pre-made so you don't sign yourself up for this particular torture again. :) I've never quilted before, but it sounds like a lot of work!
matokie
i'm queen of the unfinished and half-done projects, so i'm not sure i'm fit to give advice myself. but beca's idea about a flexible deadline is a good one. i do find if i put things aside for a while sometimes the motivation reasserts itself all on its own, but that can be chancey :) the quilt sounds beautiful too, amish waves and scallopped edge and all!
deschampsia
Ironically, I gave myself a full weekend a couple of weeks ago, which is when I got the Amish Wave quilting done. It took all weekend and at least five hours of sewing to do it. Between a kid and a baby and other weekend life stuff, that was a pretty hefty chunk of time. Which is why I want to cry when I think of how much work is left to do.

Advertisement