Perfection-it’s a dirty word. And it has no place in the arts. It’s an illusion, a myth, and it is not welcome on this blog. Please leave your perfectionism at the door.
I have been quilting/sewing for over 30 years and have yet to make a perfect quilt. And I don’t ever expect to. If you look closely at a quilt by an “expert” quilter, you will still find small flaws. Some of my favorite aphorisms that I often need to repeat even to myself:
*Progress, not perfection.
*Done is better than perfect.
Both are so incredibly true when it comes to quilting. Naturally, my skill level has increased with every additional quilt I have made. My seams have gotten straighter. I am better at lining up seams. My tension is more even. My seam allowances are more consistent. (thank you 1/4″ foot)
Honestly, the biggest thing I can say about mistakes and small errors, is that no one but you or a very experienced quilter is ever going to notice them. Especially when they are seeing the whole quilt like the example above.
And don’t get me started on feeling guilty for not working on my quilting or this blog or pattern writing enough. Life happens. I know better than anyone these days. I’ve barely sewn anything in the past 9 months to a year. From day job crazy, to a pregnancy and miscarriage, to a wedding, international travel, and covid….life and reality hit hard. And you know what? That’s ok. Because I keep coming back.
So my answer to all this nonsense is to not worry too much about it. I would rather enjoy the process of quilting and keep my self esteem intact…and I feel the same for you. I don’t want you afraid to try. So leave the perfection and expectations at the door and have grace for yourself.
Totally agree! It makes quilting more fun when you don’t put all that stress on yourself!