With my apologies to Albert Einstein from whom I riffed my quote.
Hi, my name is Maddie and by some people’s yard stick I am a craptastic quilter, I have even been told as much ( yeah I know that really takes some serious lady-balls but it has happened!)
I know a scant 1/4 inch but at times choose not to use it.
I have chopped off my points on purpose and by mistake and kept rolling.
I have never met a quilt pattern that did not make my eyes cross in consternation and prefer to just cut up fabric and see what happens.
Precise color matching gives me a stabby pain behind my right eye and I am all about how it “feels” as opposed to a Pantone perfect match.
and I am Quilter!
But you know what?.. you can have a micromicly ( yep, just made that word up!) perfect 1/4 inch, read patterns like prose and color match better than the guy at the paint store and you are just as much a quilter!
If you make the f*cking Quilt you are a quilter and I encourage you be to the very best ( read that as happy) quilter you can be and not to let the quilting of others make you feel bad about the work you are doing now.
If you are happy with the quilting you are doing then power on. If you want to learn more then dive in, there is a world of resources out there from your LQS to online classes and books.
As quilters we can be the greatest support or the worst critics of each other and each day we can choose which sandbox we want to play in. Personally I am choosing the one that lifts all quilters up.. feel free to join me, I will be in the one in the corner with the cookies and a Margarita.
Perhaps you need a sassy reminder? This is a quality image that should print out just right on a piece of 8.5 x 11 computer paper!
Just make the Fucking Quilt <—click to print
Well said!
The quilting universe is a big tent with plenty of room for everyone. We all quilt for different reasons and it would be really boring if we all did exactly the same thing. I make the quilts that make me happy and it is good appreciate what makes someone else happy even if we wouldn’t do exactly the same thing ourselves.
Love it & totally agree with u Maddie…u tell it like it is & I love that…you go girl!!! Your quilt may not be “perfect” or like anyone elses, but your quilt is still beautiful…you put your heart into anything & u should be f***ing proud of it 😀
It is going to be one very crowded sandbox with some very tipsy quilters. Please allow me to come over and play!
I’ve had people tell my how to make/quilt a quilt in MY studio on MY DAMN MACHINE. I have a sign on my studio wall that says, “My house, my rules: Shut the fuck up, or get the fuck out.”
I never met a pattern I could follow. Cooperation & collaboration over being compliant. Carpe diem.
I can bring the Margarita mix, and my rotary cutter (sans the ruler!). So glad I found your blog:)
Can this Aussie girl join the sandbox, I will bring some Stones Green Ginger Wine it will knock the socks off your tequila . I have been doing quilts my way for over 25 years, one teacher never got over my free thinking in her quilting classes.
Points? What points? Love your list. I sew for fun not perfection!
Hell yea, sista!!!! thank you!!!!
I’ll bring Guinness cupcakes and home made Irish Cream! My quilt, NO rules. The only perfection is my version of perfection.
I’m am so glad I am not the only “beat it to fit and paint it to match” quilter out there. We are a rare breed out in the wild. Nice to have a place to fit in.
So glad to know I not the only quilter to admit to having beat a quilt into submission! LOL A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. Glad to be sitting on the bench with y’all. 😉 Pass the chocolate…
I’ll bring the homemade lemoncello! I put whatever colors I feel like together and don’t tell me my quilt isn’t modern enough or not right according to whatever book or blog you read (seriously, this has happened!). It is my quilt and I do whatever I want. No rules!
It is one of my goals this year to keep the quilt police VERY BUSY!
You’re gonna need a bigger sandbox. Shove over, I have Chocolate! Also, well said. I quilt for me, for my pleasure, to relieve stress,for creativity, for joy. I make a few things for others, but only for those who “get it”. Thanks for the wise words.
AMEN to that! The bourbon is on me today! (literally, as I know I will spill some on myself by the end of the day 🙂
this is exactly how I feel about quilting. It’s all about the process, not the product. Just make the effing quilt.
I’m with you. Let’s build each other up, not tear each other apart. Make something & enjoy!
It has taken me most of my adult life to slowly un-learn my fear of making mistakes, but I am getting there. I am almost completely self-taught in my sewing and quilting and I make a zillion mistakes, but I am proud of the fact that I make *new* ones each time ;D By letting go and diving in, I am constantly learning and improving my skills, it’s fabulous.
I needed that this morning! Thank you.
Love this post .
When I teach someone to quilt, I tell them “God is the only perfect quilter- the rest of us just practice. It is always a learning thing. Breathe and enjoy what you make.”
I have never been one to follow the flock. A pattern to me is a suggestion. I made one of my first scrappy quilts all from red fabrics, and someone posted “I didn’t know you could mix those colors?” I was ignorant of any rules… really don’t care for rules.
So I love this post! Quilt on sistah.
And I don’t drink tequila anymore, coz it is causing the Mexican Free Tail bats to lose their food source. When they cut down the plant to make the tequila.
Oh I have some molasses spice cookies to share! And some home brew booze, LOL.
I freaking love it. I’m printing this to hang in my fabric room. Thank you.
Thank you for your craptastic confession! May I bring some homemade cinnamon rolls and embrace my own craptasticness with you lovely people? It’s so liberating not to agonize and beat myself up over a truncated point or a slightly wonky seam!
I am a proud craptastic quilter. I have tried many times to tackle the non wavy borders. I have tried every different method and well wavy borders are just my new design choice! Quilt on my ladies Quilt on!
OMG…I’ve been unstitching some wavy borders…that stops now. Craptastic is my new goal!
You make me think of Hemingway’s attitude! Thanks! I am Quilter-hear me roar! And pass the amaretto! Tequila gives me a headache!
Did someone say Margaritas? I’m in! Oh yea and there’s no quilt Police allowed!!
Dear Perfectionism,
Take your spell check and get the heck out of our Sandbox. I’ll stick with the green tea and pass the Italian Cream cake.
Yes. Definitely playing in the half-wasted on Margaritas sandbox and not giving one shit that I can’t make a fecking flying geese to save my life. Also? Pretty sure I have a massive woman quilter crush on you right now.
My Flying Geese have crashed and burned, so thank you!!!!
Cookies and Margaritas are a must for quilting…..
I’m having bourbon with my diet coke, please.
And, I really don’t care if your 1/4 isn’t exactly scant or you’re scantily clad….
Just make the *fucking* quilt!
^^Best comment!
“my quilt, my rules” that’s my motto!
Love that… my quilt …. my rules
I’m going to make that quote up into a wallhanging for my studio!!
preach it!
You have the best sandbox…see you there and I’ll bring more cookies! and fabric…and thread!
Amen, sista! I have a quilting friend who’s a sweetie- she quilts my tops on her mom’s Sweet16, but she delights in reporting that her mom points out ‘errors’ and says “Quilt Police, Quilt Police!!”. I’m delighted to give her such joy!!!
that needs to be embossed on a statue of you for all quilters to see. I love your truth, reality and most of all your creativity and kindness.
I am 71. Is that too late for a tattoo? I have been tripped while skipping happily along by a precision point quilter. Boo! Hiss!
Janice, as I recently told my mom, who’s going on 70, it’s never too late for a tattoo!
Janice Atkinson it’s 2017 did you ever get that tattoo? Sure hope so.
My tattoo is scheduled for next year. It will be my first and I’ll be 62. It’s never too late to express yourself choosing whatever canvas you like without hurting someone else.
Yes. Exactly.
Hmmmm…”craptastic” sounds like a compliment to me – pass the tequila!
Yes! So many quilters worry about what someone else will think. I make what I love, and really don’t care what others do. Wish more could be this way.
Hello BadAss Quilter – I’m the HardRock Quilter and soooo happy to meet you!
Move over I am a commin to play in your sandbox! I will bring the strawberries!
I’m playing in your sandbox!
Amen!
since I am working on a test quilt for our dear friend Sam, that has lots of points that match (not on my actual quilt, but in her pattern), I totally needed this today. Matching points and seams be damned! Thanks Maddie. 🙂
I absolutely love this sentiment. And I like tequila, too. I hope there’s room on the bench!!
I’m right there with ya! Bottoms up!!:)
Well said!!! I will join you and Trisha on the bench any day!!
Shove over on that naughty bench to make room, sistah. I brought more tequila!
reading these comments are great. makes me feel better! just a thought, i wonder if there is a correlation between tequila and quilting? it’s a great correlation!