I have mentioned how hard my creative life was in 2025. There was one reason for that…..
I had looked back at 2024, seeing three quilts in major shows and then a BOS ribbon early in 2025, and I had decided that whatever I did HAD TO BE show quality. Something special and technically accurate.
I planned quilts, thinking that I had to make them show-worthy. Not because the quilt needed that level of precision, but because I told myself it was required.
Somewhere along the way, the pressure to make it “good enough” turned into pressure to make it perfect. And putting that kind of pressure on myself took all the fun out of creating!
But, making a simple scrap quilt in December helped me realize what I was doing to myself….
….and how I was missing out on creative fun!!
I have slowly learned that choosing a simpler standard doesn’t mean lowering my skills. It simply means using them wisely.
Do you have preconceived notions about your quilts, and should you let some of those notions go away?
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“Let’s Get Scrappy is about how to decide, not about what to make.”
Let’s Get Scrappy is an on-demand online course that helps quilters overcome decision fatigue and finally make sense of their overflowing scrap bins. With four hours of step-by-step video instruction, you’ll learn simple systems for organizing, piecing, and pressing your scraps—so you can stop overthinking and start sewing beautiful, coordinated quilts with confidence and joy.
Sometimes I put pressure on myself to design the pattern myself. I am discovering it is okay to use someone else’s pattern and enjoy the making process.
Hi Frances,
I love your recent scrappy quilt using browns and the accent reds. I have lots of brown 10” squares and would love to buy this particular pattern. I don’t usually buy brown fabric and this online purchase was a mistake, ha ha. I want to make a charity quilt and your design looks stunning and perfect to use up my browns.
Regards,
Pamela.
Thanks Pamela. I am so glad that you liked the Brown and Red. I don’t actually have a pattern for it. I just started sewing brown strips together and cut them into two different types of triangles (one like a half-square triangle so that the strips were even with the sides and then another set of triangles where the strips were even with the hypotenuse of the triangle…. and then put the red strip in between the triangles. I am so sorry that I can’t get you much information about it but I am happy for you to copy the idea. And, please ask questions as you go!!
Thanks Frances, I’ll give it a try. I’ll get my strips, have your notes and photo next to me to follow your instructions. Thanks for your permission to use your pattern.
Pamela.
I can’t wait to see your version. PLEASE be sure to share!!