We are back to bring you five more great tips for finding more time to quilt. Earlier this month we asked our designers for their best tips on finding more time to quilt. This week we bring you the sage advise of Bea Lee of Bea Quilter, Susan Mayer of Quilting Discoveries, Sandi Colwell of Quilt Cabana Patterns and Julia Deal of SEW Artistic.
How to Find More Time to Quilt Part 2
Bea Lee"s Whirly Gig Quilt Pattern
1. Keep your working area and supplies organized.
Bea Lee of Bea Quilter says that she keeps her supplies super organized. It can be a motivation killer if you know that cleaning up after that last sewing session will take hours before the actual fun can begin. Bea also says that she likes to keep her supplies and projects neat but visible to inspire her. By being able to see her fabrics and trims, she can dream up innovative ways of combining them.
2. Mix it Up.
Sometimes quilting projects take longer than others. Susan Mayer suggests working one more than one project at a time. “I keep several projects going at once, stored in clear plastic scrapbooking boxes. That way if I get bored with one, I can work on something else.” Likewise Bea “usually works on more than one project at a time, especially if it's a "boring" project or something that usually takes a long time, it will be my leader and ender project and before I know it, it's done!” Working on one project for too long can be a major enthusiasm killer. Change it around in order to stay motivated.
"Hannah's Garden" Quilt Pattern by Susan Mayer
3. Take it With You.
Even small snippets of time spent waiting at doctors’ appointments or kid’s sporting events can add up to a significant amount of quilting time. Sandi Colwell says “I like to keep separate, small bags with different types of handwork in it near the door. I might have Sashiko in one, crochet in another and English Paper Piecing in a third. Each bag has its own pair of scissors. I grab whichever bag I feel like working on and take it to appointments and kids' activities. I also take it out the pool in the summer. The more choices I have, the less bored I am after a while of working on one project.” Julia Deal also says that she always has hand work ready to go. She says her method of “time-boxing” works extremely well. Time boxing is Julia’s method for working on a project for 30 minutes every day. “For example you could get up a half hour early. Have a sewing project ready to go, and work on it for 30 minutes. If you do this EVERY day, you will make good progress.”
Julia Deal's Moden Two Sided Tree Skirt Pattern
4. Make it a Family Affair.
We absolutely loved Susan’s ideas for getting family members involved in the quilting process. “A good idea is to get your husband involved….ask for color ideas (they see things quite differently). They will be interested in how it works out! Try showing your family a few quilt patterns and let them pick one for a family quilt or one of their own. They will be interested in your progress; therefore giving you time to quilt!5. Get Organizational Ideas From a Class.
Julia teaches a class entitles “Sew Organized” where she discusses organizing tips and techniques she has perfected over the years. She says that she has students tell her years after taking her class how they still use the ideas she shared. Don't miss more tips every Friday! We can deliver them right to your mailbox!
