Hello,

No no how you think of this is "all of my patchwork materials and patterns are sweetly sleeping cuddled up in a draw" LOL LOL

Yours in shush Jill

. My stash was getting out of hand what with bags and bins full of fabrics for long forgotten projects, so this Christmas I decided to use up what fabrics I had on hand and sew something for gifts. I managed to sew 4 sets of hats and scarves, three fleece vests, three tote bags and a table runner. This helped me thin out the stock and open up space in my small sewing room. Now that the holidays are over, I'm ready to start the quilt my daughter has been waiting for.
Hope this helps anyone else who's "stuck-in-a-rut".

Stqrt with something small like a wall hanging, something that can be done in just straight seams. Like a Roman Stripes or Nine Patch, and go from there. If it takes too long you might get discouraged, but something small that you can finish in a few days will give you a high and you will want to make more and more. We all have lots of fabric, but never the right pattern or color, so we buy more. Have fun!!

First off, I just started quilting 11 months ago. I am a fabricaholic, well now reformed as my DH is on umemployment and I am unable to work. I have also been diagnosed with ADHD. I am compulsive, and a perfectionist.

I have made 8 quilts so far, two being king size the rest are lap quilts to twin size bed quilts.

I have enough fabric to make several quilts, king size at that. You know, I am afraid to make triangles, because my points do not always match up on a nine patch with just squares. This has immobilized me, and it is just plain silly. I have plenty of scraps from the quilts I have made to practice with and I am going to do that today.

I have bought from ebay, LQS, Joann's and Hancocks because I liked the fabric/fabrics. I used to buy fabric from one particular line, so everything is matchy matchy. It was a compulsion.

Now, I am trying to decide which grouping of fabric I want to work on (no easy task for me), but in the mean time I will work on organizing my stash and working on triangles. I have alot of time on my hands.

I just wanted you to know I know what you are going through somewhat, and we both need to jump in and do something.

Hugs to you Bigmomma
Zimmy

Hi Kathy,
Seems you have the quilting bug, like the rest of us You might do a "to do"list of all your UFOs and then decide which ones you want to start on and work thru. While it may take a while to finish them you can get a great feeling when you mark one off your list when its all done. With regard to your mags you might consider putting a "post it" on the front and write the patterns you like in the mag, ones you would really like to make and even go thru your stash to see if you can make one from what fabric you have or what fabric you'll need to do them and get focused. You might consider joining a local guild or quilt group. Maybe you and some friend(s) could have a sew in weekend to finish UFO's? a weekend away with other quilters? Making a reversible quilt uses up a huge amount of fabric and left over batting.
Having some sort of order on the fabric helps. I did a huge tidy up and used wire baskets in metal frames from IKEA, which hold all my fat quarters and I can see the fabric. While I see you have kids and life can be demanding if you could make time for yourself you deserve it. So Happy Quilting

I think all the suggestions you've gotten here are excellent, I would suggest one more thing: AVOID going on EBay or any other sites that sell tools & thread & books until you have made a dent in what you have! I've had the same problem & have simply stopped shopping. Instead, go onto websites that have free patterns & print some off, you'll only be out the cost of the ink & paper.

One other thing to keep in mind: your taste changes, and when you finally get around to using the fabrics you've collected, you might not like it anymore! That's where I am right now, not overly in love with some of the fabric & patterns I've collected, and not in a financial situation to buy replacements. So I am using what I have, and wishing I hadn't bought some of it in the first place. I hope you can avoid that mistake! Kathy B.

You mentioned that you have trouble finishing projects and I do also (I think it might be an adhd kind of thing). I LOVE planning a project and buying the fabic even starting the project, but the finishing is a little more boring. I have a few tricks to help myself.

If it is a big project, work on it till you get bored, then put it away. Do a couple of little projects that can be done quickly. Placemat, potholder, pillow etc. Once that is done, go back to the large project for a while, because you haven't looked at it for a while it will seem interesting for a while. When you get bored put it away for a while again. It's ok to have 2 or 3 (5 or 6) projects going on at a time.

When you get near to the end, the final push can be so tedious. I sometime make a deal with myself. If I can push through and finish this ONE project this weekend, I will reward myself with something. Maybe it's drawing up plans for a new quilt, or a shopping trip. Just so that it is something that you really like to do.

I really feel your pain. If you finish up one or two of your outstanding projects you will not feel so bad about having so many "under construction".

Hope this helps,
Brita

It is great when you find someone that shares the same passion as you. Maybe you could join a guild and befriend someone. You have the shopping done, It is time to start doing. You have enjoyed washing the fabrics and organizing them, don't feel guilty if the beds are not made one day or the kids have pizza for dinner. Set aside a day of the week and quilt with a friend. It is great therapy.

Maria

I have to agree with Lynn. As a nurse practitioner, I am seeing signs of obsessive/compulsive disorder (OCD). You should talk to your health care provider about this. ADHD is common in adults, it's not something you outgrow. The fact that you are asking for help shows you realize that it has become a problem.

Maggie in E. Central Illinois

I find that unless I set a goal, make a deadline, I don't have any ambition. Yes I too have a lot of fabric, start a lot of projects but please set a deadline and do something.

One good free pattern is the block of the month here on The Quilt Show. You can print off the pattern and get started. You'll have the goal of finishing the sections each month. There are no BOM police so if you don't finish that month, keep plugging at it till you do.

I was under and extreme deadline to finish a quilt for a guild show. I would work every morning from 5am till it was almost time to go to work. I would work some nights after supper till almost 11PM but I finished the quilt. My neighbor who saw my light on thought I had forgotten to shut it off, she was quite surprised that -no - I was working that whole time. While I don't subscribe to that - I do think that if you were to get up 1/2 an hour before the rest of the family and do some sewing each day you would get a lot done. Prepare something the night before, maybe while watching TV then set it by your machine so that you won't waste time searching for everything in the morning. I find that if I visit my room before work, I"m in a better mood during the day.

Join or start a bee with friends. Good therapy. We rotate houses so we're not hostess each time. We meet every 2 weeks.

Our group of girls goes to retreat. That would be a way to get you fired up. WE also go to quilt shows together, this year because of finances, we'll still take the time off but get together and sew for 3 days. Alternating houses just like bee and visit local shops.

Sit down, make a plan and follow through, Write down your goals, make a clear vision and then get going!

denise

I think I found my new BFF. (Best friend for life.) I too will admit that I have a life time supply of anything one needs for quilting, minus batting and backing. The only way I can manage to complete, or should I just say quilt, any thing is in small segments of time. I try for at least an hour a day, doesn't always happen. Even with 10-15 minutes set aside you can accomplish tons.

There is a thread on here called the Tilda thread. That is doing tiny bits of work each day to accomplish something.

[url]forum/index[/url]

I hesitate to be the one to say this on this thread, but....... since I'm in the healthcare field, I feel compelled to at least give this thought a little air time.

Bigmumma......... yes, quilters are collectors - some of us are really insane collectors! But, there is a point at which the 'collecting' becomes 'compulsive' and really does create a problem.

Since you were ADHD as a child, I would like to suggest you consider having a chat with your family physician or OB/GYN and just discuss what you have stated here. There are medications and counselors who can help with some of the thought processes required to get a handle on cumpulsivity if it's creating a problem im your life.

If there was not a problem, you would not have written this blurb to which you have gotten many responses. I would have to say we probably all have a wee bit of compusion in us as most quilters I have met seem to "have" to have all the latest tools and toys. But there is a point when it becomes a problem.

Only YOU can decide if it's really a problem.... if you want to feel more in control of your life and not as driven to buy, buy, buy .... let's face it, in this economy, many of us have had to curtail our spending - if not yet, but soon.

I wish you well, and hope you get this sorted out.

Bigmumma, all of the advice on this thread is good. I hope you find an idea or two that helps you.

I used to sew one seam every morning before I went to work. It was amazing how much I accomplished that way. (Then life changed and I changed my patterns.)

Let me ask you this: are you enjoying the process of washing and pressing your fabrics and organizing all your stuff? If so, you might want to let yourself off the hook a little, and stop feeling guilty for not actually making anything.

I find that I get as much pleasure from fondling my fabrics and looking at books as I get from actually working with them. And I remind myself that coin collectors don't spend the coins they collect, and stamp collectors don't use the stamps they collect to mail letters.

If you really would like to make something, then the advice in this thread about starting small is excellent. But if it's the process of collecting and organizing that you really love, then enjoy it without feeling like you "should" be "using" those materials. The point is to spend your time doing something that soothes your soul.

Anne in Vancouver, Canada

If you've got everything organized to the point of "put away" you need to make a little mess to get something going! Find a place to set up your machine where it can stay out, and you can get to it even if you only have a bit of time between kids & chores etc. Pick a project (something you've started from a class or magazine?) and leave it out at the machine (or by your chair if you're doing hand-work) try to keep all the things you'll need close by. Little bits of time can add up and before you know it you'll have finished something! (I do agree, start small)

Good luck!
Florence