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The Quilt I Threw Away

December 18, 2012

Free Motion Red and White quilt

When I finished quilting this stripy quilt, I was so frustrated and disappointed that I wadded it up and threw it away.

Free Motion Red/White Quilt

It was so far from what I had in my “mind’s eye” that I couldn’t bear to look at it.  It represented incompetence and failure.  I was defeated…

Free Motion Red/White Quilt

One of my daughters retrieved it from the trash and much later asked me to bind it for her.  I did so reluctantly, but enough time had passed that I could see that there were areas of quilting that I liked.

Free Motion Red/White Quilt

I have since come to understand that the gulf between that which we imagine and that which we have the skills to achieve…  is the creative process.

Free Motion Red/White Quilt

That is what gets us out of bed every morning and back at the sewing machine, the easel, or the gym for that matter.

Free Motion Red/White Quilt

So now I have a kindler, gentler view of this quilt and of how I approach other frustrations as well…

Free Motion Red/White Quilt

We’re all a work in progress!

You might also like to see:  Olivia’s Quilt and Faye’s Quilt

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Categories

Creativity Machine Quilting Quilt

Tagged

Art Christmas doodle quilt Fiber Arts free motion quilting Holiday Home home decorations photography quilt quilting Sewing Works in progress

23 responses to “The Quilt I Threw Away”

  1. mamaraby says:
    December 18, 2012 at 10:19 am

    Oh, good reminder!

  2. piecedgoods says:
    December 18, 2012 at 11:43 am

    I can so relate to the frustration about the gap between what is and what you envision. I’m glad the quilt was rescued though!

    1. theinboxjaunt says:
      December 18, 2012 at 1:33 pm

      I am too…but there are a few that “got away”…I don’t like the evidence around to confront me!

      1. Lisa Wagner says:
        February 20, 2014 at 6:10 pm

        Lori, you are looking at it the wrong way! For some reason I saved some of my beginning trials at free motion quilting after wrestling with the idea of throwing them away. What did I need them for? But now I look at them and see just how far I have come. I read on someone’s blog, maybe yours, that no one is a pro in the beginning. We are all beginners at some point!! My guild has asked me to lead a workshop on FMQ as it seems I am the only one in it that is doing FMQ. LOL. And I plan to use them as a teaching tool. We CAN learn from the not so good as well as our triumphs!

  3. lucindalines says:
    December 18, 2012 at 12:45 pm

    All things have beauty, often we just need the eye to see it.

    1. theinboxjaunt says:
      December 18, 2012 at 1:33 pm

      And a little time and distance…

  4. Lynette says:
    December 18, 2012 at 1:03 pm

    If it’s messed up, that is one stinkin’ pretty learning piece! 🙂 Good thing your daughter retrieved it. Sooo many times, I’ve been disappointed with something, and usually it looks a lot better to me after a bunch of time has passed. Isn’t that funny?

    1. theinboxjaunt says:
      December 18, 2012 at 1:36 pm

      If I do a bit of “artful folding” the most objectionable parts are hidden…

      I think that when you look at the quilt immediately–the frustration is too fresh in our memories–later, we forget about the sheer amount of time spent.

  5. sewjournal says:
    December 18, 2012 at 4:43 pm

    My goodness I wish my quilting “failures” were as good as yours. That is stunning!

    1. theinboxjaunt says:
      December 18, 2012 at 5:08 pm

      As long as I blur the photos in select places–I like it, too–in my imagination it is soo much more stunning!

  6. Life on a Dirt Road says:
    December 18, 2012 at 4:59 pm

    Since I am a newbie quilter, this looks like a masterpiece to me! 🙂

    1. theinboxjaunt says:
      December 18, 2012 at 5:05 pm

      Thanks…it has grown on me…but it will never be a competition quilt!

  7. buckylb says:
    December 19, 2012 at 11:37 am

    I love the sun and shadows on the quilt in the last 2 pictures. And yes … the creative process. But also the learning process!! love your work!

  8. Mads says:
    January 10, 2013 at 8:50 pm

    What a lovely quilt and what a beautiful story! We are often so focused on the result, that we forget the joy we had on the way!

  9. Pingback: Tuesday Tutorial-The Welsh Leaf | The Inbox Jaunt
  10. Pingback: Open Line Friday-Quilt Labels and “Giving Up” | The Inbox Jaunt
  11. Lara says:
    February 14, 2014 at 9:43 am

    Lori, I love what you wrote: “I have since come to understand that the gulf between that which we imagine and that which we have the skills to achieve… is the creative process.”
    PS – your “trash” would be our treasure!

  12. Carol Stearns says:
    August 1, 2014 at 7:09 am

    I have since come to understand that the gulf between that which we imagine and that which we have the skills to achieve… is the creative process.”
    What an awesome comment this is! You should keep it as your mantra for your blog! Thanks for sharing. And don’t throw them away, there are charitable places that would cherish any quilt we don’t love.

    1. Lori Kennedy says:
      August 1, 2014 at 7:59 am

      Thanks, Carol! The red and white Welsh inspired quilt is one of our favorites now…I just don’t look too closely!

  13. mrsgoodneedle says:
    August 1, 2014 at 7:22 am

    Thank you for sharing this; what a powerful reminder that we’re all works in progress.

  14. Barbara says:
    August 11, 2014 at 3:55 pm

    Are you kidding me? Wow! I would be thrilled to make “trash” quilt like that. That quilt is more like what I inspire to make one day! You have a natural artistic talent.

    I was going to write that I strive for perfection, but am okay when I mess it up. But, that’s not true. I get disappointed at first, maybe even upset or sad. I dwell. Then I try to solve it (seam ripper). Then I dwell over it some more if I can’t fix it (or rejoice in my brilliance if I can). And then eventually I move on, but that mess-up is always there. It’s like a scab that will eventually scar but won’t be as bad as it was when it was initially cut. Ewww…gross…LOL!

    I guess you are similar, just on an entirely different level. 😉

    And I wrote this with one particular stitch in my mind that I recently could not solve.

  15. Jenny Garcia says:
    May 31, 2016 at 12:44 pm

    I don’t very often respond to posts, although I am an active “stalker” of this blog 🙂

    This one resonated with me enough to reply. Lori — Thank you for your kind, thoughtful, creative posts which show us “muggles” how to improve and how to meet some tough goals.

    I am a high school teacher and, as the year is winding down, I find myself repeating to my students that you only truly learn when you make mistakes and deal with them. If you were always perfect, you would not be learning and improving. This summer my goal is to try my hand at some FMQ that is out of my skill set so I can remind myself that getting good at something is a process. (That, along with some major walking or gym time every other day!).

    Thanks again for all your posts. You are truly an inspiration.

    1. Lori Kennedy says:
      May 31, 2016 at 1:25 pm

      First, thank you for your note! It means a lot to me when people take the time to write. Second, thank you for being a teacher–it is an important job and a difficult one as the school year ends! I’m so excited that you’ve decided to use summer to learn FMQ! It’s so much fun! Let me know if there’s any way we can help!

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    Lori Kennedy

    Hi! I’m Lori Kennedy, machine quilter, & author from Minnesota. Check out my monthly newsletter & my articles. Machine quilting is my passion. From doodling to quilting, I’m here in my Minnesota studio to help you get quilting.

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