I finally finished making my college quilt.
And what an involved process it was.
I had saved all my college shirts and sweatshirts over the years. Although I don't wear them anymore, I didn't want to give them away (because memories) so I made an intention to make them into a quilt. I've had this idea for years until last September of 2022 I decided to just start and think later. It's been a recurring theme of mine lately,
"just start, think later."
It's been helpful in overcoming my self-limitations.
But yaa, it was a learning experience.
I had to Youtube how to operate a sewing machine since I haven't learned and then I had to Youtube how to actually make a quilt
I learned what batting is, how to stabilize your shirts with a fusible interface (yeah wtf is that, right?), and that there's special needles and threads for quilting
I made countless trips to Joann's because either I used wrong material (not all fusible interfaces are the same apparently) or I had too little of something or something broke
Speaking of something broke, my first beginner's sewing machine malfunctioned because my quilt was getting so thick in the process so I had to buy a new machine
I didn't properly measure lengths of the shirts and sweatshirts I used (I cut based on feeling because I was too lazy or impatient to be accurate) so when it came to creating the collage, I had to cut off some of my shirts just to fit the overall size of my quilt... [**Yeah learn from me, if you're going for accuracy, definitely measure everything out.]
I took a few months off to step away from the project because I needed a break. It's a pretty labor-intensive process especially if you're starting out for the first time. I definitely had flare ups of my back pain throughout the process..
There were plenty of times I wanted to just be done and see a finished product. It's part of my goal-oriented mindset, something I am working through in therapy. It's socially constructed to orient yourself toward a goal without truly enjoying the process it takes to get there. That's what we are taught, but what I am learning is to adopt a process-oriented mindset and that's what I committed to during my quilting process.
I would spend a few hours during the week to work on some part of the quilt and I had this momentum going for the first month. As time went on, I was spending less time on my quilt because I was reaching the end but I was also growing tired and impatient. It's natural to feel that way. The follow through and finish can be difficult. I get that.
I had probably an overly ambitious idea to use scraps of my shirts to create fringes all around the border of my quilt. I quickly realized how time-consuming this process was which led me to taking a break for a good amount of time. I then decided I would just do fringes on two sides of the quilt. For now.
We may revisit finishing the other two sides at another time but that's the point I want to make.
I have come to enjoy the process it took me to make this quilt. When I grew impatient or frustrated or tired, I simply stopped and told myself, I will get to this again another time. I can feel good about where I'm at right now.
There's no need to rush something that should be thoroughly enjoyed.
It is okay to take breaks, however long that may be.
Seriously, lean into savoring every bit of the process.
I found an appreciation for my project the more time I had spent away from it and when I returned to finish the fringes a few days ago, I had a renewed sense of enthusiasm and excitement for my project.
I was able to power through finishing the quilt and before I knew it, I finished!
So here's to appreciating the underrated: our process
Also, here's Thor enjoying what he might think is his new thing to sleep on (sorry bub, this one's mine)
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