With the holidays and gift deadlines rapidly approaching, I’ve noticed a lot of people in my quilting groups dealing with quilting burnout. Burnout is not uncommon in creative endeavors, and everyone experiences it and deals with it differently. Below are my ways of dealing with quilting burnout, maybe some of them will help you.
Clean
Most quilters will agree that their house becomes a mess when they are working on a quilt. There are a ton of memes on the internet revolving just around this. While it’s great to get so engrossed in a project that everything else falls away, working in a disorganized space can cause burnout.
I don’t have a dedicated sewing space, it takes over almost my entire apartment. You can always tell where I am in a quilt project based on how much of a disaster area my apartment is. I got into the habit of deep cleaning my apartment whenever I finish a project. I also straighten up at milestones of a project, like finishing all the blocks or a quilt top. I’ve noticed I burn out less often and bounce back faster doing this. Now I view it as a reward, 24 hours after I finish a quilt, my house is spotless.
Take a Break
This can be hard if you are under a deadline, but even 24-48 hours away can help. If you are burnt out on a specific quilt, not quilting in general, put the quilt in timeout. If it’s quilting in general, step away from the fabric. Take some time to do non-quilting related things you enjoy. Even short breaks can increase productivity and quality of your work. I have a rule, if I have to use the seam ripper more than three times a day, it’s time for me to take a break. If I am making a lot of mistakes, I’m really close to being burnt out.
Watch TV or a movie, give the cat some much needed attention, read a book, or follow another creative endeavor for a bit. Don’t be afraid to create no quilt zones. I will even tell people I’m not talking about quilting that day. Even little things like this make a huge difference.
Make Something for You
As quilters, we often pour our heart and souls into quilts that go off to others. This leads to working with patterns, fabric and colors that may not resonate with us. If you are dealing with quilting burnout, and mainly make quilts for others, do something for you. It doesn’t have to be a king size quilt, a nice table runner or placemats might do.
I constantly have quilts that I want to work on. I always have too many projects lined up, that I don’t get to work on anything for myself. Try to set aside some time for a project you absolutely love. Even if it is just cutting squares for an hour a week, it’s still something to keep the passion going. I haven’t made one quilt for myself this year, but I have over three thousand blocks cut up for a quilt I’ve been wanting to make since I started quilting. This quilt will be a huge time sink, so I’m trying to clear my plate before diving in. But I designed this quilt so that it is a pick up/put down quilt, so I’ve been able to work on it in bits and pieces.
Try Something New
Trying out a new technique or playing with a new fabric sometimes can be just the thing needed to reignite the passion. Is there something you have always wanted to try? (For me this is applique.) Take a class at a local quilt shop. If one isn’t available, check out Craftsy, or even Youtube. Even if you hate this new thing, it will help you appreciate all the stuff you love about quilting.
Limit Active Projects
It’s not uncommon to have multiple projects going at one time. I normally have 3-4 active projects, and many more in the design phase, at any given time. Though, having too many projects in progress can easily be overwhelming which is a breeding ground for burnout. By setting a limit on how many active project you can handle, you are being proactive against quilting burnout.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to stop thinking about or shopping for future projects.
I hope these suggestions help you if you are currently battling quilting burnout, or trying to avoid it. Ultimately, just remember, you quilt because you love it, or parts of it. Focus on those parts, and there will be many things under your needle for years to come.
