Take the Time – Challenge

Last week I talked about taking the time to practice and expand your skills. If you are a seasoned quilter, you may have thought that blog post was not for you. It was aimed at beginners. But, I’m here to tell you, it was especially for you! We all need to keep learning. That is one of the things that is so great about quilting. There is always something new to learn. So it is time to challenge yourself! Spring is a time of new growth, (and not just for flowers).

My experience

I’ve been longarm quilting for 20 years! When I finally decided to try something new, I was amazed by the difference it made. This experience served as a valuable reminder to not limit myself to what I already knew. By remaining open to new ideas and being willing to experiment, we open doors to new creative possibilities and expand our quilting horizons.

Here’s your challenge!

I encourage you to reflect on your own quilting practice. Are there areas where you’ve become set in your ways? Have you seen new supplies or techniques you’ve been curious about but haven’t tried yet? Do you have places where you’re feeling “stuck” and could look for new products or techniques to help you move forward? Take this opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and explore the vast world of possibilities.

Ways to take the challenge

• Take a class – I have experienced quilters in my classes come to me and say, “I learned something new!” The sparkle in their eyes is priceless. Try to find a teacher you haven’t seen before. They might just expain a technique in a way that clicks with you like it never has before.
• Take advantage of the educational content from Handi Quilter. We add new stuff weekly.
  • HQ Watch and Learn – a new video premiers each Tuesday at noon MT on our FaceBook page
  • YouTube – youtube.com/handiquilter  search for a topic you are keen to learn or just binge. Be sure to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE!
  • This blog – I try to instruct, inform or inspire you each week. Have questions? ask in the comments or just say nice things about how much you enjoy this. 😉
  • Have Pro-Stitcher? – don’t forget about the videos and written, downloadable tutorials at the Pro-Stitcher website. It’s a wealth of great information.
  •  Click on the learn tab on the Handi Quilter website. You’ll access written articles, video tutorials, and information about in-person retailer events, retreats at our headquarters, and Handi Quilter Academy, the premier annual in-person event.
• Go to a quilt show and look closely at the quilting. You’re sure to find a unique design you haven’t seen before.  Take a picture and when you get home try to figure out the stitch path. Then practice stitching until you feel confident. Use it on your next quilt.

Share

When you find something new and exciting, share it with your friend. Share it in the comments here too! We all love to see new ideas.

Be brave

Remember, growth often lies on the other side of discomfort. Sometimes you’ll stumble as you try new things. Don’t give up! Remember when your babies learned to walk? They took a few steps and fell down. You cheered! And so they tried again. And they fell down. They tried a third time. And fell down. After that 3rd time you didn’t say “Nice try little one, but I guess you just weren’t meant to walk. Go back to crawling, you’re good at that.” Haha!  Encourage yourself just like you encourage others. Keep trying. Embrace change, embrace experimentation, and embrace the journey of continual learning and evolution as a quilter.

Remember 15 minutes a day is all it takes. For someone looking to grow and experiment I consider this Play Time not practice time. Give yourself the gift of 15 minutes of play every day. Take the time. Take the challenge.

Quilt. Every. Day!

by Mary Beth Krapil