Be A Curious Quilter

The Curious Quilter

When people view my more artistic quilt designs they sometimes ask how I got the idea or how I knew to use a particular technique. Usually I shrug my shoulders and say “it just came to me”. And that is the truth—but causes me to question why did it “just come to me”? I think to expand your quilting expertise you have to develop your curiosity.   First, you have to be willing to try new things—new skills, new techniques, new fibers and fabrics–even if they don’t work out quite like you planned you have learned something that you may be able to use later. And, for heaven’s sake, do not throw it out. Six months from now it (skill, technique, fabric) may be exactly what is needed to complete a masterpiece.

Secondly, fire that inner critic that judges before you’ve had time to really step back and assess your work. Each of us either spontaneously appreciates or spontaneously critiques a work in progress. Get feedback from both viewpoints to help you form a more credible assessment for your project. (I know which friend to ask when I want the critique and who to ask when I want the appreciative response.)

And third, ask questions. Ask questions of yourself. Not “how” questions but “what if” questions. What alternatives are there? What if I did it this way? What if I used my least favorite color instead of my most favorite color? Ask questions of others whose work you admire. What made you decide to use this technique, this quilting pattern, this color, this fabric?

And do you see? You are right back to the first step—testing the “how”.