The Courage to Feel Creative: Taking Control of Your Quilting

At some point most of us need to learn how to move past complete and total imitation in order to sew the quilts that we long to make and feel truly creative. That’s a given. Perhaps it’s because of the left brain thing, but for many of us, it’s an extremely tough process that doesn't happen overnight. I call it 'taking control of your quilting’, but the fact is, it’s far easier to stick with the familiar (staying with printed directions) than to try something new. With the familiar, there is a feeling of guaranteed success which is much more attractive than edging out onto the limb of many unknowns, risking possible failure or disappointment. There is a certain amount of resistance (fear) when out on that limb that simply has to be overcome.

Started with a pattern:
Changed the colors throughout

While it's true that we need someone to hold our hand to start with, that shouldn't have to last forever! We have trained ourselves to work from step by step directions and can‘t quite figure out how to do anything different! It‘s very clear why we are involved in this craft in the first place. We love quilts.  Old, new, vintage, scrappy, traditional, modern quilts--you name it, we love them! Along with that love, comes the desire to learn how to reproduce our favorite styles and we‘re trying as hard as we can to do just that. So, there’s a bazillion techniques and methods to learn, experience to be gained and we ask, where’s the time to make a horrible flop? Figuring out how to deviate from proven, successful formulas is a bit intimidating, scary and yes, even feels a bit unnecessary at times. There is a lot of comfort in sticking with the familiar, especially as we get better and better at our technique.

Started with a pattern:
Slight change in colors

A dictionary definition for the word creativity is this: The use of the imagination or original ideas, esp. in the production of an artistic work. See? It’s all so confusing when applied to the business of making quilts. Leaving aside the bit about ‘artistic work’ because we don‘t dare call ourselves artists at this point, what if we just want to make beautiful quilts regardless of who designed them? Is it okay to feel ‘creative’ about making a replica of a fabulous, stunning quilt?  After all, it IS a very difficult undertaking (not something just anyone can accomplish) and we do end up with something incredible in the long term. We certainly can’t deny the feeling of pride and accomplishment in that! 

Started with a pattern:
Very subtle change in colors
Added a border

Sometimes it feels like we practically have to reinvent the wheel in order to get credit for our creativity when, obviously, imagination and originality aren't something the average person can carry around in their hip pocket. Hmm… Okay, so it seems that creativity isn't just about ability then, but rather something a bit more personal and unique.

Here’s the way that I see it. Quilting is not a new craft. There is very little that is radically different (original) in the quilting world today than from what was made hundreds of years ago.  It’s still bits of fabric sandwiched together with batting and binding, held together with some kind of stitching. I personally LOVE the fact that the quilts we make today are based on hundreds of years of copying, adaptation and assimilation! If you bring it down to it’s unadulterated form, quilting is evidently an industry that flourishes from what is technically years of quilters ‘borrowing and stealing’ ideas. How fascinating that the end result is quilt after quilt made with subtle variations that somehow translate into something very personalized and unique! Yay! for human nature!

Started with a pattern:
Changed background color
Slight change in other colors
Changed sawtooth block on inside of snails trail to
present differently than border stars

Since most of us aren't content to forever (exactly) copy other peoples work, then eventually we too are going to have to dive off into the abyss of creativity regardless of our possible misgivings. We have to take control of our quilting by making some personal decisions. How far we take it is certainly up to us, but the fact is, most of us are already doing it in one way or another! Having our favorite colors, techniques and/or methods, personal biases and preferred quilting elements make it perfectly normal to want to change one little thing in a quilting pattern. Or even two or more! When we follow through with that urge, it’s called partial creativity. For the creatively challenged, I think it’s probably the golden key that unlocks the door to the magic kingdom--making very personalized quilts, one little change at a time and taking control of the end result.

Started with a pattern:
Changed from two-solid colors to dark & scrappy
Added more blocks & rows

Once again, I have more to say on this subject that I don’t want to hold over till next week! Eek! Will I ever quit? lol I have a list of ideas for partial creativity that I want to throw out at you tomorrow--nothing new or earth shattering, but I think it does kind of wrap this topic up a little better. So much to think about.... Does anyone else agree that partial creativity is a very valid part of the quilt making process? I kind of view it as a sneaky way to take control of our quilting with the little baby steps that seem so necessary to the less confident among us!