Sunshine Quilts

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Time Spent Quilting

How much time do you think you spend on an average day piecing, quilting, fondling fabric . . something to do with quilting? If you wanted to do so, could you spend more time each day quilting or are you currently maxed out or spending more time than you should be with your quilting? Do you think if you wanted to set aside a certain amount each day . . say 30 minutes or an hour . . you could commit to do so and do it at least 5 out of 7 days each week? I have an idea is why I'm asking but I'm going to await your responses before I share my idea. This is what made me think of it. When I got my first quilting machine (I won't even exaggerate the truth and call it a longarm!), I was scared to death of the machine. This was before I knew about all the wonderful and supportive longarm groups. I found myself doing anything and everything I could to keep from going near that machine. Someone told me to decide how much time each day I could/would spend with the machine and commit to doing that. I found that once I actually got started, I didn't want to stop. Many of you are producing tons of quilts but for those of you who need a little kick in the rear end to get you going, I might have a plan! Stay tuned! :) Judy L.

posted by Granny at 8/01/2006 07:06:00 PM

32 Comments:

  • I don't have a certain amount of time I set aside each day. Any time I can sneak in while Alex (my son) naps or after he's in bed is nice.

    I don't really know how to explain it, its just my me time. Either quilt or read, or just play on the computer without having to constantly pull a baby away from places he shouldn't be in. :)

    By Blogger Andrea, at 8/01/2006 08:30:00 PM  

  • I don't have a set amount each day either. I try to spend a couple of hours sometime during the day doing something quilting related - machine sewing or hand sewing. I'm intrigued, can't wait to hear your idea!

    By Blogger Darlene, at 8/01/2006 08:53:00 PM  

  • Since I've moved, I don't have to "escape" to my sewing room any more. Consequently, I don't seem to be doing as much sewing as I used to. But that's going to change now!

    I used to piece or applique for two hours every night. I want to get back to that. I miss it! Weekends are usually spent running errands on Saturday with some quilty time late in the evening, and then Sunday is my day to sew. But that's just not enough time to use up this stash!

    Can't wait to hear your plan! I'm in - whatever it is!!

    ((HUGS))

    By Blogger Vicky, at 8/01/2006 09:30:00 PM  

  • I've been trying to make myself do something in the sewing room for at least 15 minutes a night. With my health issues and meds some nights I just can't seem to make myself do it, but when I do I always spend way longer. So I'm trying to at least go sit in my sewing chair for that 15 minutes. Some days I might just look at magazines and patterns and others I might open a stash cabinet, pull a piece of fabric and then start looking for others that will go with it. Sometimes those combos go back in the stash, sometimes they end up as a quilt. But at least I'm playing with fabric and not sitting in my chair in the living room like a lump.

    So I guess the answere to your question is, yes I could spend more time if I can just make myself get up and get started. I'm interested to see what you have in mind. I know I certainly need all the help I can get to make this a productive stash quilts month.

    By Blogger Nancy, at 8/01/2006 10:36:00 PM  

  • Whenever I decide to work on a project that is stalled I use a timer.
    I set the timer for 30 minutes or 1 hour and focus. When the time is up I can do other things. More often than not this can kick start a stalled project in a few days and even a thread a day eventually gets me there :-)
    Other than that I can quilt a lot, when I want - and I do.

    By Blogger Hanne, at 8/01/2006 10:41:00 PM  

  • How much time do I do anything quilt-related? Minimum of 2 hours every day. I'm counting blog reading too though - I find that very inspiring and gives me a "kick" when I need it.

    A lot of my "fondling" time is spent looking at quilts and patterns online. I'm evil enough to try to visual "steal" a quilt pattern. I really enjoy the mathmatical aspect of quilting.

    Today I spent an hour cutting fabric and at least 2 hours at my machine, half an hour ironing and I still need to do a few blocks for my quilt guild meeting tomorrow, so that's another hour. Oh, and I want to write a new post on my blog... cross your fingers and hope the pictures will come up.

    So that's at least 5 hours of "physical" quilt related stuff (hey, typing is physical to me. :P)

    I do find that I tend to take Sundays "off" - no machine time. But since that's laundry day, fabric will often times get washed.

    I could easily add many more hours of quilt-related stuff in my day, but I'm careful to keep this as a hobby and not a job. The last thing I want to do is end up dreading it.

    But I'm looking forward to see what advice and tips you can share about getting our butt's going. :)

    By Blogger Leah Spencer, at 8/01/2006 11:03:00 PM  

  • I work full time, so I'd have to go in a category of 'would quilt more if I didn't have to commute 45 minutes to work, spend 8 hours, there, then commute back.' I also do web services from home as a part time job, and have to maintain sites before I can play at quilting.

    I already sacrifice some of my housecleaning in order to find more time to sew - I catch up weekends that I don't have to work.

    Someday when I retire, though.... :)

    By Blogger ForestJane, at 8/01/2006 11:18:00 PM  

  • If you count the time spent on the Longarm, then I spend anywhere from 4 to 6 hours each day. If it's doing something for myself, then I'm lucky to be able to get in 1/2 hour a week.
    I'm game to try just about anything. Bring it on.

    By Blogger Eileen, at 8/02/2006 04:03:00 AM  

  • I don't have any certain time- I work part time and am caregiver to both mother and disabled husband. When life permits and I still have the energy and interest- I quilt.

    By Blogger Gail, at 8/02/2006 04:12:00 AM  

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    By Blogger quiltpixie, at 8/02/2006 05:37:00 AM  

  • as a single mother with a full time job and the only child of a widowed mother my plate is pretty full. This year I decided to spend at least 15 minutes a day doing some kind of fiber art... Its usually much longer, but even when I'm sick I figure I can find 15 minutes. I've made a deal with myself that I can't "store it up" either -- no using the extra 15 minutes from today to count tomorrow. I've been surprised at how much I've gotten done and how often it stretches. When I first started I had to puch myself to go do the 15 minutes sometimes, but now it just happens and is usually 45-60 minutes. In terms of could I do more -- probably, but it'd become a stressor rather than a stress relief hobby I think...

    By Blogger quiltpixie, at 8/02/2006 05:42:00 AM  

  • I've got all day to do something quilty or quilt related. Mornings are for the computer normally but after lunch I usually work, though not continuously, from about 1 to 830 with time out to fix/eat supper--so maybe 5-6 hours at least 5-6 days a week normally. BUT I probably skew the results of the survey by not working outside the home or having family responsibilities.

    By Blogger Linda C, at 8/02/2006 06:13:00 AM  

  • I have tried to at least do "something creative" each day. I'd love to make it a 30-minute set-aside time tho.

    Working full-time and am completely bushed by 9pm and faithfully go to bed at that time, so the time between 6pm and 9pm GOES SO FAST!

    Can't wait to "get with the program" that's up your sleeve. I need some direction.

    By Blogger QuiltingFitzy, at 8/02/2006 06:15:00 AM  

  • I go in spurts... Two weekends ago, I spent a lot of time at the machine. The last two weeks - not so much... In general, I'd like to spend more time quilting, but... (insert excuse du jour.)

    Specifically, for my Project Spectrum neutral quilt, I want to cut & sew in 1 day - since I haven't had 1 day, I haven't started it & Since I want to do that, I haven't doen anything else either...

    By Blogger The Calico Cat, at 8/02/2006 06:23:00 AM  

  • I am retired and my kids all have homes of their own so I usually have all the time I want to sew. I normally spend 4 - 5 hours a day in the studio. The fact that my husband is an artist and is usually out there working too helps a lot. I don't know what I did before I started quilting!

    By Blogger Joyce, at 8/02/2006 06:31:00 AM  

  • hmmm.... I never thought about it much. I am a little more of a goal oriented person, not so much focused on the time. I try to get one block done or one pass done with the quilting machine. I work in short spurts- rarely more than an hour at a time. Maybe an hour on most days. Not for lack of motivation- just trying to fit everything in.

    By Blogger Nines, at 8/02/2006 06:44:00 AM  

  • I find that most of my quilting time is in the evenings and on the weekend. In the evenings i will sit in the lounge room with the family and do some hand stitching while watching television. On the weekend i have more free time to spend in the sewing room.

    I'm guessing i would spend at least one hour 4-6 days a week. Very curious to know what you have in mind.

    By Blogger Cynthia, at 8/02/2006 06:46:00 AM  

  • Here lately, I have had a zillion excuses not to sew. Don't get me wrong, I really love to piece blocks. But there always seems like I should be doing something else. (Laundry, cooking, cleaning, and oh yeah, the kids! LOL)

    I am looking forward to your plan. I think I do need a kick in the rear. Maybe a big kick!

    By Blogger Unknown, at 8/02/2006 07:37:00 AM  

  • I spend at least 30 minutes each day on a quilt-related activity. This includes reading through quilt magazines looking for ideas for the next project, laundering fabric, cutting fabric, piecing the blocks, and actual quilting. I am wondering if now I should include blogging about quilting as a "quilt-related" activity? *G*

    I would like to change my goal to at least 30 minutes of piecing or actual machine piecing per day to "crank up" the finished quilts. Basically, 30 minutes on either my sewing machine or my long arm.

    I forsee another challenge for us! *VBS*

    By Blogger Silverthimble, at 8/02/2006 07:39:00 AM  

  • I don't have a set schedule either. My time in the sewing room revolves around my daughter napping (my son is old enough and generally does not get into too much trouble when I am sewing) or when my husband is home to be able to really watch the kids.

    By Blogger Kim West, at 8/02/2006 08:13:00 AM  

  • I spend as much time as possible! No matter what else I'm doing, I'd rather be quilting! There are days like today when I'm at work all day and have an evening planned with the family - those days I get in only a little or none at all. But outside the family all my social activities involve quilting and quilters, and at home it's all I do. I probably spend way TOO much time quilting!

    By Blogger Patti, at 8/02/2006 09:21:00 AM  

  • Since I am newly retired, I haven't gotten into a routine yet. However, I would be glad to hear your idea. No matter how much time I spend, I could use inspiration and encouragement to do more. I'm always up for a challenge - or a kick in the rear.

    By Blogger Bonnie, at 8/02/2006 09:29:00 AM  

  • Andrea, don't know where you are going with this thread but you've got me interested.

    i try to spend at least an hour 3-4 days a week quilting. of course, that time may be in a chunk on a rainy day. but i try to get into my sewing room 3-4 times a week. don't always get much done but sometimes just sitting and "messing around" in there is very therapeutic...

    By Blogger McIrish Annie, at 8/02/2006 10:12:00 AM  

  • I try to quilt on the days I am off from work as than it is the easiest to pic it up, but lately I also do like 2 hours a night as there is nothing on TV.

    By Blogger Judith, at 8/02/2006 01:00:00 PM  

  • oh quilting ??? I hardly remember what it is. My poor sewing machine has not had any quilting fun for so long now.
    After the wedding... after the wedding... I keep telling myself that life will get back to normal

    By Blogger Patty, at 8/02/2006 03:22:00 PM  

  • I have a certain schedule to my weeks - although I try to be flexible. The only day I usually don't quilt is Tuesdays because I run errands and am too tired to think about quilting! I can squeeze some quilting in on days I have chores (cleaning, laundry), but I usually have about 4 full days a week I can devote to quilting.

    By Blogger Joanne, at 8/02/2006 04:54:00 PM  

  • Since I work outside the home and CarGuy is disabled, I can only squeeze in quilting time on the weekend. I am stashbusting yarn too and when it is gone I plan on doing either some hand-piecing or some applique so I can spend some evening time with CarGuy since I'm gone during the day.

    By Blogger Paula, the quilter, at 8/02/2006 05:30:00 PM  

  • I spend about an hour each day reading quilt blogs. Like some others I work outside of the home 40 - 45 hours a week. DH and I ride to work together and lately I've been thinking about bringing some hand work along in the car. Sometimes during the week I will machine stitch a seam or two while I'm cooking dinner. But it's not often that I sew longer than that.

    The weekends are my prime quilting time and I try hard not to let too many social activities end up on my weekend calendar.

    I'm up for your plan. Can't wait to hear it.

    By Blogger Sweet P, at 8/02/2006 07:04:00 PM  

  • On average I probably spend about 25 hours per week on quilting - teaching - quilt related stuff. It's the time when kids are in school and kindy and after 8.30pm. I race thru my housework as fast as I can ... and then my time is my own!
    Sounds like you've got a great idea cooking!
    *hugs*
    Tazzie
    :-)

    By Blogger Tazzie, at 8/03/2006 12:22:00 AM  

  • I wish I had more time to quilt. Lately, it seems like I get 15 or 20 minutes here and there. When I'm really stressed I say forget it and go sit down at my sewing machine and quilt and forget about everything else.

    By Blogger bmorerealtor, at 8/03/2006 08:19:00 AM  

  • Judy, I don't have a set amount of time everyday. Right now, my employment is very iffy, so when I am working, I don't have any time, but other days I have all day. Even though I have all day, I don't spend all of it quilting. So I'm thinking at least 30 minutes everyday - sometimes up to four hours.
    I like your idea of presenting projects, but I have so many projects in the work though, that I'd rather not be tempted to consider anything else. I have to finish what I have started on - either sewing or kitting up.

    By Blogger Shelina, at 8/03/2006 06:35:00 PM  

  • I work full time outside the home. And then when I get home I relieve my DH as care giver for my Mom. Now that my Dad has past on, caregiving isn't as consuming as my Mom just needs assistance and conpanionship. At work I have my eyes on 2 computer screens all 8 hours of work. So my eyes are fairly worn out by the time I get home. Reading blogs is even to much sometimes. My commute is about 30 to 45 minutes round trip. With the these things in consideration, I do little quilting during the week. Most of my creative pursutes durring the week are easier on my eyes & something I can pick up and set down for 5 min intervals.

    I try to get 2 to 4 hours of quilting related stuff done on the weekends but it doesn't always work out that way. Life has other fun and games, and responsabilitys for me.

    All that said your plans sound interesting. I look forward to hearing about them.

    Rae

    By Blogger Rae, at 8/04/2006 07:37:00 PM  

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