Updated Nov. 11, 2025
Do you ever get stuck in a rut and think, “I just don’t want to make another __________ quilt again. What else is there?”
I believe if you lined up all my quilts from first to most recent, you could see when I reached that point. First, there was a flowery, cute phase that honestly now makes me want to puke. Then came bright colors on black backgrounds, muted tones throughout, rainbow quilts, bright colors on white backgrounds, geometric prints, literally using all the colors, and solids. After that, there was the phase where I learned needle-turn appliqué, and I didn’t piece any quilts for nearly a year.
Oh, and we can’t forget my grayscale phase. I’ll never forget the looks I got in an appliqué class when I started making gray stems for my flowers. I’m pretty sure I heard one classmate ask another if I was color blind.
As creative as we quilters are, sometimes it’s hard to let go of a look or technique we enjoy.
And that is the biggest mistake we make!!
It’s Not Creative to Do the Same Things Over & Over Again
Like an Indiana pot roast, there’s something comforting about settling into a look or technique you enjoy and sticking with it for a while. But that’s not truly creativity. If you’re like me, you’re using your quilting talent to express yourself. Sometimes I don’t even realize I’m doing that until I finish a project, step back, and think, “That’s exactly my mood, life phase, or social thinking right now.”
You need to step outside your comfort zone and challenge yourself. You never truly discover what kind of artist you can become until you make yourself genuinely, truly uncomfortable.
Doing New Things Makes You Grow & Growth Makes You Better
Even if I am making a quilt I’m going to give away, and it’s based more on who I’m giving it to than on my own preferences, I always try to learn something new with each project. Whether it’s a new way to use color or trying out a new technique to see if it’s better than what I’ve used before, learning is what keeps me in the quilting game.
Only when I’ve been willing to admit I’m not an expert on a certain technique or color theory have I been able to push past my current boundaries and truly grow as a quilter. My use of color improves, and my quilting skills really advance.
Get Uncomfortable Today
Look at the projects you’re currently working on. If they share something in common, make a promise to yourself to get uncomfortable today! Browse the web for inspiration. Go for a nature walk. Heck – go for an urban walk! Just get out there, observe what the world around you has to offer, and commit to getting uncomfortable.
