Quilt Guilt
Can we pause for a second and talk about quilt guilt?
You know the feeling—when you see that pile of unfinished quilts and think, “Ugh, I really should finish that…” Or when you scroll through social media and someone has just posted another beautifully bound quilt while yours is still just blocks in a bin.
It’s easy to let that guilt creep in. We tell ourselves things like:
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“I’m not disciplined enough.”
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“I should finish what I start.”
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“Why can’t I be more productive like her (that one person who seems to have it all)?”
But here’s the thing I’ve learned: GUILT has NO PLACE in our creativity.
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Quilting Joy
Quilting is supposed to bring us joy, calm, and self-expression—not weigh us down with pressure and comparison. Quilt guilt happens when we treat our creative hobbies like productivity contests. But quilting isn’t a race. And it’s definitely not a competition.
If your quilt is sitting unfinished, it’s not a failure—it’s just waiting for its right time. And if your brain is craving the peace of piecing over the effort of basting or binding, that’s not procrastination—it’s self-awareness.
So, let’s shift the narrative:
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You’re not behind—you’re in process.
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You’re not lazy—you’re listening to what your mind and body need.
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You’re not undisciplined—you’re creative.
Let go of quilt guilt. The joy is in the stitches—not just the finish line.
Balancing all the to-do list
If you’ve ever felt pulled in a million directions by all the fun projects calling your name—quilting, sewing, home projects—you’re not alone. For a while, I went through a phase where I did… nothing. The overwhelm of “too many things, not enough time” left me frozen. It felt easier to avoid starting anything than face the guilt of not finishing.
But lately, I’ve taken a different approach. Instead of trying to force myself into a rigid plan, I simply start. Whatever I feel like doing, I do. My mind works like that and I’ll embrace it. For example, I had the urge to sew one of the recent sew sampler box – The Fabric, the pattern is too good to pass.
Check out Abloom Fabric HERE the cute Panel HERE>
Sometimes, that means just 5 minutes in the sewing room, stitching a few seams on a quilt. Then I’ll wander into the kitchen to cook, and while waiting for something to simmer, I’ll notice a home project that needs attention—and I’ll make progress there, too. It might not all get finished in one day (or even one week), but every little bit adds up. And most importantly, I’m not stuck in that paralyzing place of doing nothing.
One thing I’ve come to realize is that my home projects are about the end result. They’re “done is better than perfect” types of projects, because the goal is to check them off and enjoy the finished product.
But quilting? Quilting is different.
For me, quilting is about the process—the joy, the calm, the creative spark that keeps me sane and happy. The finished quilt is a bonus, but the making is what I truly love. So why was I turning it into another item on my never-ending to-do list?
My Current Season: Just Piecing
Right now, I’m in a phase where I just want to piece. It’s almost like I need it—mindless sewing helps me get through the day-to-day emotions and mental load. The rhythm of feeding fabric through the machine, watching blocks come together, gives me a quiet sense of progress when everything else feels chaotic.
I do have a stack of quilt tops waiting to be basted… but let’s be real: basting takes effort. I need to clear a floor full of toys, get down to baste, and honestly? That’s just not where my energy is lately. And you know what? That’s okay. I’ll get to them when the mood (and the floor space) is right.
There’s no rule that says we have to finish things in order or on schedule. Our quilts will wait. Our creativity doesn’t need to be forced.
What’s Been Helping Me
If you’ve been feeling the same way, here are a few gentle shifts that helped me:
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Set a “just start” timer. Even 5 or 10 minutes can lift the fog and get you going.
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Let yourself be in whatever phase you need. Piecing, binding, dreaming, or just folding fabric—it all counts.
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Reframe “unfinished.” WIPs aren’t failures. They’re creative journeys still in motion.
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Release the guilt. You’re not behind—you’re quilting at your own pace, and that’s enough.
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Track progress your way. I’ve been using a WIP Inventory List I created (you can grab it HERE)—not as a pressure tool, but to remind me of the beautiful things I’ve started.
The simple shift of embracing my “squirrel brain” and following my creative energy has made all the difference. I may not finish everything quickly, but I’m lighter, more joyful, and fully in love with the process again.
Feeling the same? I’d love to hear what phase you’re in. Are you deep into piecing like me, or finally tackling your pile of finishes? Leave a comment or send me a note—I love connecting with other makers riding the same creative waves.
What’s NEW at FQS:
I am also itching to start paper piecing some of Vintage Maid Blocks – A table runner maybe. So many fun projects! What a Joy!
Check out Vintage Maid Paper Pads HERE>
Then, there’s these two fun patterns by Lori Holt!! Just look out the cuteness of those sheep…. BAA…
Check out Pattern by Lori Holt HERE>
6 Comments
Your comments are spot on. I took a break from sewing. Started again by finishing several small unfinished projects. It was the spark I needed.
Thanks for your advice. I love your blog and videos.
I was where you were at as well. Too many projects across a wide spectrum, too little room and too much stuff for intended projects spilling out into my work space with no place to relocate some of it. I froze like a deer in the headlights for months. Then I had surgery for cataracts on both eyes. Well, when you have cataract surgery, you’re prohibited from doing much of anything for a solid week or so. No bending over, no lifting anything heavier than a milk jug, no going outside where it might be dusty or windy…. I was bored out of my mind inside of 12 hours, lol! Because only one eye is worked on at a time, I had close to two and a half weeks of not being able to do much of anything. But I could sort through fabric…and I did. I could sort through craft stuff…and I did. I could sort through patterns …and I did. I could see well enough to sew for short periods of time…so I cleared out a bunch of small projects and some mending. I could see well enough to work on an afghan than had been languishing in a corner while watching tv in the evening. Basically, I did a little of this and a little of that as the spirit moved me. I was pretty flabbergasted at how much I actually accomplished over that two and a half week period. So, I decided to quit being so hard on myself about wanting to start a new project even though the half finished projects were…well, only half finished. If I work on those here and there, even if it’s only in five or ten minute increments, they will eventually get completed as that two and half weeks showed me. So, my eye surgeries where a blessing in more ways than one!
I’ve never commented on a blog before, but I wanted to thank you for what you have shared here. Your words have reached into my heart and helped me when I needed it. Thank you Amira
Your article was exactly what I needed to hear. Sometimes i forget to realize the joy in quilting while trying to get something finished. Thank you for reminding me that I quilt because i love to sew.
Jokingly I say “Go away” to the house and escape to my place. Thanks for saying what I have been thinking for a bit. This is not a job-Had That and now it is about all you’ve written. Calmness, peace, and a sense of fulfilment.
Some days I just cut piles of fabric for those times when I just need to be among the things in my studio. I can sit and stitch whenever of get together with friends and have something new to work on. And yes Done is better than perfection!
The amount of unfinished projects was overwhelming (60+) and it was hard to decided where to start. I went through all my baskets, bins, totes, shelves, closets, drawers, etc. and wrote down every project in the house, in every stage of creation. Some were patterns and fabrics collected but not started. Many were quilt tops ready to layer and quilt. Some had been quilted and needed binding. I had table runners to finish, wall hangings for holidays, placemats, Christmas projects, you name it. After writing down EVERY PROJECT, I cut the list into strips – one project per strip – and folded them up and put them into a container. My husband pulled out one at random and that was my goal. I finished it within the week. He pulled out the next and it took a bit longer but that was finished next. We went on a trip and didn’t pull out any for a few weeks, but that’s okay – there is no deadline. I am only concerned about doing them one at a time for however long it takes. Some (quilts) will take weeks and others (pillowcases) will take a couple hours but they’ll all get done eventually. And if someone has a baby or gets married, I will set the WIPs aside, get the deadline project made, and then go back to drawing out the next WIP. They do not take priority but are a “do as I can” effort so there is no pressure or demand. The quilting life is much less stressful!