12.13.2007

Round Robins

This was originally posted on my old MommaQuilts blog.

I was warned that I wouldn't enjoy this, but I wouldn't listen. I was enchanted by the idea of working with different people and seeing their quilting style. I loved the idea of having a quilt that resulted from a collaborative effort. I really wanted a quilt that had signatures and blocks from several ladies of whom I'd have fond memories for years to come.

Little did I know that there are unwritten rules to this type of quilt. Number one should be to ensure that you are on the same quilting level as everyone else. Number two should be to ensure that you have the same quilting style as the others.

Needless to say, I broke both of these rules. I quickly learned that I'm not as skilled as I thought myself to be. I also realize that I have no aspirations to meet the approval of any quilt show judge. While I want to match seams and points, I don't sweat it too much if I don't. I have no eye for color. I'm a scrap quilter and when I buy fabric, I just get it because I think it's pretty - with little to no regard for what's already in my stash.

Since starting this project, I have ripped a countless amount of seams, cried about my horrible workmanship, procrastinated like no body's business and sworn to quit quilting more than once. What makes it worse for me is that I know my center will likely be transformed into some perfect work of art. I am sure that I will love every detail. And this will serve to make me feel even more guilty about how my contributions to the quilts of others were flat-out eyesores. In fact, I'm relatively certain that I will not show up at the meeting where we reveal our work and everyone gets their centers back. I'm way to ashamed to show my face and meet these nice ladies.

I don't mean to discourage others from giving it a go. I'm sure that many of you have fond memories of the round robins that you have participated in. And maybe some time in the far, distant future I'll give it another try and surprise myself. But for now, I am swearing this activity off FOREVER!!