I have had some time to reflect on this project. I realized that “brain dead projects” have a place in my quiltmaking process.
“Brain dead project” sounds fairly derogatory and I don’t mean the concept to be. To me, a brain dead project is a project that I can work on that has very few decisions involved. I have put off writing this post while I tried to think of a better term. I haven’t succeeded yet. I am sure one of my brilliant readers will come up with one.
Quiltmaking is, in a way, an intellectual process for me. My normal way of working is that something intrigues me – a block, a fabric, a tool – and I start playing with it. The circles are a good example. I saw a quilt, began thinking about how to make it and what I wanted to convey and ended up in a class. The process with the circle quilt is not over by a long shot. It is still in the percolating process.
Sometimes, my normal process takes too much thinking. The It’s a Merry & Bright Wrap quilt was the perfect project when I needed just to sew. I didn’t have to choose the colors (except for a couple of background additions) and I didn’t have to figure out the piecing. I bought the pattern, which was a choice, but after that, it was basic sewing and pressing. I only had to focus on the more technical details of putting the quilt together.
I need this kind of project sometimes. It keeps my hands busy and allows my mind to wander. When I made this top (which still needs borders) I was having a hard time and the fewer decisions the better.
I am happy with the way the quilt turned out (so far) and that I got to learn to use a Jelly Roll. Yes, my quilt looks like everyone else’s. Sometimes that is ok.
I had a small epiphany over the past 48 hours…somewhat related to what you are saying in your posting today. I make (bed) quilts because they are practical. I suck at quilting. (I lack patience) I need to make more art stuff. (Art = rewarding work)
However, all the bed quilts HAVE given me skills. I can match up points. I can cut accurately. I can sew accurately. (except for quilting) My color selections have vastly improved. Quilts that don’t take a lot of brain power are our baby step quilts. They teach us the skills or hone our skills to be better at our other projects.
I would guess that ‘Tarts’ vs the ‘Boxes and Bows’ quilt above, is something like that too?
SherriD: the Tarts is definitely a quilt that requires a lot of brain power – in some cases making my brain hurt!. The quilt above, not so much. I believe that every quilt has a place in our process.
Perhaps these could be called “automatic pilot” projects? You do still have to use your brain for them – if I am remembering correctly, you did have to apply some attention to figuring out exactly what was going on with the pattern — but once you got past that point, the rest was a matter of cut, sew, stitch and repeat…
TFQ, of course you are correct. If my brain was completely dead, I would have sewn through my finger!. I also had to arrange the blocks. My sense is that this project was a lot more of pushing fabric under a needle than making complex creative decisions. I think the ratio of thinking to rote sewing is what I was getting at. Cut. Sew. Stich. Repeat. was the major portion. Love that!
I find the term “Auto Pilot Quilting” another way to describe the no thinking/decision making to do. I am currently working on one too. It all came in a bag…. fabric, pattern and instructions!!
I also begin a project (large or small) from a techinque, tool or other inspiration…. Not sure when or where it will go, but the process is EVERYTHING.
Beth-Near Chicago
Hi Beth,
That is a good term as well. I think we all need to work on a brain dead – or auto pilot – project every once in awhile.