Perfection is a myth - In Quilting

Perfect corners, perfect points, perfect seams blahblah blah!

If you strive for perfection in your quilting do you enjoy the process? I personally have NEVER striven for perfection in anything, I was raised right, and perfections comes from one source, and I have never met that source.

Quilting has a history, a long beautiful history.

"The term "quilt" comes from the Latin culcita, meaning a stuffed sack. The word has come to have 2 meanings. It is used as noun, meaning the 3-layer stitched bed covering. It is also used as a verb, meaning the act of stitching through the 3 layers to hold them together". Quilting in America, 2017.

Quilting history dating back to ancient Egypt and China where three layers were stitched together to provide warmth, and then in Eleventh Century quilting was used in armor to provide protection - remaining three layers.

It wasn't until the 19th century Quilting was brought to the America's, with women and men both wearing quilted items of clothing, the more elaborate the higher the class of the individual. Also, this was a time of quilted petticoats, underskirts and waist coats for men (corsets). American patchwork is a past time with out a true time line, as it is believed many quilts were created from necessity at some time during the war periods of the America's to provide the needed warmth to the families of men who went to war; and fire wood was scarce as the families did not have a means to harvest timber safely therefore the women of the families began to take old clothing, rags and scraps to create warmer bedding covers to go along with the either straw stuffed mattress and or down filled, and wool spun yarns of clothing ( bet they itched a lot).

For an amazing dialect on the actual full history of quilting go to: http://www.quilthistory.com/quilting.htm the read is worth if you are wanting to know the truth about quilting. Never ONCE is it mentioned about perfect anything. But rather the beauty of the piecing, art form, and design.
Definition of perfection
1: the quality or state of being perfect: such as
a : freedom from fault or defect : flawlessness
b : maturity
c : the quality or state of being saintly
2a : an exemplification of supreme excellence
b : an unsurpassable degree of accuracy or excellence
3: the act or process of perfecting -

Merriem Webster - Dictionary (2017).


I find it funny (maturity) is part of the definition of perfection - when one decides to criticize another's work for being imperfect it shows immaturity in how it is presented. Also, when one takes it upon themselves to give of themselves selflessly in a less flawed manner or perception of perfection they too believe they are right and others are wrong. Where did the ideal come and from wince it be gone.

Myth of purposeful mistakes - Though some rare purposeful mistakes may have been for religious reasons it appears for others it was more a matter of superstition. In reality all quilters make mistakes, it's almost impossible to make a perfect quilt; with this bit of information, we look at the myth of the purposeful mistake, it is supposed Amish and Mennonite women did put in a mistake in all work as only GOD could create perfection, and to pretend one was able to create the same would be prideful. While some say it dates back even further in history and none know the true origin of this myth. Otrhers say this myth was born to sell quilts (marketing tool). Perfection is a perception much like plastic surgery results, I have seen some great work and I have seen some that are just down right scary!

Quilting is an art form, with perceptions being in the eye of the beholder, if you believe your work to have perfection - bully for you! It means you took pride in your work, and you believe you made no mistakes and its beauty is the perfection which you perceive.

And still others will demand a point be noted as not POINTED! [ I bet their noses are pointed too! for those beady little granny cat eye glasses to slide down as they look down at you from that self imposed high throne]. I call this vicious blue hair syndrome...

We can beat a dead horse with a stick, and what do we gain in the end other than tired arms, smelly hair, and a whole lot of nothing.

For me, my quilts are not perfect for a reason. I am not perfect, nor will I ever be.

Quilting is a passion, an art form, and a way to relieve my stress. I write, create patterns, and fabrics, I have a group of amazing individuals from around the world and partner in an online store for quilters. I am too busy to strive for perfection, and too carefree to care if you think my work is unsatisfactory. I have been hurt by words of callus others sure, but I learned to be mindful of others feelings, give credit where it is due, and hope to have many more years of this wonderful past time.

I want this horse to be buried forever, alas I am sure you all do too; unless you feel the drama is comical and life changing. It can be I am sure, for those on the receiving end of the critical words at times blathered without remorse, I hope you take the time to evaluate your criticism's and give credit for the individuals trying to learn this past time which many no longer care to pass on.

I am one who believes this art form needs revival, and hope you do as well. It is a teaching moment to our youth to get away from the machine made items that are mass produced and give back to history, family, and creation of beauty from tiny scraps.

Let us take a moment of silence now for the lost horse. (insert somber musak).

Now, what do we do and know? Our life is too short to strive for perfection, our nerves to frazzled to care any more, and for those who wish to give Educational moments of a learning experience from a perceived notion of other worldliness well they can go get bent.

And Remember a quilt left unfinished is waiting to love.

Next we will journey into the basics and be fun! Til then Peace!