Perfectly Imperfect Baby Quilts

If you follow me on Instagram (I'm @swimbikequilt), you might have seen a few of these photos like the one below pop up in the last few weeks. [tutorial originally blogged here]As we are slowly putting our house together, I am finding all sorts of treasures, including a bin of baby quilts. Most of the baby quilts were almost finished--one needed threads buried, another needed binding, a third just needed a quick press. I had started each quilt at some point in the last few years, and for one reason or another (a popped seam, not perfectly matching points, a wonky back) I had shied away from gifting them to people.[Originally blogged here, in 2012]

Santa Cruz Quilt

A few weeks ago, I decided that it was better to give an imperfect quilt to a baby that I love, rather than have it sit in a bin in my basement.I mailed the last one off today. It's been so fun to share my love and my quilts in the last few weeks. Pulling these quilts back out has done two things. The first--it helps me see how far I've come in the last few years!  The second--I am much more critical of my work (and pictures of myself) as soon as I'm finished. If I let it sit, often I come back and the things that bothered me don't nearly as much.

For example, in this quilt (a version of this quilt), I was so disappointed when I realized the back was wonky. Pulling it back out, I think it works. Its fun and graphic and a little off kilter, kind of like the front of the quilt.  I like nearly perfect quilts. Everyone does. But sometimes there is room for a few flaws, or Amish moments, too.[originally blogged in 2013

Is there anything that holds you back from sharing your work, either online or sharing the actual finished product? If you have any projects that are imperfect, but done or almost done, pull them out, finish them, be a little less hard on yourself, and do something with them! Hang them on your wall. Mail them to a friend. Donate to someone in need. Photograph and post them. You will be happy you did!