The Joy of Quilting with Your Long-Arm Machine
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KathyQuilts.com
Lesson Four:
Quilting Above and Beyond
We will now look at different ways to set goals, practice, and develop new techniques
as you become a more experienced quilter. The goal of this lesson is to teach you
how to further your quilting skills so that you can progress over time. As you practice
these techniques, your level of quilting will improve, and you will learn how to continue
developing your skills over time.
Practicing with Perseverance
Practice your quilting consistently to achieve the results you desire! One of the
definitions of “practice” is to perform or work at a task repeatedly to become
proficient. No matter what your skill level was when you purchased your machine,
practicing will always improve your technique.
Practicing with other quilters, especially more experienced ones, is an effective way to
learn and improve. Ask them questions to get ideas of how you can improve. However,
avoid comparing your work to others’. While it is good to learn from others, comparing
your work can decrease your confidence and desire to quilt. Some are born with
a natural ability to sew, craft, or quilt. Then there’s the rest of us. But this is a good
because you can learn valuable lessons from those with more experience, practice,
and skills. Incorporate the new ideas and skills you learn from others into your quilting,
and you will be amazed at how your growth.
Setting Goals
As you practice, set goals of new skills you want to learn or ways in which you want
to improve. Establishing clear, measurable, and reachable goals is one of the most
effective ways to improve your quilting. Here are some suggestions to help you
get started:
WRITE DOWN YOUR GOALS IN A JOURNAL OR NOTEBOOK
