A Work in Progress

A week and a half ago, on Sunday night, I came across this scarf. On Monday, I seriously considered going to Joann’s after work to buy some knit fabric and snap tape to whip one up before I left for Alabama…and then I realized that was sort of crazy.

Nonetheless, in the last 10 days alone, I have spent time (anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours) working on:

1) my Once Upon a Time sampler,

2) this Craftsy class on free motion quilting — for which I had to first make a block or two to free motion quilt,

3) a spur-of-the-moment bit of English paper piecing, which I had never tried,

4) another quilt,

and — of course — 5) the scarf.

All that, just in the last 10 days. Plus work, including my trip. Plus normal life activities. And I realized yesterday that I’ve learned a few things.

I’ve learned that English paper piecing is time-consuming but surprisingly enjoyable, and another good option to keep myself partially distracted while watching The Walking Dead. (I like the show, but partially distracted is the only way I can watch it.) I’ve learned that Emma likes “helping” me lay out quilt blocks on my design wall. I’ve learned that thin slub knit was maybe not the best choice for my scarf.

I’ve learned that working on 5 projects simultaneously is a little insane. I’ve learned that I need to GIVE MYSELF A FREAKING BREAK.

When did I start putting so much pressure on myself? To do this, or that, or get XYZ amount of stuff done by a certain time? I vaguely recall that I used to just sit, from time to time. That doesn’t happen anymore, and if it does, there is a constant list running through my head of what needs to be done.

On one hand, maybe the cause is obvious — maybe I’ve always been like this, but I had a lot more extra time before than I do now.

But maybe it’s not. Maybe I read blogs too much and am too susceptible to what I see. Maybe I just have too many ideas, and haven’t learned to accept that I can’t do or make all the things, all the time.

The truth is really a bit of both, I think. I’m a work in progress too.