I’ve been designing and writing patterns for over 15 years now, and it seems to come in fits and starts. I get ideas and they have to ruminate long enough to become fully formed as a quilt, then it takes longer to write the instructions. I don’t have very few business drivers for patterns, so it comes at its own pace these days.

One of the things I’ve noticed is that I have to have it all in my head before I can write it down, but my process is changing slightly. I now do a few block mock ups to see how it looks in fabric. I joke about the fabric speaking to me, but in a way it really does. It tells me clearly if what I have done meets the idea that is in my head and it tells me what it needs. I’ve learned to listen to that. If the fabric isn’t speaking then I need to put it away until it calls to me.

I’ve been finishing a lot of projects lately. I’ve talked about how out of the ordinary that is for me, I’m a starter, not a finisher. I have been trying to figure out what has changed about my process and the biggest thing I’ve noticed is that I let the project talk to me and tell me what to do. Several of them lately had a very clear idea in mind from the start and all I had to do was put in the work to get them done. Others have sat in boxes for years until I can figure out what they need. That’s ok. I need to be ok with the process that works for me.

It almost sounds like I’m getting more patient as I get older. That would be a complete shock, and I’m positive that doesn’t apply to all aspects of my life, but I am getting more patient with my quilting and I like where that is taking me on my fabric journey.