This is a question I am often asked.  But like many questions, it masks the true intent of the inquiry.  I believe that the point at issue is actually how do you find time to quilt?  The implication is that I must have to sacrifice a lot of sleep in order to have time to quilt.

How do I answer this question?  I have a variety of approaches.

Facetiously
Do you sleep?  Yes, I do!  I sleep very well, most of the time.  Thanks for asking.  But of course, this isn’t what they really want to know.

Obediently
Do you sleep?  Sometimes.  This is what they think the answer ought to be, so I tell them what they want to hear!

Honestly but Unexpectedly
Do you sleep?  Yes, except when I’m designing.  The design process is a huge sleep-stealer for me.  Not because I stay up all hours, but because I can’t shut off my brain.  I toss and turn; I review what I’ve done; I contemplate what I should do next; I lie awake and think, think, think!  This is a good answer, because it’s true and it’s serious.  But once again, I feel that it doesn’t address the actual issue.

Let’s answer the real question.

How do you find time to quilt?

There is no quick answer here.  But I’ll tell you one thing:  I’ve always made time to quilt.  When something is important, you find a way to do it!  Here are some of my strategies for “finding” time to quilt.

Have a place to quilt
A sewing room, no matter how modest, is great for productivity.  It means that you can leave things out, ready to go at the next opportunity.  I’ve read great tips about leaving the next set of patches pinned or the needle threaded.  Then, even if you only have a short amount of time, you can pick up where you left off and start sewing.

Have quilts at different stages
This is a dangerous strategy, I’ll warn you straight off.  The idea here is that each stage of the quiltmaking process requires a different kind of time.  So, if you have one project that requires handwork, you can use your tv-watching time or your sitting-on-the-commuter-train time.  If you have another that requires machine piecing or quilting, you can use your sewing-room time.  Or another at a design stage, you can use your computer time.  The reason this is dangerous, if you hadn’t guessed, is that it can lead to multiple UFOs (unfinished objects).  It can be difficult to juggle multiple projects, and often one will suffer at the expense of the other.  But sometimes it works.

Schedule time to quilt
This is probably my best advice, and something I’ve done through each stage of my life as a quilter so far.

~ With babies and pre-schoolers at home, I hired a sitter two mornings a week.  One morning, I’d get groceries and run as many errands as possible.  On the second morning, you guessed it:  I worked on a quilt.  Then there was nap time and bed time – more time to sew!

~ The nursery school, kindergarten years were pretty much the same.  No more nap time, but five free mornings with one always reserved for sewing.  Evenings were still available for more quilting time.

~ The school years added more day time but subtracted most afternoon and evening time.  During this stage, I had a scheduled sewing day.  I booked nothing else on this day if I could help it, and looked forward to it all week!

~ Now, I guess you could say I’m a professional quilter.  Quilting is what I do.  But this stage has presented its own unique challenges.  I’m managing a business – proposals, lesson plans, supply lists, samples, correspondence, website updates, scheduling, travel, shipping, bookkeeping, lectures, workshops – and it all takes time away from making quilts.  I’ve had to remind myself of what worked in the past, and schedule time to quilt.  Put it on the calendar:  Sewing Day! 

Do you sleep?

What should I say the next time someone asks?

Yes, because I try to schedule time in my day to quilt.
~ or ~
Read my blog and find out!