Hi Friend,

I used to be that quilter.

You know the one—squinting at every seam like it might reveal a cosmic secret. Ripping out stitches at 11:30 PM because one triangle was 1/16" off. Standing over a design wall like a detective at a crime scene, muttering things like, “This point is almost there… but not quite.”

All in pursuit of the almighty: perfect points.

At one point (pun fully intended), I believed that if every intersection aligned and every seam nested just right, then the quilt would be worthy. Of praise, of show ribbons, or maybe just of finally being done.

But here’s the honest truth I had to learn the hard way (somewhere between my third seam ripper and a very patient cup of tea):

Perfect points aren’t the pinnacle of quilting.

Sure, they’re nice. Clean. Satisfying. But they’re not the thing that keeps someone warm on the couch. They’re not the thing that makes someone cry when they open a gift. They’re not the thing you’ll be remembered for.

What matters more?

• The feeling your quilt evokes

• The freedom in your design

• The joy you had while making it

• The story it tells—even if a few seams go rogue

Some of the most moving, expressive, and jaw-dropping quilts I’ve seen had points that didn’t match—but they had soul. They had character. They had you in them.

So if you’ve ever caught yourself redoing a seam for the fourth time, just pause and ask: Is this perfection… or panic?

It’s okay to strive for excellence—but don’t trade away your joy for a single thread’s width of alignment.

Quilting isn’t a test. It’s a conversation between your hands and your heart. And trust me, your audience (or your gift recipient, or your grandkids) won’t love your quilt less if one of the corners is having a little identity crisis.

So breathe. Stitch. Enjoy the process.

Your voice is more important than your points.

Warmly (and yes, sometimes slightly off-kilter),

Donna