The other day I was looking for something and found yet another project in progress, unfinished object, you know.. those guilt inducing piles we store away hoping that magically they will get finished for us by the quilting elves at night!
I’ve decided that I need a strong plan to get all thee partial projects either finished, or moved onto new homes.
There are a lot of them
A Lot
I’m a GREAT planner, so I don’t know why i just have not done a ‘do-able’ plan. Because being do-able is the key to all successful plans.
Would you also like to work on getting unfinished (UFO) projects under control?
I’m going to write a series of posts on this, leave me a comments if you also want to get it under control!
Action Plan 1- Figuring out what we have
- Find all your projects that are not finished, all of them, and get them out.
You will have 2 main stacks
- Stack #1 – I want to spend time on this project, and be very very honest with yourself. You should really love it to want to work on it
- Stack #2 – I do not want to spend anymore time on this project. I have gotten tired of it, it’s not my style, I”m not interested in sewing and using my precious time to work on it. I want to work on things I love from now on and this stack will find a new home.
As you pick up an item it will go into #1 to work on, or #2 that you won’t spend any more time on it.
When sorting them into these groups and be brutally honest with yourself.
Are you ready to do this? I am too!
- Almost done and I want to finish it– needs binding, needs a border then sent to be quilted.. etc
- Almost done and I do not want to spend anymore time on it – can you end it where it is for a smaller projects? If you don’t even want to do that keep it in stack #2. Sometimes a black trash bag is helpful here so you can’t see it (wink!)
- Projects that have more work to be done, but it’s pretty far along – work on it more – Stack #1, otherwise ‘the other stack’
- Projects barely started – do you want to keep start it at some point? or have you moved on from it? by now you know which stack is which…
Move FAST .. don’t spend hours deciding. You can always review stack #2 later and remove things, but lets’ be super honest with ourselves and see if we really really want to work on these.
If you have ‘Future project bags’ where it’s fabric and pattern but no cutting or sewing has happened yet, you can do the analaysis on that group or save them for another time. I’m saving that group for another time as I have an overload of ones partially done to consider.
Next article will be the plan for working on these.
Leave me your thoughts below, what is hard ab
I did a video and article about it HERE
The color differences are
- Yellow & Pink are IDENTICAL except color
- Blue is less expensive, so the 20% off is fantastic. It has these differences
- 8’6″ cord instead of 12′
- Stainless Steal soleplate instead of Chomium soleplate
- 8 min auto shut off instead of 30 min with the pink & yellow
out this, what do you hope to accomplish? have you ever gotten them all out before? Tell me!
114 Responses
I’m in the same boat I’ve been working on a quilt for 4 years I finally finished it and sent it to the quilters
awesome Deborah!
Perfect plan Linda!
hehe
this is a cool idea!
You have it under control!
Perfect plan Mary! No use spending your precious time on projects you don’t love
wonderful Kristin!
I always think of it as Balance, and sometimes we get out of Balance. So time to shift it back!
any movement forward is a good!
I am U.F.O. busting big time. Started quilting about 3 years ago. I like to finish everything even if it’s not perfect. I finished a little quilt. I bought the fabric then didn’t have young kids to give it to , so charity kids unit. Finished big stitch hand quilted lap for me. Now finishing 2 lap quilt as you go from when I first started . Feels good! Makes me happy!
Up until a few months ago, I finished everything I started but then between classes and baby quilts needed I now have 4 quilts in various degrees of being completed.
My goal is to finish with borders and quilting as soon as I finish this last baby quilt. Sounds like a plan.
Oh and did I mention how hard it is not to start a new project when a certain designer is always having wonderful sew a longs and splendid samplers and free blocks and…….Thank you Pat.
I have a computer photo file labeled ‘UFOs’. I take a picture of each one and periodically sit and watch a slideshow of them. It keeps them fresh in my mind and lets me know when I’m not ready to drag them out to work on. It also generates a bit of excitement for finishing certain ones. And since I love scrap quilts, it helps when I’m looking for more ‘spare parts’ for a quilt. When I complete a quilt, the pictures go to the ‘completed UFO’ file. Yeah.
Some years ago I belonged to a guild and was challenged to work on UFOs. My list consisted of 15 projects and 14 were completed that year. Every year since I’ve made such a list and finished all but “#15” from years ago. A month ago I determined to work on it, spending at least a half hour each time. All the blocks are finished and I began sewing them together yesterday! Feeling accomplished! There are only 2 other UFOs remaining this year but #15 (begun in 2007) and a major project for this year will be finished before I start on either of them. I’m also very busy sewing donation tops for 3 quilt ministries. Your sorting suggestions are great. I’m just thankful I don’t have to do that but need to admit that as I sort through fabric I’ve been making those choices and passing on that which I know I’ll never use.
This is awesome. Thank you! I have six sandwiched quilts on the bed in the guest bedroom and I’m not allowing myself to buy any fabric or start a new project until they’re finished! Definitely a couple of “I don’t really like this quilt anymore” items in there. I’m checking with my guild to see if they have a “freebies” table as suggested by some here. I love the idea of continued posts on this subject. Have a wonderful day!
Try joscountryjunction.com as Jo has a section on her blog for charity quilts. She has numerous quilters she sends partial projects or finished tops to, the quilter finishes the quilt and it is donated to various charities. It is a win,-win for all.
Hi Pat. I have a few UFOs that I plan on finishing when I retire in a couple of months. I bought your “How to machine quilt” book and am looking forward to quilting my own quilts thanks to your book and your always encouraging blogs.
Yes, I have a problem of starting to many projects at the same time.
Then things get out of control. The next thing I know I have projects all over untouched
or unfinished. I tell myself one thing at a time. Then I see all cute blocks everyone is doing
then I have to do some.
This just might be the push I needed in order to get in order! Thank you for the motivation. Not sure how far I’ll get. But I will try hard!
we all need more sewing time Lucy, having a plan is key!
great plan Sheila!
exactly!
Ask the local quilt shop if they know of a group taking tops for charity. Or join in an online community and ask there. You contact some churches, or retirement communities and ask if they have quilt groups and if the group would like them. Look around, there are millions of quilters out there doing great work.
Sometimes we just need to decide that we don’t want them hanging over our heads anymore and move them out 🙂
good plan Kathy!
I’m being mindful of what I buy and what I start! By seeing and tracking on a list all of my UFO’s I’ve challenged myself to complete several quilts before starting any new ones! I just need more time to sew!!
you can do it Linda!
I try to keep a running tab on what I have going on…in my head! I sometimes right it down to see what I need done and what is due to be done. Right now I’m quilting Grandmas Kitchen!!!! So excited to get her done! I only had one project I wasn’t happy with and decided I wouldn’t finish it, took the material and put it back in my stash. But I think you have a great idea to actually go through and look at the projects…two I know I’ll finish are Let’s Go Camping and In The Summer Time!;) I absolutely love those!!!!
Really good ideas Pat! And I want to encourage those who have given up on some project, to put it all in a bag and put on the donation table at your quilting guild. The second quilt project I ever did was make a great table runner out of unfinished blocks I found together in a bag on the table. I learned so much, and made me feel so good to repurpose those blocks that someone gave up on. The colors were not mine, but they were perfect for a daughter in law and made the perfect house warming gift. So you can be a blessing to someone like that, without having to go through the pain of finishing something you have lost interest in!
Done and done. Now I need to figure out what to do with pile #2. I don’t belong to local guilds because they are just too critical for my liking. Quilting is supposed to be fun and we learn from our mistakes. Some of my first quilts hung in a quilt shop as samples and they were criticized as being done in a rush. Not true, I learned as I sewed them together. They really were not that bad and the recipients love and use them. I finally found the style of fabric and quilting that makes me happy. I need to unload the rest as it brings me down each time I look at them. Any suggestions?
Over the last several years on January 1st I take inventory of my UFO projects and count them up into piecing UFO, quilting UFO, and projects that I know I will need to make the upcoming year. What usually happens is that I finish 2 to 3 quickly at the beginning of the year and then work on the must make that year, and struggle with the remaining competing with Christmas gift toward the end of the year.
Bottom line is I still have many that have carried over from year to year. I keep saying that when I retire I can work on them. Need help and thanks for starting this thread. Bug Lady
I recently did this with several boxes I hadn’t looked at in awhile and gave 5 tops to our guild charity committee to back and have quilted for donation. Others my daughter put in s box and labeled with the date and we agreed if I didn’t get to then in a year that they would go away then. I’m plugging away at them but there is always a new pattern or fabric I want to try. Sigh
Well, over the 8 years that I’ve been quilting, I’ve managed to amass 186 UFOs. And, with my move in February, I’m well aware that some of these UFOs no longer interest me in the least. And, now, with your sorting method, I believe that I can really start sorting them and purging those that I really no longer want to be bothered with!! That will truly be a load off my mind…LOL
Linda
Yeah Anne!
super Anita!!
perfect Jan!
Kathy .. you love all of them? Enough to spend time making them instead of a new fun thing?
Perfect! you are an inspiration Dot!
Perfect Beth! you need to be doing my Wednesday sew alongs to use up stash!
Jami it’s time to get strong, and decide if you REALLY EVER want to spend your time on some of those projects. Because they don’t give us much enjoyment sitting in a bag. And you can learn to quilt your own quilts so they can be used and loved.
Thanks for suggesting this. I’m going to try to be diligent in following your plan.
Dotty the answer for you is to learn to quilt your own!
I am working very hard to finish some projects. Since January I have progressed very well. I try to work on one UFO and one new project. After a month, I put it away if not finished. Sometimes it take knowing who I am making it for to be able to prompt getting all the way to the finish line!thanks Pat! Your suggestion may help me to actually just get rid of some and free up time and space.
Last year I was added to be in a quilt show and only has a month to prepare. That was a motivator. Finished 5 UFOs. One being the Summer Soltice.
Look at the UFO and consider who would love and find joy in it. Finish it with the thought of that person and the happiness they will have when you present it.
Gosh, mind reader! I just did this yesterday! I have decided I loved every thing. I can shop in my own cupboards for months! But free table at local guild is a good alternative!
Hi Pat…..I have been doing this for about two years now, after I was diagnosed with Age related M D, & realized I was never going to be able to finish all the projects I had started……The fun thing is, that now I am starting to see some of them finished & being used& loved by others…..I call it a win win situation, I enjoyed them for a while, now someone else is enjoying them….D…ll
I have a few quilt kits that I have not started but I am saving them for a quilt retreat I will take next year. I will cut them up before I go. I usually can get all of my quilt kits done at that retreat. I have three quilts to finish from a quilt seminar that I took last year, but I still want to do them. I also want to use my stash and do more quilts, preferably easy ones that I do not have to spend a time on them.
Yep, I’m in this boat too! So many that are close to the point of just needing to be quilted. And that’s mostly where I get hung up. Trying to figure out HOW to quilt these myself on my domestic machine. I have many projects in various stages as well, not started, but everything is there waiting together, projects started in classes that I can’t get back to for lack of time mostly. And for the most part, I DO want to finish those, it they just keep accumulating. Cuz it’s more fun to start something new! I have a problem parting with projects so trying to separate them into pile #1 and pile #2, will definitely be hard for me.
It is a pleasure to periodically donate my UFOs to the giveaway table at our guild.
Most of my UFOs remain so, because I can’t afford to send them out to be quilted.