UFO… Un-Finished Objects.
Almost all of us have them.. there are a RARE group of quilters that finish everything in a timely manner, then there is the majority of us who start new things and store others away… raise your hand if you can relate!
It’s time for the annual UFO Challenge that my friends at American Patchwork & Quilting hosts each year and they have a GREAT Facebook group to get support, share and they live videos from the magazine offices, so fun!
They will pick a random number each month and you do that project!
So… deep breath…and decide… do you want to challenge yourself to finish or ‘move forward’ one project a month that has been sitting waiting it’s turn?
ALL of us really do want to finish projects don’t we? In the spirit of MAKING myself finish some projects by telling the world I am… .. I share a few of my UFO projects piled up…
1…2….3…. 18….
I personally need to do a re-evaluation of what I really want to finish, and what I want to move onto other people .
At the moment these projects seems to have gotten spread out around my studio .. and … cough.. cough.. auxiliary storage areas.
That means.. I HAVE NO CLUE what I have.
Can you relate?
What I suggest is that we (the ROYAL WE) now select 12 projects that could be finished or greatly moved forward during a 4 week time span of the month it comes up in. And number them all.
Now maybe you don’t have that many UFOs ….but… for me….it’s kind of easy to find 12 like that. I actually have most of them as a top..
now…. next print the sheet and get ready to rock and roll those 12 projects into the LAND Of Finishes!
Leave me a comment and tell me what is your number one quilt you WANT to finish in 2018
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131 Responses
I have way too many UFOs! I have two lists, one for quilting the tops snd the other for getting them to that stage. I hope to keep up this year
I will finish a QAYG for Daughter that she gave me the batching a year ago.
Need to finish a “Piece of Cake” table runner for a birthday gift, need to be mailed by month end.
I don’t think I can do this one. All my UFO’s are pieced, just waiting to be quilted. I can’t take them all to the LAQ, or rent the LAQ that often…too much $$$! If I can figure out a way to quilt some of them myself, either on my machine, or by hand, I will try. Maybe I need to get a job to support this wonderful habit!!
#1 on my list is my husband’s and my wedding quilt. We’ve been married 13 years now and I’m horrified to say that I haven’t taken one stitch in that quilt in all that time. So….this is the year! After that, I need to go through my pile of UFO’s and see what catches my eye, lots to choose from!
One more side to bind and my December UFO will be done…several years in the making. And as soon as I finish 3 blocks for a swap, I will get started on the first one for 2018. I really made some progress on 2017 list and look forward to this year.
This is great. I had already made my New years resolution to finish my UFO. I however I made a list of my UFO prioritized them based on: intend use/ gift, how much work is left,do I have everything need to complete the project
I have to finish the quilt I’m making for my nephew in his school colors: green and gold. His birthday is this month so I’d like to get it finished by then.
Pat,
I would dearly love to finish my Great Pumpkin quilt this year. I have the top row done and 1 out of 12 other blocks done. It is all machine applique of pumpkins for each month. Every time I start it in the Fall and before I know it Fall is gone and I have accomplished NOTHING on it. I have cheated a little and put it under two different numbers to try to get it done.
I started this journey in the early 80’ and found workshops offered irrestible.. And having been widowed 26 years ago, this passion is out of control! But I would be lonely without my quilting friends and projects and count myself lucky that I can just keep doing this. Now to hope my energy lasts to keep at it!
I have probably the longest UFO list in history! My best friend and I, both now retired hospital nurses, would sign up for 5 classes at the Sister’s Quilter’s Affair, (Sisters, Or.) each year. I’d buy all the fabrics, tools, etc., take the classes, then put the items in the closet when I had to return to work! After several years of this (30 or more?) I have a grand total of almost 100 UFO’s! I’m so ashamed of myself, because I still like to buy new fabrics, and try new things, but have all these projects haunting me! I’ve signed up for a quilt-along starting this month. I’ve determined that I’ll work on UFO’s in between monthly projects for the row quilt. My friend lives in a different state now, and we’re going to the “Quilter’s Affair” together again this July, but I’m only signed up for two quilt classes! (It’s always so fun, I couldn’t resist!) I think it’s a sickness, but I enjoy it! Anyone have a cure? Oh yes, I”m also teaching my 7 yr. old great grand daughter to quilt! LOL! : ) Brenda King
I really want to finish my Harry Potter bookcase quilt… I am close, very close… But I have to think hard to do paper piecing. Sew… I have to be in the right frame of mind to work on it, and I NEED to have some uninterrupted time. That’s hard to come by lately.
I am going to try not to start a new quilt until I finish some I have in different phases so that I can give them for Christmas gifts this year. 🙂 Right now my main goal is to finish a quilt for my 90 year old mother in law for her birthday.
I found a scrappy friendship braid that I started in a QG class in 2009. So my goal is to get it finished. The LQS had bolts of fabric for $5 metre so I got the remaining 6 metres of one for the border and possibly the backing. Now to get to work and finish it!!!
I worked on getting my UFOs finished by the end of the year, but didn’t quite make it!!! I only have 2 left!
Looking forward to getting them done and on the way. I promised myself that I won’t start another new quilt until the UFOS are done. It’s hard but that is my goal.
My son, and youngest child, went into the Army a month before his 18th birthday. To make myself feel better, I took a 2-week Giant Dahlia quilt class. I got so close to finishing the top, and just quit! The colors are orange and blue. I think that “orange” could be considered Tiger Lily, the new Color Of The Year. So that’s my pick to finish first. Oh BTW, my son is now 47, and I started the quilt in 1988!
I spent the last two months of 2017 completely mucking out and organizing my sewing studio along with an attic space next to it. Of course I weeded out my UFO’s and know exactly what projects I now have. My impetus was a Bernina Q20 sit-down mid-arm. It is wonderful to have a clean organized space and have already finished one small project. Because I am getting familiar with my new machine, I am making orphaned blocks into table runners before I tackle the quilt tops waiting in line. My number one top has been sandwitched since last summer, and is going to go to my DGD6, although I think her mother is more excited for me to get it finished. This is a perfect thumb in the back for me.
I have a queen size dresden plate quilt that needs quilted, my grandsons king size log cabin quilt to quilt..I have six blocks left to sew for it, my plans were to quilt them by Christmas, but I got Bell’s palsy around Thanksgiving and all of the sewing stopped cause sorry I could not see well enough with just one eye to do anything….it was a miserable time for me! I’m finally back sewing just this week and I have started sewing on a baby quilt for a new great niece. So my goal is to finish the baby quilt fast, then sandwich the baby quilt and the dresden and log cabin quilts all at the same time…then quilt them all! Stuck back in a box are two snowy day quilt tops from last year that need quilted..I quest they are my real ufo’s? In the midst of this I also started the camping challenge and I am making a camping theme and a Christmas theme quilt! Just call me crazy! 🙂
I want to finish my women of the Bible quilt Some patterns have already been cut out but most Patterns have not and then I want to sew them all together and finish the quilt that’s the first one
I’m in, and the first project for the year #12, is one I started working on last year. I didn’t like how the quilting was going, and need to pick it out and start over… I love the quilt and really want it to be done, I just struggle with the machine quilting on my sewing machine. But I have a new plan and I am determined to get it done this time around.
I have 4 toddler size quilt tops made with The Quiltmaker’s Gift fabric line long ago – even have backings ready to go – challenging myself to finish these while learning machine quilting.
My GFG I started 2 (yes!) decades ago (long story)… I’m sooooo close; mainly just need to add already completed flowers then move forward to borders! However, it does look really pretty flowing over the top of my credenza! 😀
I am trying to use up some scraps by making blocks using used dryer sheets. . .just sewing random scraps on them, pressing, and trimming down to 6″x 9″ blocks. Only need to make 12 more blocks to have it the size I am going for.
I want to finish my Grandma’s Kitchen. I’ve been sidelined with hand surgery and can only use one hand right now. Can’t wait until I can get back to working on it. It will be the first one I’ve ever done by myself. Slow and steady.
I have about 6 quilt tops I need to “sandwich” and quilt. If I would do these; I might have more available space in my sewing room. Finishing them would get the backing material out of the way as well as the quilt tops. I just haven’t been motivated to finish. A challenge may be what I need.
Didn’t finish everything on my UFO list last year, but loved finishing a few things. Working on selecting my projects for 2018. Have two fairly large quilts finished except for hand work on binding, so those are going somewhere in the middle. Know I won’t finish all the blocks on the Splendid Sampler, so may set a target of doing 25 more blocks.
I did this last year. It is awesome and I got so much done!! This year I have four lists, my finished tops aren’t many so I have a list for sashing/borders, a list for finishing piecing, a list for small projects, and one for sandwiching, quilting, and binding the finished tops!! No urgent need on any, so happily working on my lists!!
My guild has a UFO challenge every year (Portland Modern Quilt Guild) and a lot of people participate. I’ve got a few things I’d like to FINALLY finish and hopefully I will this year!
My number 1 project for the year would be a mystery quilt at my LQS. The middle is put together, but it still needs the borders and then quilted. Every year I say I’ll have it done by next winter but that’s been for the past 4-5 years now. This.Year.2018.It.Gets.Done! (We’ll see … Lol!)
I have 2 here to be bound so they are my top priority, and then I make soccer quilts for our senior girls every year. Last year I had 10, this year I only have 4 to do. Next would be my nephews birthday gift. His birthday was in December but between my getting the flu and my sister being in the hospital not much as gotten done since before Thanksgiving 😱😱😱 talk about being behind. However, I do have 16 quilts at my long armers to be quilted. 😃😃😃😃😃
Just finished the last block on Grandma’s Kitchen. I want to get that completed and I am almost finished setting the Winter Solstice top together. These will be done for the quilt show in June!!!
My Dear friend Jeanne and I are going to try and finish our Dear Jane Quilts . We’ve decided to meet every Tuesday her house or mine, Featherweighs in tow. Very excited to get started!
My number 1 is Grandma’s Kitchen. So close to finishing (only 3 blocks left to make, but the first 3 rows are already attached), my very close second project is my Children’s Library, all blocks and sashing are done but a few of my blocks are not the right size, so I have to add a bit to about 5 blocks( because the ones that turned out the right size, I can’t trim because I would lose some points). This is very exciting for me to join. I’m going to go find and sort into numbers.
Ok, I have a pineapple quilt I started during a big snow storm in March of , are you ready, 1993!! I was taking a class with some women in my neighborhood. The teacher had given us the directions the week before the storm. Some of us went shopping together. Back then there weren’t many quilt shops. So, JoAnn Fabrics was where we shopped and then headed to a quilt shop to add a few “special”fabrics. The storm hit and we couldn’t get out, kids didn’t go to school for several days. We ladies called each other on the phone and figure out the directions and started making our blocks. Tops were completed and when we took them to the class to show the teacher she told me to hand quilt mine, don’t machine quilt it (which also was just in the beginning stages). So, off and on over these years I have taken this quilt out and quilted what I could. We all know life happens and mine did take several twist and turns but I think I can get this finished. If I remember correctly I am to the borders. This would be the quilt I most want to finish. Don’t know if I can do it in a 4 week time frame but I can certainly try,
Have two at the longarmer that will need binding, a Christmas quilt that needs finishing, and just started Mama’s Flower Garden that I am determined to finish! That’s not counting the BOM projects I am involved with. Plus trying to practice my machine quilting from your book, Pat!!!! I have to determined to put all new projects on hold till i can get at least semi caught up!!! Wish me luck!
I have several tops but the number one is to quilt my Splendid Sampler top.
A very large pink ribbon quilt that I hope will be a raffle quilt to support a local breast cancer resource center in Texas.
I have a couple of quilts that I want to get quilted before starting new projects.
#1 finish needs to be a Judy Niemeyer throw for my 2nd son.
I want to finish my Facets quilt. I had such fun “making” the fabric, and I got a lot better at not cutting off my points! I just fell on the ice and twisted my knee–I need to figure out if I can still quilt right now!
I started a Quilt Around the Bay quilt for my folks in 2017. It was meant to be a Christmas gift, but between getting longarm quilting orders (6 lap quilts between Thanksgiving and Christmas), and my mom falling and fracturing her leg near her hip), the Christmas quilt has become an anniversary quilt for April 2018. So that would be the first one to get done – just to have it finished. Then come my two Grandma’s Kitchen Quilts! 😉
I have way too many also!! I have to quilt a quilt top for my mother, Grandmas Kitchen (originally planned for it to be queen size but I think I’m scrapping that for Pat’s planned size), tear off binding on a finished quilt and put flanged binding like I originally planned and forgot, bind another quilt, start and finish On Ringo Lake quilt by Bonnie Hunter, and start and finish two wedding quilts for my two friend’s wedding next year. 😲😳 I include items I bought material for already to be a UFO. I think my priority needs to be the wedding quilts but I’m starting the On Ringo Lake today.
I started The Bad Boys of the Bible last year. We still haven’t gotten all 100 blocks sent to us yet. I had surgery on my hand and had to stop all quilting projects for awhile. It is made with colors out of my box, but i love it. I would really like to get caught up.
Pat, the first quilt I need to finish are the Your BOM quilts and many other quilt tops and projects!! Plus I have a quilt to start for my daughter’s 50th birthday!!! Looking forward to challenge!!!
I want to start and finish my Lori Holt Bee Happy quilt. It brought me to quilting!! It has appliqué, embroidery, hexagons, cute fabric and 😍I just had to learn to quilt to make this cute project! It’s my #1 goal. I have been collecting supplies, learning how to cut fabric, how to piece, sew 1/4 inch seams, follow a quilt pattern, how to hand appliqué, and been watching tutorials on YouTube like crazy! I’ve made 1 quilt top that’s ready to FMQ. I’m starting this week on the first block of Bee Happy! 2018 will be the year I learn to quilt! And learn to FMQ too!! ❤️😁
I have like 8 quilt tops that I made that I foolishly said… if I do all the quilt tops all i have to do is sandwich and quilt them. Well that didnt work out, now those 8 quilt tops are sitting there saying finish me! And I’m struggling to finish those as new projects come along. Sadly one of those is a king size that is supposed to go on my bed!
The only UFO I have right now is the one I’m working on… Grandma’s kitchen! I can’t stand having UFOs- all those lovely quilts not usable because they’re not done! So next week when I have a few days off I’m going to put the push on to try to finish Grandma’s kitchen… it’s going to replace a quilt on my bed that has so many rips and tears I don’t know how I’m going to make it usable again 🙁 Combination of cheap fabric and sun damage, I think. (And cats, can’t forget the cats with their pesky claws…)
I just completed my #1 project. It was taking my Grandma’s Quilt made by my Mom & turning what was left of it into a dresser scarf/bed runner.
#1 that I want to finish is Grandma’s kitchen. It had to take the back seat for Christmas gifts.
My number 1 project is to get a wedding quilt made for my grandson and his fiance.