For me the quilt is done when I put binding on it. If I leave a top sitting too long it will never be done since I am a procrastinator by nature. I am trying to change that about myself so I do it all in order - patchwork, sandwich, quilt, bind, wash, done!
I have a quilt which is due end of November and I am almost done with the patchwork. Since I am accident prone when it comes to quilting process, I want to have enough time to make another one if I screw something up on it between now and than, or if my life throws me a curve ball. I am far from disciplined but I am trying to get there, eventually.