I am fairly new to quilting, but I find it hard to finish a project without starting a new one. I finish about one quilt a year, but have fabric, some cut and ready, some partially sewn, a couple close to finishing. Is it common to have several projects in the closet, and switch back and forth?

Also: What is the rule about thread? I use the "expensive" type but besides color and brand what should I be looking for?

I'll leave your questions to some more experienced-just want to say hi and welcome from Michigan!

Totally normal, lol! And welcome!

Hello and welcome from SW Iowa. Glad to have you here. You sound like a normal quilter to me.

Hi and welcome. I am new here too, and you sound pretty normal to me. I have a lot of different projects going on. My problem is I want to make every new and different quilt I see , haha But I do enjoy it . :mrgreen:

To answer your thread question....Everyone has a favorite thread. I've come to the conclusion that the best thread for me is one I can afford and my sewing machine likes. Welcome...I have 6 projects I am currently working on. Sounds normal to me:)

Totally normal. You will see lots of references to WIP (work in progress) or UFOs (unfinished objects). When you are a quilter it happens......

too many thoughts in our heads-it's hard to finish one, when you see quilts everywhere-welcome from wisconsin

Hello and welcome from Germany! To answer your questions: as my machine doesn't like all brands of thread, I go with the ones that run smoothly. My personal rule is to use both the same material for thread and fabric, so I use just 100% cotton thread.
To me, it is better, and I'm not talking about easier ;-)), to finish a project before starting another. While working on a quilt and esp. towards the end, EVERY OTHER, spankin brand new project attracts my attention, BUT I try to resist. Mostly with good results so far.
I look at it as a reward. For every finished one I may start a new one. Works for me, so this is just my 2Cents.
Most important is to enjoy the process, so happy quilting to you :).

Hello and welcome from MIchigan! And yes, it sure is normal for a quilter. I do the very same thing, but I'm trying to cure myself and focus on one project at a time. Well, ok, maybe 2... or 3.

Totally normal. I decided this year to finish UFO's. Doing OK so far. Only new quilts started are for a designated purpose, like baby quilts. Also making scrap quilts for charity, but nothing new for myself until I whittle down my pile, which is currently about 12 UFO's and one kit not even cut yet.

As for thread, I like to use cotton. Whatever does not leave too much lint and something my machine likes.

The first rule in quilting is that there are no rules. Each quilter brings their own style and personality to their work. I imagine that your style is in the majority.

Welcome from MO

Lanny

Hi ~~ welcome from Minnesota! :)

Hello, and welcome from Idaho!

Hello and welcome from Argentina! :D

Welcome from Oregon. You're as normal or abnormal as everyone else! There are threads posted here you can find if you search that will give you suggestions for thread. There is so much help here!

Hi and welcome from Texas! I think the majority on this board have lots of things going at once. I don't. I like to finish one before I start a new one. My storage is limited and I think it would make me a little crazy to have a lot of unfinished stuff lying around. I do keep a box of blocks I see and want to try. I work on those whenever. When I run out of fabrics for the current box of blocks, I put them into a quilt.

Hi Tamara and welcome from Ohio!

You're normal and will find it very common among quilters.

About the thread question, use what you like, what matches in color and can afford.

IMHO, if you are working on an "heirloom" quality or "keepsake" type of quilt..then always use the very best that you can. I would even save up for the best quality of fabrics and threads for these. Also quilts deserve to have labels.

Please feel free to always ask any questions that you may have, someone(s) will be helpful in sharing their comments.

Pam M

Welcome from Ireland. Yes you are normal

Hello, welcome and happy quilting from Germany!

Welcome to the board from Southern California!!!

Sounds "normal" to me. I usually have anywhere from 2 to 6 projects going at once. Right now I am in the middle of 9 projects, all current!

Hi, welcome from Nebraska! I am not one of the "normal" ones. LOL! I work on one project at a time from start to finish, except for the quilting. I was hand quilter and did get a couple of quilts behind but I am now long arm quilting them myself so I'm catching up.

The reason I don't usually start more than one thing at a time is that for one, I am much to frugal to make purchases that I may never end up using and two, it just plain stresses me out to have so much on my plate. At the moment I have several "required" quilts to make and quilt and just looking at all that I have ahead of me makes me feel almost ill. So no, one at a time for me, please!

Hi Tamara, welcome from northern California!

Welcome from Mid-Missouri.

I'm working on two projects, and wanting to start another, and I'm just learning, but my fingers get to hurting from hand quilting so I take a break from it and work on something else, but right now I'm trying to fix me up a sewing room, from my spare bedroom, it had ugly carpet and wall paper and I've removed both and now painting and tiling it...its starting to look like a sunny spring room.
Its nice to meet you, and I'm from Oklahoma Welcome!

HI FROM KENTUCKY...I always have between 6 and 12 projects going at all times..thread is always a persoanl preference find one you like and go with it...I use a poly cotton blend 63%/37% by Coats and Clark T4

Well you have asked the wrong people :lol: We are all enablers! I have a bazillion trillion quilts "in process" Let us know if there is a cure for "unfinisheditis" :lol:

Welcome from North Carolina.

Welcome from the middle of the mitten.
everyone has their own style and ways of doing thing.I have two quilts started, 4 sewing projects going. finishing up a knitted sweater and a book that i am reading. This sounds like to much even for me..

Hello and welcome from West Virginia. You're as normal as the rest of us!!!

Welcome from Michigan.

Hi and welcome from Australia. Yes you are normal. I have three projects that I am working on and thinking of the fourth. Happy quilting.

welcome from Tennessee

You can stop worrying about yourself. You're totally normal. I find that when I dream up a new quilt at 3 in the morning, I just have to get started on it before I lose the idea! Welcome from Texas.

Hello and welcome from Arkansas. I'd say having several things going at once is par for the course with me. I keep several things going at once so I don't become bored. I love it when several of them come together at once. I really feel like I have done something then.

You sound like a "typical" quilter, to me.As for thread, my machine is not "picky" and loves any thread and I use what I have that suits the project, be it all cotton, rayon, poly or dual duty. Oh, and by the way, welcome from WV.

Hello, and welcome from Michigan!

welcome from se TX

Hello and welcome from Ontario Canada

Welcome from WI