One way I've found around all those lose tops...I make my quilts reversible and use two tops per quilt! I pick my favorite for the front and quilt (usually stitch-in-ditch) to suit that quilt and the back side just goes along with whatever I do on the front. I try to use similar colors on both sides, or fabric themes, but sometimes not and they look wonderful too. A dear friend suggested always making the binding FIRST and then it's like a bonus when you are ready, and it's waiting for you.

I do think that not finishing a project is a bad habit. Finish what you start. Why can't you tie it? I have tied down a lot of quilts. (Make sure everything is pinned down) I use an 18" hoop (before I got my quilting frame), start in the middle and fan out! If I feel it needs more tacking down, I add more ties, usually five per 12" block. Takes hardly any time at all. I use Perle Cotton thread. Then I cut it back, sew on the binding and finish it up by hand. Edie

Same with me... I will do the SMALL projects. But anything larger than a baby quilt I will send off.
First ....my machine couldn't handle a large quilt
Second - I would be afraid after all my piece work that I would "ruin" it....no confidence.

Educate those kids! They can send them out to be quilted. They want a baby quilt to give as a gift, here is the top have it quilted and you can gift it! Problem solved at least for me.

ok the newbe here, query, why don't you finish one before you start another? Sounds like overdoing. at this time I only do one at a time,doll quilts mainly at this time, and hopefully I won't get bored. and of course y'all are doing the big quilts not the small ones, right? Guess that makes a difference too.

Organization of energy, effort, time? hehehehe, wonder how long it will be that I will be in the same boat you are in?

You can always donate them to your church (or a local church) quilting group! They will finish them, some will go into their annual bazaar to raise money for charities, others will go to good causes. In any case, you get to clean out so you can start new, AND you can choose what charity YOU want to support in the process! I volunteer at our church quilting group, and you'd be amazed how many people benefit, and how much they all appreciate it.

As for me, it's like quilting boot camp. I don't allow myself to start another until I finish the last one. Not much space!

Yeah!! Long lost relatives!!! We have a big family!! :D

:lol: :lol: :thumbup:

I have finished all my UFOs except 2 and that's because I sell them. My family said we were being overwhelmed by so many quilts that my daughter talked me into opening an on-line store. Now I get paid to keep me in new fabric and an excuse to make more. I do send my out to be quilted now though. I used to hand quilt all of them but time won't let me anymore.

Recently when I cleaned out and organized my quilting room (also my bedroom) I found 13 tops that were finished and ready to be sandwiched and quilted. I don't see this as a bad habit because when Jan in VA (a boardmember) asked for donations of quilts to send to her SIL's unit that is stationed in Afganistan I just went to the tote choose three and put them in a box and mailed them off to her. Had I not had these sitting in the tote I wouldn't have been able to help her because I was in the middle of peicing my sons wedding quilt. I will get around to quilting them someday or I will have tops to donate to worthy causes but if I had to completely finish one project before starting another I would still be on my first project!!

I can work on tops on my machine but putting them together is diffucult. I don't have a long arm, no room or money for one. I tried the block by block and that's diffucult too so mine sit for quite a while till I decide to tackle one.