I started quilting in 1996 in high school. for a few years all was well. Then i got married and had kids, life got in the way and low and behold my sewing machine got put away (Bernina 1030), after a 5 year break I'm back to quilting and oh my Lord i am buried under a ton of projects! each of the kids wanted one I had been saving fabric for a purple and white quilt (grandma's fan) as well as a yellow and white one (flying geese), i started all of these within a week, then the boyfriend wanted me to make a crown royal quilt (out of his bags he had saved) as well as one for his mom. Now Grandma is hinting about a lap quilt for her.

I've only been back for a month and i have finished the kids' quilts (they helped) and started 4 more I have also developed a folder of some amazing treasures i have found here that are screaming to be made.
As quilter's do we ever get caught up?

Nope! lol! At least, I know I haven't ever gotten caught up!

No Way!! LOL the list is never ending :D:D:D

I've never heard of anyone ever getting caught up.

I just started last year, and I am buried already.

buried in fabric -idears-magazines-ufos-a quilters life for me- love it -never bored---will need to live to 300 to catch up and thats doubtfull

I thought I was done, I was delivering table runners today to people who had ordered them and someone fell in love with one already purchased. So.......should I make another one, I have the fabric, or should I just call it a day and clean up my sewing room, which looks like 2 tornadoes hit it simultaneously. Good grief.

Depends on who wanted it. Would have to be someone VERY special for me to take on another project before Christmas. We quilters (especially the female versions) tend to want to please others even at our own expenses. Time to take a deep breath and enjoy Christmas. If the person really wants that project, she will wait until after Christmas. That's my 2 cents and I am sticking to it.

Merry Christmas!

There's always one more quilt or project to do.

Ditto. I have so many quilt tops that need quilting but for each one I get quilted, I add another 2-3 to the 'to be quilted' pile :)

I have no doubt I will get caught up - if I live to be 150... LOL

Welcome to a very exclusive club. Okay, maybe not all that exclusive.

I'm not leaving this earth until I put a major dent in my stash!

It's a conspiracy by the quilt fabric and pattern designers! They keep coming out with such neat fabrics and ideas that we will NEVER get caught up! I, for one, am planning on leaving this earth with lots of unmade quilts on my list! That way I'll be busy until I die!

I didn't know we had to get caught up!!

Caught up?? What's that?? The more I do, the behinder I get. But I love it!

I usually have several in different stages going at once. In the living room, I have some hand sewing in a basket and, sometimes, a binding to sew down. In my sewing room, I have a couple of piecing projects along with a couple of quilts to quilt hanging in the closet. I also have some projects that have gotten stalled for one reason or another in large plastic bags. If you think you will never get back to it, put it in a yard sale - you might be surprised that someone else wants to buy it to finish!

annieshane - I think I needed this Permission from someone. I have sooo much to do but I keep sitting down to my quilting in my spare moments, instead of Wrapping! This morning I will clean up my quilting corner and focus on my family and this beautiful time of year. Happy Holidays, everyone!

If we ever get caught up then we would be so bored and no I don't stay caught up either.

Totally agree NEVER BORED love to read as well!

After my parents passed away in 2006 and 2007, I realized that I had about 26 years to live if I lived as long as they did. Somehow I have wasted the last 4 or 5!! But now I am digging into my stash and making tops. It feels good. Rules: can't buy more fabric unless it is absolutely necessary, use up what I've got because my kids will just throw it out, and make something easy that I can get done.

No we never get caught up, but with this philosophy, I hope to make a dent in the stash.

Hey - who says we HAVE to get caught up?

I didnt know we were supposed to get caught up. why doesnt someone tell me stuff? lol

Nope never get caught up. But I've found those big zip lock bags for storage are a real help in keeping those projects organized. And when someone asks how their quilt is coming, you can pull out the bag with their name on in and show them - and buys you a little time! Have fun!

I'll never catch up - my "want to do" list grows faster than my "finally finished" list.

"As quilter's do we ever get caught up?"

No, while making one quilt our minds are thinking about several more we have started or want to start.

Silly me when I began quilting I finished one project before beginning another one, then I found on line message boards and found out about UFOs and joined the rest of the quilters out there by having a list of my own UFOs. May in Jersey

Not I, each time I see beautiful quilts on the Board I add it to my list of "to do".

No, the list always gets longer. I keep a file of want to do projects. I'll never get done. Had an older lady once tell me "The good Lord will not take me as long as I have an unfinished quilt". Bless her, she lived to be 96 and actually had just finished the quilt she was working on when she passed.

you never get caught up. but tell them, yes, I will make you a quilt, no deadline, and you have others already in line. they will wait. My oldest says,he has to request a quilt about 2 years in advance. LOL

I don't think it's about catching, or even trying. I do all the inspiration we find out there, to keep us going, & inspired. Who wants to catch up anyway, then where would we go, or what would have to find next, to keep us motivated & inspired, right! The good thing about fabric too, say, you buy it for one project, or pattern idea, then down the road you change your mind, & that's okay too. The fabric is still there, waiting to be used! I for one, am glad, there is no end, & I will never catch up, lol!...

Heavens no. I have a large quilt started for my guest room. Several Raggedy Ann quilts for quilts for kids. A couple of Bow Tucks bags and there are several projects I want to start. There is just not enough time in the day.

:lol: I'm with you...We don't have to get caught up. There is no such thing!

I'm sure not caught up, due to frustrations with the Juki I'm using that keeps breaking thread and I have changed thread to different thread with same results. I took it apart last night, cleaned it so going to try again. Good thing the quilt I was working on is a charity quilt, lol.

So, does that mean if we never catch up, we'll never die? I sure hope so. I have a lot of work I want to do -- and reading. Can that work with books we want to read? If we stack up books, the Lord won't take us until we finish all of them? My stack never decreases. I read one and then buy two.

No, never! And thats the fun of it!

I know the feeling Karma - I started out making quilts in memory of my mom who'd have made each of her grandchildren a quilt for their wedding, and she died before getting that done - so me being the only quilter in the family have taken it upon myself to give each a quilt in Mom's memory!

OK - then as fast as they marry, there are babies, so I've decided to make each baby a quilt - and then of course I have two sisters, a son and daughter-in-law in the audience saying ME TOO. So, when all is said and done, I'll have made 15 quilts and have 3 completely finished, with 2 more started, and the baby quilts need to be done too - more babies on the way or already here! My machine was down for 6 months last year, so no sewing at all - till they could get a part for it - no local Singer dealers around so I took it to a shop that repairs and cleans Husquavara and Viking I believe it is, and well, I think it got put on the back shelf, wishing I'd buy a new one - well, to me it is new - only being 4 years old, and being an embroidery machine too, not ready to invest more money in a new one - so NOW I'm ready to begin - again!

I know the feeling of being overwhelmed - and I could go into the outsiders also wanting quilts - wow! I didn't know quilts could get so popular all of a sudden.. till I started!

Have fun, and take your time - in time you'll have all done and you'll be stockpiling quilts.. i'll never stop quilting - but to get each one their first quilt seems to be the biggest hurdle!

Caught up?? Oh is there such a thing??
LOL.... I think as quilters- No we will never be caught up. Their is always going to be that one more want.. need.. am going to do....will you.. (add more as they apply)quilt to be pieced, calling us, mastered and made.
Thank goodness... What would we ever do if there wasn't??
I don't want to know, I'm lovin' it.

Personally, I love the fact that quilters never catch up! I am continuously amazed at the new projects and techniques as well as new interpretations of the old classics. I think it keeps us young!

Just mailed nine quilts finished for Christmas (for grandchildren) and waiting for me are two quilts cut and ready to put together, quilt for customer, fabric for four quilts for DD's and several projects waiting to be finished. If I ever get caught up then it's time to stop quilting. WOW, love it, love it, love it!

I was caught up and then...well took on a few more projects. It is one of those things were you find the right fabric and want to sew it right away.