My husband told our friends that I collect unfinished projects. That was only cross stitch at that time! I adtually do only work on one quilting project at a time because I get too confused otherwise!

The first large quilt I finished, was machine quilted block by block. I learned a lot in the process and am using this technique for one I am making for my grandson.
Used an the out of print Marti Michell Weekend Log Cabin Quilts book as my guide. She has since written a new book on quilting in sections, but I don't remember the name. A plus to doing it this way is that you can use up a lot of stash including fat quarters and have a reversible quilt. In fact this one was hung backwards at a quilt show. :P I have 6 sets of blocks waiting to be finished with this method, so I too am one who starts lots before I finish :-P. Welcome to the club.

My best friend told me about this about 20yrs. ago. I did 2 tops that were my hubby's grandmother's. They hold up pretty well considering I used one of them on our bed everyday for close to 18 yrs. She read about this in an old quilt magazine she got at a yard sale. They called it utility quilting because it was used for everyday quilts and they needed to do several fast. They would save their "tiny" quilted quilts for company or special occassions. I have several yd. sale tops I'm going to quilt this way. It really only takes about half the time.

I have vowed no more buying fabric until I finish what I have. Some partially pieced, some just cut out. Even have blocks from a block swap from 8 yrs. ago!!! So no more fabric buying until... Even have a whole cloth crossed-stitched top I found at a yd. sale that my mom finished cross-stitching for me that needs to be quilted. lol Four grandkids, a child that broke her back in a wreck, taking care of a mom, and losing 3 in-law siblings and one of their spouses tends to get in the way. Know what? The tops were still there. They didn't go anywhere. So enjoy what you have in your hands at the moment! The other UFO's will sit patiently until you get back to them.

I'm just starting this pattern. love it!

I have yet to finish ONE! Actually, I'm ready to sandwich my first.... but otherwise, I only start them and collect fabric for them. When I was telling dh about my latest plans he asked me if I could please finish just one before I start collecting for another.... so I've got to get busy! lol!

I usually will finish my projects because if i don't, i feel like it's been money wasted.

I decided last year that I was going to finish my UFO's even if I had to pay a LA to do them, which is what I did. It felt so good to get the binding on them and finished. I also made other quilts throughout the year. I didn't get them all done and it will probably take most of this year to accomplish that. I always have several projects going at once and will always have UFO's. I just don't want to have alot of them around unfinished when we could be enjoying them so much.

What's the problem?...the more the better, I say....I do the same..get bored on the same one...

I advise sending a few projects out for machine quilting .... yes, I do it! And
very reasonable. Also others on this board do fantastic, elaborate quilting
for great prices.... at least try some of us.
The "big stitch" technique where you don't have to do teeny-tiny quilt stitches
gives very nice results on your quilt.
Try both suggestions!

I had to laugh at this thread. I started quilting in October. I have 6 UFO and only one completed table topper.

I had to laugh at this thread. I started quilting in October. I have 6 UFO and only one completed table topper.

Check out Keepsale Quilting......they had them last I knew.

What does echo mean?

As in FMQ? To echo stitch around a shape: Continue stitching by going a bit further away from the same shape. So for example, if you stitched a heart shape, then echo around it with another slightly larger heart shape. Usually echos are more than one stitching line - like several or more.

I took a class through my local quilt shop and now rent their long arm machines by the hour. My quilts are finished and I love knowing I did it from start to finish. And an added benefit...I get better with each quilt! Maybe someday I'll have my own, but for now....

I am like you, creative process all the way-
And I agree with the lady who suggested bartering with one of your long armer friends if you don't have the $ and feel quilty about them doing it for free... Maybe cleaning (everyone hates something about cleaning- windows etc)...dog sitting/walking etc... And you would be amazed how far a 5-10$ tip and a huge smile goes...
Alot of you have said some LA's from this board are reasonable... But, what is reasonable? lol

As someone said, There is longarming then longarming.. My longarmer does a basic meander(no binding) on a queen size quilt for 40$ (oh, and she finished it the same day)..I supply the top/batting/backing.. It's so worth it to me ..I just don't like crawling on the floor to sandwhich/pin , then wrestle it through the machine to quilt, ugh.. And I actually like a meander (too much quilting makes the quilt stiffer, which I don't care for)

Now I might regret getting a machine with a little bigger throat..I can no longer say > Yes I made it..Of course, I sent it out to a longarmer to be quilted..Cant do that on my little machine...Unless you want to buy me a longarm for $$$$...pause.... naaahhh lol

"Big Stitch" is about the size of my regular hand quilting. So if I use pearle cotton it will look legit. Good to know!

It is a very pretty look, I must admit.

I feel your pain. I too have so many unfinished projects. I have great ideas, but that is as far as it goes. It has to be quick (a day or two) for me to complete it. If you find a solution, please let us know.

Congratulations, you are no longer a beginner. LOL

Hey, take your friend up on the free quilting. She wouldn't offer if she didn't really mean it. You could always pay her back with a gift card for a nice dinner, movie or a shopping spree at LQS.

I never thought of big stitching, think you have just saved my sanity :D

I saw a great suggestion on The Quilt show site for this frustration. Make strips of paper and write one unfinished project on each of them. Fold them up and put them in a bag. Then pull one strip a month and commit to finish that project that month. I am going to use this system when I get back from my quilt retreat in two weeks. I have to get at those UFO's!!!

I wouldn't doubt it, it is so soothing and calming. I love doing it and I have a large quilt to do and it's so much easier than by machine, give it a go, you will get hooked :twisted:

Me too; I found a lady who finishes the quilt tops. All I do is supply her with the batting and backing and if I don't want to do the binding, she will do that also. VERY REASONABLE.
Easy solution.

I eventually finish my projects. I have what is called finishing day and I work on UFO until they are all done.