I have finished a couple foundlings over the years, and have a couple more packed away. I may not be the one who eventually quilts them, but I will give them a safe home.

I almost never pass up blocks at estate sales. I think it is just out of respect for another quilter's work.

double post, please remove

Why do people have ufo's now?

In my experience, many quilt tops were not quilted because there were problems with the top. I've seen many tops that were poorly pieced and/or ugly. Perhaps the maker realized they were in over their heads. Or perhaps they just didn't have the time to finish them.

Yeah: But one mans trash is another mans treasure. If the tops have a pbl, then how about making a throw or a pillow? It just really seems to be a shame to let something created out of love, or a thought, from days gone by, go to a heap. And all quilters know that alot of work goes into a quilt, no matter if ugly or missing a few stitches here and there. I think it has something to do with growing old gracefully.

You are right. . . I do buy tops with problems; I just know to look for them so I am aware of what I am getting and how I can use them.

I have made many tops that remain unquilted. Some I will quilt. Others will not be quilted because I've just lost interest , I don't like them any more or other things are more important. That does not mean that the tops were not valuable learning tools for me. If I don't quilt them, I would be happy if someone else winds up quilting them or recycling the fabric.

we all look at things differently. i have learned just from showing my quilts on this forum, that quilts i have made and maybe am not that crazy about, somebody else thinks they look great. i have seen quilts on exhibit that i thought weren't that pretty and somebody else thinks they are fine enough to win a ribbon.
a lot of it is a matter of taste. plus like someone pointed out there are problem children.

good thing there are no quilt police :P ;-) ;)

The one I am quilting now is not perfect..It is not a problem per say.. Just her eye sight was really failing.. So the blocks do not line up as crisp as I would have done.. One row is kind of offset.. However I just let it be.. It is not puckering, lays flat and was easy to square...

I think because it is not my own is the reason it is taking so long to quilt.. I only work on it for a couple hours a week.. I really do need to get it done though.. My Uncle really likes it.. He says it reminds him or my Great-Grandmothers quilts... So it has a home when it is done...

When my grandmother passed away, my mother took her unfinished quilts to finish them, then mom became sick and after lossing her, they are passed to me to finish. I haven't started on any of them yet.. but do plan to. I want to find the right material to do it just like they would have. I've only been quilting a few years. Love it. but just don't have the time like I wish I could..

Yes, I have. I have many tops as well as blocks that just said "take me home". I may or may not get them finished but as someone else said they have a good home and will be well taken care of. The other reason is that for me they are affordable (a completed quilt is usually waaay out of my price range). They also take up less room if we are traveling and happen upon an antique store. I have a notebook that I keep a list of purchases in. I list a brief description of the top, measurements and colors. If I know the name of the pattern I will put that in along with where I bought it and what I paid.

Hi,
I have not purchased any quilt tops from estate sales, although I would if I could find one. Not many in northern Michigan. However, my grandmother left me 6 unfinished quilt tops that she sewed sometime between 1965 and 1977. I put them away for a very long time and just recently got them out and put them together. I have quilted one for each of my grandchildren. It has been a great way to build my machine quilting skills and my grandchildren have an heirloom that spans 5 generations.