I do not have an answer for this. I started a baby quilt almost 3 months ago and one thing after another has slowed me down. I think I do my best work under pressure so I put things off till the last minute. I do not do this intentionally but I think somewhere in my brain it says wait wait wait.

Ditto here! I have so many UFOs that I at least have to finish 2 before starting 1.

I do try to give myself 1/2 hour in the mornings to work in the sewing studio. You would be amazed how much you can get done! :)

Ah, sew a small border on the too small ones and keep going. That's called "Creative License". Ha Ha Ha

I'm always anxious to see the complete finished product. The hardest hurdle for me is the sandwiching but I do it almost immediately after the top is pieced because I can't wait to get to the free motion quilting part which I love. I also enjoy hand sewing the binding down so that's how all my projects get finished before I start another one.

1st thing I did was remove the computer out of sewing room this is my biggest distraction and I must get one fabric cut before I take a break for cookies and tea til all fabs are cut-usaully done in the morning-1row of blocks pieced together before doing some kind of house work This keeps me moving and I end up with a beautiful quilt to share with a loved one and a half a**ed clean house And I have been known to reward myself with a Dark Chocolate Milky Way :D when the project is 100% done [I don't feel guilty about the house work its almost time for a complete new address-and that house is clean and un-cluttered so this one will be easy to clean when its empty for the next owner

So far in my quilting career I haven't had any trouble with that. It's getting my bed made and loading and unloading the dishwasher that I can't get going on. I call it constructive procrastination. If I am sewing, I can justify putting off the laundry for a day or so. Of course I don't have family at home to do for now. Just me, so I can get by with some "bad" habits. I am cursed with OCD and can't stand a "mess" for long so I can't let things pile up too high before I wade in all the while thinking of new things to do to the project. Some how, some way, it all gets done. I do take frequent breaks and let my mind rest. Totally let it go. Think about something else. Read a book. Then go back to the machine. I usually have a deadline to meet...someone's baby is coming or already here, things like that. I work better under pressure even if the pressure is self-inflicted. My daughters are quite good at "goading" me by volunteering me for this or that project, also. Maybe you have someone who can give you a "push."

I need firm deadlines. Swaps, robins (row or round), special event quilts - they all seem to get done. Other projcets - not so much.

My New Years resolution was to be aware of how much time I was wasting a day. That time I wanted to be doing something productive instead of playing on the computer, watching TV, or just doing nothing. I found that on the days I worked I lost at least 4 hours per day!!! Even more on days I didn't work. I have been very strict with my time especially during the week. Weekends are not as important as it's the only time my DH and I are both off. Now that 20 + hours are spent either doing jobs that I have been putting off or quilting. This year I have actually finished 10 quilts and have 3 more in progress right now. Now that I can see the results it's much easier to use my time more wisely. This is twice as many quilts as I did last year and it's only May !!!

I have the same problem with this site. LOL

By the time I get housework, washing, etc. done, I am worn out and it's a real effort to get started on quilting unless it is something I can piece by hand or applique :-(

sewing buddies are always a help but then when shopping and together, not so. Spend too much, ha

I agree with small goals if you're having trouble. Sometimes I just go in the sewing room and clear off the cutting table or put some things away & that gets me going. And, I mean that in small bits of time, too. A real cleaning is just so unreasonable to think about!

Can you just add a small border of the background fabric around the smaller blocks, rather than ripping them up? You probably can't trim the larger blocks, because you'd lose star points, etc.

How about Memorial Day? Seems appropropriate for a QoV.

Sometimes I get myself back in the mood by winding bobbins, putting away tools, thread, books, cleaning off my cutting table, or ironing fabric to ready it for cutting. Take on the small tasks first and they will lead to bigger ones. Take on projects that are already planned and the supplies needed are purchased (nothing to hold you back because your still gathering materials). Good Luck!!!

I understand quite well what you are saying about finshing each prodjest. I have a quilt over half hand quilted. Two more waiting to be quilted by hand.I am falling behind on housework. I have been retired about a year from MalMart. I am bizer now than when I was working. Rose Marie Smith from Newcastle, Ca.

I can understand this problem. Once you start who wants to stop and also who wants to do housework before you start quilting. I try to make me do my things first before pleasure. I always liked to get the house done but the older I get the less I like to work on the housework. My hubby says the house will be here long after we're one so stop worrying. It still looks nice.good luck making yourself still to a plan. Sue

I have at least 4 projects going at one time in different stages. I'm piecing a star quilt on one machine, machine appliquing on the other. I have a needle turn applique
BOM I'm working on, and hand quilting a wall hanging. If I'm sitting on the porch or watching TV I do the handwork and when I feel in the mood for sewing on the machine I'm all set. I think if I had only one project I'd get frustrated and would rush so I could do a different quilting technique. This works for me anyway.

A lot of times when I quit for the day, I make sure I am all set up for the next time I sit down to sew. If I don't do this, I find it really hard to get going the next time.

I have the same problem but my husband is always saying did you get that project done yet?

My secret to 'finally getting projects accomplished' is this: I start projects on Friday, after the work week and school are done for a few days. I do this because I can stay up as late as I want/need to and usually get a large portion of the project done. I sew until I don't feel like sewing on Saturday. I then put it away until next weekend. And one important thing that I have learned is, 'not to start working on a project, or a portion of a project if I don't feel like sewing.' That is the one thing that helps me. If I don't feel up to sewing i find that I make a lot of little mistakes and don't want to go through taking seams out and sewing them again. If I take seams out I try to re-sew them then, because if I pin it and put it away it's hard to get back to it. Happy sewing.

Tackle it like the old adage says about eating an elephant...one bite at a time! Just think how happy you'll be when it's done & you can give it away to someone who will cherish it because you finished it for them.

I have to say this is my problem too.. I love this site. and love all the posts. I have told my self I can not get on here unless I have either something done or something to do.. so I use this as my reward.. or I could waste a day on here.
thanks again for a fine forum.. and what a great question.

Great post love all the advise. Just what I needed. :thumbup:

Use computer time as a reward. I have posted only a little lately, but I have finished 6 quilt topics including the one I have nicknamed the Ugly Quilt in the last two weeks.

I agree with the answer from quiltsRfun. I find that if I work for half an hour on my project. And then do a few housework things and then go back to my quilting, I have a tendency to finish. Guess that I must get tired of looking at it. But that technique seems to work for me.

You'd be amazed how much you can get done in just an hour. Set a timer (the one on your stove or microwave will work fine) and just accomplish ANYTHING at your machine until the timer rings. No breaks for any reason except blood!!!! <wink> Every chore I hate can either be done or get an awful lot done in just an hour.....

Sign up for open sew days at your LQS. It's fun to bring your own project and have time to get to know other quilters. You even get help from the experts, and there's always some good snacks getting passed around. Think of it as a night out!

I try to do only projects I love.

Gosh, I am glad I am not alone on this one. Too manydistractions .
sass

I think the answer to the problem is just this elusive. :?

When a block is too small, you can just add a small border in a coordinating fabric to the outer edge and make it out to the right size. This is much easier than ripping out or starting over and it will look like part of the design.

Since I did not make any promises to anyone or anything about not buying new fabric or anything else, I reward myself with Quilty $$$. DH & I go to Albuquerque several times a year & I have been "spending" my quilty $$$ up there. How much I give myself depends on how much I didn't want to finish something. The more I really didn't want - the more $$$. :wink: Nearly blew an entire lifetime's $$$ on the November trip. ALmost plunked down $$$ for a HandiQuilter Avante 18!!! Common sense got the better of me (darn it!) & I came away without it.

I am currently finishing up a wall hanging that I started several years ago - worth - um - $100-150. I also get to set the price. No penalty for not finishing on time as I also don't set deadlines. This one is going to be hanging in a Quilt Festival in June - so I have plenty of time to get 'er done. I must admit that this method IS getting things out of the closet and finished.

I am the world's worst procrastinator. I now try to divide my day into sections. 1 hr./day for quilt board. 1 hr./day to sort mail and or pay bills. 2hrs to clean and cook. The rest of the day to play at whatever I want. I AM RETIRED!

I don't turn on my computer until 4:30 or 5:30 PM. I am eager to finish a quilt so I can start another. Real easy for me.

DEADLINES! Gotta get it done, gotta get it done, gotta get it done. Whew, Just in time.

You need to get a "game plan."
To begin with you need to know specifically what it is that is "distracting" you...those are the things that, at least behaviorally, you are placing as a priority in your time.
Decide which of those things SHOULD be a priority. It may be that some of those "distractors" are legitimate.
If you find that some are but some aren't, then take a good look at those that aren't "shoulds" and then list the non shoulds by importance to you.
Maybe some will be that you think you WANT everyday and then others that might just be not so regularly. Place your sewing on that list.
If it is an everyday thing, determine a time during the day that you will do that after the "shoulds."
Keep that list posted (your game plan) and try it. You may find that you want to change some of those items and you may also find that you may not really want to sew everyday.
After doing that, take another good suggestion on this board...set a small goal that you want to get accomplished on your sewing...but relax...if you are doing something else after all this you probaby really don't view the sewing as a priority.

Just one word.....Dreyers Slow Churned Peanut Butter Ice Cream. To work off any calorie gain, I need to work harder. Good motivator!

I love the way you think!

I don't have this problem. Mine is the opposite. All I want to do is piece quilts. I do admit to haveing a lot of UFOs so I have been taking them and gradually working them into finished project. I deliverd 4 quilts this past week. I guess the easiest way to over come is lock your door to the sewing room,un plug the phone and sew. Remember to fix something special you or the family love .This way you have a good reason to finish. My DH even cooks dinner if I am not seen around supper time. lol