I have numerous quilts started. My problem - I just plain get bored. I do, however, put each project in it's own little tote so I don't lose any pieces (that's happened before, too).

I also do a lot of other needlework (counted cross stitch, embroidery, sewing, etc.) just so I don't get bored. Of course, finishing projects is another story!!

When I started, I swore I was only going to do ONE project at a time, unlike my friend who got me into this who had about 10 going when I saw her. No way I could do that. Welllll...it happens. I get to the "waiting for sandwiching" phase and set it aside and start something else. Then I take a class and start yet another. Then I want to do a specific charity quilt or Quilt for Kids and it gets in the mix. Now I have 3 (I think) waiting to be quilted and 4 ready for sandwiching and 2 being pieced. I can't afford to send them out, so I need to quilt them myself, and I'm still a real beginner in that category, so I avoid it. I really want to get them done so they can go to the charities I donate to, but I get blocked at those last stages. But, I've learned so much from the men and women on this board...I may even get some completed one of these days. :-) I'll never be a 'one at a time' gal though.

I have two to four projects at a time going. If I get stuck on one project or use Jack (the Ripper) too much, I must leave and do something else. I try to take my time and enjoy the process, but if I find I am becoming frustrated, I get up and do something else, walk outside, plaly with the dogs, etc. I have AADD in a mild form and so have learned to compensate. I try not to have to many WIPS or UFO's. That drives me crazy.
I clean my sewing room as I go, but throw the threads and tiny scraps on the floor. Go figure.

Wow! I guess I'm odd man out here. I only work on one at a time - that's what motivates me to finish so I can start on the next one. I do think about the next project a lot before I finish the current project

I guess I could look at this from a psychological point of view. Most of my life has been complex. I am now at the point where, as a widow, I live alone with my two cats. I purposely got a very boring job (used to have stressful job with large corporation), and tried to eliminate as much stress in my life as possible. Juggling more than one quilting project at a time would just feel like stress to me. Anyway, whatever works for a quilter is the way to go. Whatever floats your boat.

I always have several going on at once. I have a project I'm doing w/friends & we meet usually once a week. Also I can get bored if I'm doing a project with the same block repeated over & over - & of course have to interrupt everything if I need to make a gift.
But as the original poser said, I can't work in clutter. So any project not finished is kept aside, all elements together in a tote - helps keep things neat.

one at a time? LOL...Never! :)....sometimes I want to piece, sometimes bind...some days I like to work with blue/green/pink...always excited about new ideas and projects so can't wait until others are finished - need to dig right in! wish I could be sewing with one hand and checking out the QB with the other...

I eventually finish what I have started but I must be ADHD because I do tend to jump from one idea to the next...too creative perhaps! LOL

I piece only one project at a time; I never set it aside until the piecing is completed and all the scrap cleanup, etc., is done. At the same time, I always keep one I'm hand-quilting upstairs and one I'm either hand- or machine-quilting downstairs. I also have quite a few tops stored away waiting to be sandwiched and quilted.

I may be the only one on here that is OCD! I try to always have exactly 3 projects going. I hand quilt and machine quilt so there is always something on my handquilting frame. It does not leave the frame until it is finished! The other 2 projects are usually a top ready for machine quilting and lots of pieces ready for a top to be made. I have found that if I had too many projects going nothing got finished!!!

i have the same problem, i get bored so right now i have about 10 porject,s going on, and nothing done lol

I am with you to an extent. I am finding once i piece a top, I like to take a break from the quilt for a while. So I start another project then when a second one is pieced I will go back and quilt the first one, and then piece another top, then go back and quilt the second top and so on. I find it is nice to put the tops out of the closet with some fresh eyes on it to quilt it. I usually end with a completely different quilting design then I originally planned.

I usually have more than 1 project going at a time. I guess because sometimes I feel like piecing and other times, like quilting or cutting.

For example, I just finished piecing 2 QFK tops. Now they need to be quilted, but I need to start a baby quilt for my DH co-worker so I may cut that out tomorrow.

I guess because I'm new to quilting, I'm kind of like you. I prefer to finish one project before I start another. As an experienced seamstress, I also know that if I leave something for too long, I really don't want to go back to it. I don't get bored because I sew different things: jackets, bags, small quilts, etc.

I have so many projects going on right now that I have them in a spread sheet. I have promised myself that, after these are done, I am never going to have more than three going at one time, it is too stressful. I like to have more than one going on at a time for several reasons. My back and neck get sore from sitting in the same position for too long so I go from hand quilting to machine piecing to embroidery or applique. If I work on the same project for too long I get tired of it or one project may get difficult and I will need a break from it so I won't wad it up and throw it in the back of the closet. BUT having as many UFOs that I do right now is enough to make me run away from home.

I think it depends on how you prefer to work. I have quilt friends who only work like you do. Start a project and finish before they consider the next. Myself I have lots of projects going. One will be at binding (which I do while watching TV with DH) One will be at design stage, one at cutting, etc. etc. There are always things that come up to interrupt the main project I am working on. Blocks for a club project, cheer blocks for quilt friends, the list goes on.

I am basically a one project at a time person. First, I don't have a large dedicated sewing/quilting room,so I can't have a lot of projects laid out at once, also I am a teacher and do most of my quilting in the summer,when I have more time off so I only get one or two projects done then. I think that whatever works best for you is what you should feel comfortable with.

I'm with you! I have to see a finished product and once I start, I want to finish! Maybe I'm not a "real" quilter but it works for me. I also don't have a stash other than scraps from other projects--I buy what I need when I start a project to insure that I have enough.

Definitely multiple projects at a time. Usually I have some piecing, some quilting and some planning project going. Many get finnished but I am afraid there is a good number just sitting there stuck mostly at the quilting part.

look to the bottom of this message!!! I try put it doesn't work!!
Have a quilty day,

simple quilter

LIke Charismah, I have several. what determines what I work on is my mood, timelines (if any), and pretty much where I am in the house. I also enjoy hand embroidery, crochet, knitting etc. I currently have 3 quilting projects in the works, I have 5 priority projects I will tackle as soon as I have completed some of all of the other 3. I am a finisher, no worries how many or how long it takes, I will complete these!! Let loose, enjoy your projects, don't count them. I had to count how many I have to write up this email. But don't usually worry to much about it, I often fall in love with patterns and love of fabrics is an ongoing affair!

I have a lot of time on my hands, don't want to sit & watch tv or do the computer, so what better way than to (learn to) quilt or crochet or do something that can be beneficial to others? like giving those projects to children's hospital or people in need of a quilt etc? Id rather spend my time learning to make that quilt or sew something , and can crochet & watch tv, but give this away to worthy causes it the ideal thing to do.
I am trying to do just that!

I wish I could go from start to finish on one project at a time but I get bored with it and work on something different. I don't even want to think about how many I have started.

I'm like you. I would PREFER to only work on one project at a time, but it usually doesn't work out that way. I am trying to get all my UFO's finished so I can go back to working on one at a time. Right now, I have two on the go and am anxious to get at least one completely finished this summer. (There are quite a few other UFO's that are lurking in y sewing room that need finishing this winter!)

I am a creative, easily distracted quilter/artist and can't work on just one thing at a time, although I admire that quality...my brain is working overtime coming up with new ideas, colors, fabrics, etc...and I can't just turn it off at will...sigh...so I am very easily distracted and have to have lots of different projects going for the different moods and feelings for any given day...if I'm feeling artsy, I then pull out my more modern stuff, if I'm feeling traditional, I pull out some of that, etc. etc...I do love the feeling when a project is finally done and washed, ready to give away or use...

I can only work on one project at a time. My kitchen is my quilting space so I have to be controlled.

Heh. I do that as well - but I didn't consider that as multiple projects. :)

I always have 2, 3, and sometimes 4 projects going at one time. I always have one that is portable so I can take it with me in the car if we are out driving or have to spend an extended tamount of time anywhere.

Several going on at any given time. Usually they are different types: english paper piecing, embroidery, piecing (on the machine); and always something to be cut.

I can't work on one at a time because there are so many neat ones on here that I have to start one of them, and leave the other ones until later.

Oh, I ;have no problem starting another project before I finish my last. I have a very short attention span. Later I will go back and finish a WIP.

I should But I don't.

I like to have several going at one time, that way if I feel like cutting, I do that, if I feel like, piecing I can do that, feel like quilting ...you get the picture. I have 8 that I'm working on right now, and 2 that I really want to start, but keep telling myself to get a few of these done first.

I agree. I keep one in each stage of the making. It is a process and it takes time. I also forget and don't know where I was if two get into the same pile.

I complete each project before beginning something new.

I guess I really do have other projects going at the same time, just not quilting projects. I do have a cross stitch that I started during vacation and I'm crocheting a scarf for my niece for Christmas that I started when it was too hot to work upstairs in my sewing room. These are also good for evenings when we are watching something on TV. But when time circumstances allow, I latch on to a quilting project and try to finish it as soon as possible. I'm that same way when I start a book, read cover to cover if possible. Maybe I have some sort of disorder!

Wow, I admire your ability to work on only one project at a time. I am a many project gal so I usually have 2 projects going on at one time.

I read a lot in the evenings and I'm the same way...have to finish that book before beginning another one...just like quilting, etc. I think we do have some sort of disorder...lol!

I'd love to be able to work on more than one project at a time! I figured out a long time ago though that for me, this does not work. If I set aside a project to work on another, I tend to never finish the first. I have made the rule for myself that if I start a quilting project, I have to finish at least the quilt top before beginning another one. I make myself finish the whole quilt if I have the batting and backing/binding if I have the materials on hand for it at the time. I often don't have these on hand and have to wait til I have the $ to purchase them though, so I make an exception for myself in these cases. This doesn't mean that I can't do research planning and shopping for my next project though. I do admit to having about 4 or 5 projects on my do do/ wish list though. I really need to start building up my stash of backing and batting supplies.

Don't count! I made the mistake of counting/making a list & found that I had so many UFOs I had to break them into categories, cutting, piecing, quilting, binding. I just love the excitement of starting something new & the satisfaction of finishing something, but all the stuff in the middle gets put on the back burner.

My total was 32! Now I'm not allowed to start something new until I check two things off my list, so I'm down to 20 something.

If anyone broke into my house through my quilting room they'd turn around and leave, saying "somebody beat us to it."