UFOs and WIPs
 

Since I joined this forum I have read with interest posts about UFOs and WIPs. There have been a number recently where quilters have set themselves the New Year challenge of completing their UFOs.

My sewing is very low-key. I buy the fabric and make the quilt, then it goes to whoever I have made it for. I don’t have the space or need to be working on more than one project.

But ... is it more practical to have a number of quilts on the go at the same time? Do experienced quilters make a number of tops, accumulate UFOs, then quilt them and bind them all?

Please don’t think that I’m being sarcastic here, I’m genuinely interested in why one person would want to have a number of projects on the go at the same time. Are there advantages in doing this?

(BTW - I do have a UFO - it’s a sampler wall hanging. I started it then realised I was not experienced enough to make it!)

I have lots of UFO's, probably more than most. Sometimes it's because I run into a snag of some sort and set the project aside until I figure out the next step. Most of mine were set aside when I was still working and didn't have time to work on it for an extended time, so I put it away, then out of sight is out of mind. The next thing you know I'm all excited about a new project and off I go on that one.
But I find that I still like to have several projects in the works at the same time, because I tire of each stage of the process and want to switch it up. I get tired of piecing, so I switch to doing some hand work on another project. Then I want to do some quilting, so I switch to the project I am in the middle of quilting.

I'm one of the ones who have multiple projects going at once. What I work on depends on my mood. And what machine I want to work with. Right now I have a quilt all set up on big tables in the living room that I'm actually quilting. I have a smaller machine set up in my office and I'm making the blocks for another quilt...but while I'm doing that I can watch movies or TV shows on my 27" Mac screen. My cutting table in the dining room will shortly be occupied by my Go! Big fabric cutter to cut blocks for yet another quilt. This area is right next to the kitchen so I can cook as I cut. So it depends on my mood I guess. I can quilt and listen to music, piece and watch TV or cut and cook.

I have several WIPs. I get in a mood to do a bunch of making just the tops for a while so they pile up. Right now, I have 7 baby quilt tops made and ready for sandwiching. Sometimes I get a bunch of them up to the binding stage and do only binding for a few days. I don't consider them UFOs as they are always in view. It really doesn't matter when they get finished because they are all donated.

Confession(s) First:

I usually have at least 3 WIPs going. (to me, it's a WIP until the top is done. then it becomes a UFO. others either don't distinguish between the two "stages" or they define them differently.)

I also usually have at least a couple UFOs waiting to be sandwiched, or quilted, or bound. the reasons will vary from quilt to quilt and time to time.

is that more practical? i don't [personally] believe so. i admire those who can purchase for just one quilt at a time, and then work only on that one quilt until it's finished. my theory is that i'd save a lot of money and space if i did that.

i am currently attempting to at least limit myself to one project i can work on using my small machine (for the times my group is meeting to work on projects) and only one at a time for which i need one of my bigger, fancier machines.

wish me luck. lol

I'm usually working on 2-3 projects at one time. Reason is I get bored easily doing the same thing over and over so by working on various steps of each project I'm not borded. Also sometimes I just need a break from one project to another. I've been trying to finish my UFOs this year and I've completed up to the quilting part on 4 just this past week. Now I'm working on one I started 2 years ago. Reason why I stopped was I couldn't decide how to finish the corners as right now its a hexagon shape. Had to reread the instructions numerous times before it finally sunk into my dull brain. Then once I got the sections done I wasn't sure I did them right so stuck the body of the quilt back up on the design wall putting a couple of the side sections around it to see if it looks right. I like to get another's opinion so I usually wait for my sister to show up on Fridays to give me her opinion if it looks correct. Well this week she was sick and today the weather turned to crap so will have to wait yet another week. So I'm working on getting 3 projects ready for the quilt retreat I'll be attending in March. So I'm not idle, still working on something plus I have 2 more UFOs to finish up but need my design wall to arrange the blocks so they're sitting idle till then.

I used to have UFOs piled up in the closet. I didn't want to quilt anything new because I became overwhelmed having those UFOs taking up space. Then I decided no more new projects until the UFOs were finished. I stuck to it and got all finished. Then I felt the same way because now I had a closet full of quilts. I gave up quilting for a year and sold most of finished ones throughout that year. Then I donated the few leftover ones and got back in the quilting groove. I do now have one WIP pieced but not assembled and a finished quilt sandwiched ready to practice FMQ. It feels so good to have my quilting mojo back.

I like to finish one before I start the next one. Only exception is when I need a quilt quickly. Baby quilts or chemo quilts usually fall into that category. Then, I go back to the one I’ve been working on. I like my sewing room to be a little bit organized. With our last move I also gave away most of my stash (17 bags!) to a friend who’s in a group that quilts for folks in a homeless shelter. Now I buy with a project in mind. Most of my quilty friends, however, seem to prefer organized chaos! So whatever keeps you sane and sewing is a good thing. Enjoy!

I usually start and finish one quilt at a time but right now have a couple WIPs, mostly because Bonnie Hunter's MQ came out and I started that before I finished something else. However, I don't buy fabric for a quilt and then sew it. I have an enormous stash. I can't imagine seeing all the amazing fabrics that come out and then just buying enough to make my next quilt. Maybe I'll gt there someday but it's not looking good.

I am a little mix of both here ha ha I try to work on only one at a time and get it finished - - but there are also times when a get a new project idea in my head and I can't wait to start on it. So then I will be working on a couple at at time. There are also times when I sort of get tired of the project that I am working on (especially the big projects) so I have a second one to go to and get a break......

do whatever you want to do there is no really wrong way

Moira, I answered your question in another thread. I'll try to find it.

Here it is: :)
https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...quote_icon.png Originally Posted by Moira in N.E. England https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...post-right.png
I’m not being cheeky -just curious - but I often read about experienced quilters having a number of UFOs and WIPs.
So why do quilters make a number of tops? Why not just make one and complete it before starting another?
Is this a better way to work or just personal preference?
Thank you.



Moira, for me there are a number of factors since I always seem to have too many finished tops. I'm a hand quilter but learning FMQ and sometimes it's just too daunting to think about so I send it out to a longarmer.
Another reason is I sometimes get bored working on only one thing at a time.
Then there are the tops I was excited to start but ended up not liking too much :D

I love the term "cheeky". The British have such wonderful adjectives, nouns, and expressions!!! And it took me years to figure out that cushion means pillow :D

Currently my UFO's consist of several tops that need to be sandwiched and quilted. Thus far I have been a hand quilter exclusively. Most of my UFO's are because I can't figure out a quilting pattern for the given quilt.

I have one king quilt that I just finished sandwiching a couple of days ago and will start hand quilting it soon. It's a gift for BIL/SIL. I have 2 quilts of a friend that I need to bind. One now just hand sewing the the back; the other prep binding; sew that on. I have one more top to complete for her as well. She's no longer able to sew/quilt and these are for her family members.

I really need to learn to machine quilt so I can get the UFO's finished.

I work on more than one at a time. I do several different things. I appliqué by hand and I take my time because if I get tired I get in a hurry and make a mess. I machine piece most of my quilt tops and I take breaks again when I am sick of making so many blocks alike. For a quick break I make a mini quilt which I can finish in just a day or so. I hand sew in the evening and machine sew during the day. Everything finally gets done. Big quilts go to a LA quilter. I have 3 out now and will bind them when I get them home. I consider these WIP’s and not UFO’s. My U FO’s are in kit form! When I see a quilt I just have to make I put the fabrics from my stash together for it. I keep those in clear plastic zipper bags with the pattern. I note if I need any add’l fabric.

We all do what works best for us and this is what has evolved for me. I am a widow and this hobby has kept me busy and I have met some really nice people who love textiles as much as I do.

I have a large stash of fabrics because I will be working on a quilt and I see something new that I want to try and the WIP gets put away. Therefore-I have a ton of UFO's and I really need to buckle down and finish them. You are very smart to get the fabric, pattern and finish the quilt before you start on something else. Wish I could do that!!

I only wish that I could work on one thing at a time. I have many items that have been waiting a long time to get finished. I recently gave away two of them because I had completely lost interest. If you can avoid UFO's, you are much more lucky than me. :)

Lots of reasons for my UFOs and WIPs: When I was working, I often did not have the "bandwidth" to deal with the hassle of putting on borders, piecing a back, and figuring out how to quilt the top; but the cutting and piecing of the blocks was therapeutic. Sometimes, a deadline for a new project means having to set another aside; for instance, I have two weddings this years for which I want to gift quilts. Sometimes I'll choose to do a new, small project before tackling finishing a larger project - just for the faster satisfaction of a completion. Finally, now that I have retired and purchased a mid-arm, I want to get more practice by quilting donation quilts before I finish some of my own or gift quilts.

Moira, I also answered your question in another thread. Here's a brief summary of that one:

I have come to realize that my creative process involves a lot of experimentation and play, so I am always working on multiple projects at once. Sometimes I have lots of WIPs because I've committed to provide new pieces for shows, sometimes I have a lot because I'm in the process of trying new techniques and making samples to decide whether new techniques, materials or threads are something I want to incorporate into a larger piece. And I have multiple machines so I can leave them set up to work on different things as the mood suits, or as a deadline calls. I also use some techniques (like fabric painting) that require drying time so it makes sense for me to have other things I can work on while a piece is drying.

I also always have and always will have UFOs. Most of these are things that I got started on and either got to a place where I just couldn't figure out where I wanted to go with them- maybe I couldn't decide if I wanted a border, or what kind of border, maybe I couldn't decide if I wanted to do some surface design work on them, etc. These get set aside and I let them percolate in my subconscious (similar to being forgotten about) for a while (like maybe years, sometimes:D) before I hit on a solution. I also have a few UFOs that are partially pieced tops designed by other people where I just got really bored doing the piecing and couldn't make myself finish- my Bonnie Hunter ORL - the mystery from last year is a prime example of this and I don't intend to work on finishing the piecing any time soon- though it will eventually get done- probably several years from now :eek:.

Rob

I didn't think I had a lot of WIP's/UFO until I started shopping my stash for my current project. I have my farmers wife. I came across a Xmas wreath HST about half done. A small set of herons, and sandhill cranes about 2/3's done, and what appears to be two different projects, bagged and blocks of various sizes cut. Unfortunately, there is no pattern in either bag, and my memory is a bit cloudy on "What was I thinking!!". I found a Halloween wall-hanging I should finish. I found three bagged and ready to go projects. My story is that I"m limited to working in my dining room. That means I pack everything up every time we have anyone over, which is once or twice a month. I also get bored/distracted easily. Show me a "shiny bauble" and I'm off working on a different project. I don't have the intensity that many quilters here on the board have. I also have other hobbies I do. Family, grandkids, friends, committees, health issues all get in the way. I think I spend a lot of time working on my projects, I just don't seem to get much done!

I read Don Asslett's book, "Is There Life After Housework?" and he says having several things going at the same time is a good way to get things done. You work one one thing until you need a break from it, then go to the next, and the next... Then when you come back to the first project, you're fresh and ready to do it again.

I decided (about 20 years ago) to catalog all of my started projects. I had 75 and decided I was sick and had to change my ways. LOL!

Now, all I get done are samples for the store. I think I have 4, and just brought another one home today, so 5.

I often start something because the pattern is appealing or the fabrics are cute. A lot of times I don’t have a certain person in mind for a project or any particular deadline for finishing. That leads to multiple projects going at the same time because things get started, I get bored with it, it’s not as fun as I thought it would be, something new catches my eye, or something seems beyond my current capability. So on I go to something else. It’s been my style since I started quilting. It used to really bother me to have so many unfinished things, but now I just want to do what makes me happy. Some eventually get finished. And if I suddenly need a gift, one might get finished as a gift.

I like having a few WIPs, (which are completely different from UFOs). They are usually at different stages, or they are different techniques. I cannot imagine just working on one project at a time, start to finish.

My WIPs always include several projects to work on by machine--one that is being quilted, one being pieced and a Leader/Ender project. My L/E is usually stitching crumbs or scrappy 4Ps with no particular plan in mind. Now that I have an embroidery machine, I might add another project I can set to work when I am doing something else in the same room.There might also be a BOM or mystery quilt in the works, but other than the 365 challenge, I am trying to avoid those until the UFOs are under control.

I also have a "quiet -time" project I can do by hand (quilting or applique) if my hand is cooperating and I want to just sit quietly in front of the TV.

In addition, I have "on the go" projects in a bag that I can just pick up and leave the house with. I keep my handstitching supplies, patterns and fabrics for a few blocks and in the bag. Right now, it is a Dear Jane Quilt, which is my long term project that I am hand piecing and hand quilting. It's great to have something to keep me busy while I sit in the waiting room when I take my mother to the doctor.

I take a no-sew day every week, where I clean up my sewing area, cut scraps and decide what my WIPs for the week will be. Sometimes they stay the same, but if I am at roadblock on a particular project, it gives me "permission" to set it aside in favor of something else. Sometimes my WIPs overlap--my stack of crumb blocks was getting tall, so this week my crumbs are my L/E and my piecing block. Last week, my go-bag project was also my "quiet-time" project.

I guess it is a lot of projects to work on at one time, but having a plan is helping me make progress on my UFOs and keeping me from starting new projects.

I have way too many UFOs on my plate, way too much fabric accumulated over the years. One of the best tips I have learned over the years that I could pass on to new quilters is to buy what you need for each project as you start. Over twenty years of collecting and my style and likes have changed over the years and I don't even like a lot of my stash anymore.

Go slow, Buy what you love and use it rather than accumulate it.

peace

I usually have two WIPs, one that I take to sewing group which is usually a scrappy project that allows me to visit with friends and something more challenging to work on at home that requires to be in the zone. That way there is always room to squeeze in a simple project like placemats or a baby quilt when needed.

I am pretty diligent about not having UFO’s. I had one a few of years ago that carried over for nearly two years. My son had chosen the pattern Tumbling Blocks and batiks for it but it was more of an intermediate project which I was not ready for. I finally worked my way through it and ever since then I have been pretty disciplined.

I do have several UFO and WIP, although I have chipped away my UFOs the past 2 years, I guess I need to work on different projects since I like to machine and also hand quilt and I get easily bored.

I do only one project at a time, too -- in theory, anyway. I have far too many large unquilted tops because quilting of very large projects is difficult to impossible, due to lack of space and equipment.

It's OCD, I think, that drives me to work like this, and I also don't have a dedicated sewing room. But I may have many more projects in my head while working on the current one. I can see that cutting and/or sewing several projects at once could be efficient, especially if you chain sewed strips or pieces. But that would be too assembly line for me, I think, and I wouldn't enjoy it. I want a beginning, middle, and end to everything I do -- well, with the exception of the actual quilting, which does lag behind, as I said.

Thank you for all your informative messages - I’ve enjoyed reading them!

Yes, the same word can mean different things in different countries.
In the UK a cushion goes on a seat or sofa, a pillow goes on a bed!

When I first started quilting I vowed (sort of) to not start on another project until I had the one I was working on finished. The lady that got me into machine quilting had lots of tops made but they just hung around like that....tops only. My thought was why make tops if you never complete them. I have had to put aside something I'm working on if I needed to whip out a baby quilt or wedding gift in the middle of my incomplete project. Right now I have only one WIP which is blocks for a king size quilt for our bed. I do put that on the back burner since it's been going on for about 3 years now. It is my 2019 goal to get it finished this year but if a gift is needed in the meantime I will set it aside for making the gift.

This was an interesting topic to see discussion on. I belong to a wonderful and active quilt guild that meets every Tuesday....and a wonderful and active sewing/quilting group that meets every Monday. In each group we do some kind of BOM, so I always have two of those going slowly over a year's time. In guild, we have what we call a Blottery: someone demonstrates a block that each of us makes in a given color scheme to bring back the following month. However many blocks collected are divided into what could make a quilt of some size or even a table runner. Everyone puts her name in a drawing once for each block they contributed. Then, names are drawn for winners of block stacks to make whatever they wish. I have won blocks twice in the past year, but haven't completed a project from them yet. Additionally, at guild, we offer lots of classes either given by a member or by a guest teacher. I nearly always sign up for the classes, and they add to my WIP/UFOs. But, you just can't pass up the opportunity to take a class being taught by Bonnie Hunter, Karen Kay Buckley, Karen Combs, Susan Cleveland, and more. We have great teachers come in!! The projects I started with each of them is ongoing. Bottom line is that I have many, many, many projects in the works, and more stash than I deserve. Thankfully, I do have a dedicated sewing room with several machines including a 10' longarm and a new embroidery machine. The room is absolutely happy chaos!!

I do one quilt at a time. However, I do buy fabric for my "next" quilt while before I'm done quilting the current one. Of course, this leads to a huge stack of fabric of "quilts in waiting" which is my downfall.

I think more than one or maybe two projects going at the same time is too distracting and this is what causes these projects to become UFO's. I normally work on one thing at a time. I can focus on what I thinking about trying/doing next. If I have too many "things" laying out to be worked on, I spend the majority of my time jumping from one to another and therefore, get nothing done.

The only reason I start something new before finishing a current project is because I have taken a class. When I take classes it is because I want to learn a technique. If I do not continue with the class project, to make a completed quilt, that does not qualify as a UFO. It is learning the technique.

If the technique that I have learned is something I want to continue, that is when I have two projects going at the same time and I need to finish the first project before I continue with the new. This keeps me from building up UFO's. And I have the satisfaction of completion.

I do not have what I consider UFO's. I have many, many quilt tops to quilt. The majority of these are vintage that I have bought or "acquired". I do not consider anything that I have purchased, but not started yet a UFO.

Keep working on one thing at a time and you will be happy.

I have one quilt on the go at any one time, and I finish it before starting another. I have a few random blocks mostly made from scrap pieces of fabric, and there will eventually be enough of these to make a quilt.
I can not justify buying loads of fabric for a 'large stash', it would make me feel ill. I make quilts from random but very pleasing, pieces of fabric bought in charity shops or repurposed. Very occasionally, I will buy anew piece of fabric for binding, or a border, if I cannot find anything to match from my box of treasures.
I like hand stitching, and I generally have something on the go, either red work, or traditional style embroidery.

Yes, pillows are for beds, cushions are for chairs; different shapes too :)

Oh the good life of quilters! We each have our own drummers beating a different beat. I have UFO's and WIP's. It's such a rush to start a new project, and it's so satisfiying to finish one. Mostly the ones that take more time and become UFO's are a little more difficult, learning a new method, taking a class, or mystery quilts. I am not fast at anything I do. But it is done well and with dedication. Everything I have ever started is completed no matter where the timeframe begins or ends. One thing that has increased the UFO's are leaders and enders. Such a good thing too because those little scraps eventually become a quilt. My stash has increased by all of the quilting of large projects. I am not about to toss the scraps aside and they in turn become usable as leaders and enders and scrappy quilting projects. Isn't it great that one size does not fit all of us. Together we learn and be who we are one piece at a time. Be it personal or quilting large or small projects. Love all of it and those who make up this quiltingboard!

Rhonda Lee...I totally agree, we all beat to a different drum, we are all wired differently. Ellen1, I work similarly as you...too many projects would make me anxious and I know I wouldn’t be as productive.
JanBech, I want to be in your quilting circle. It sounds like you have has some wonderful quilting experiences.

I have followed this thread since it started because it's interesting and it has given me insight into my own quilting habits. It does show how each of us are unique in our habits. I have come to realize that my style tends to be multiple quilts at one time, the pictures I posted in December of the Christmas fabric lap quilts, I had purchased all the fabric at various times over the year, and I kept making quilts until all the fabric was used up. I am currently working in the same manner, will have 7 quilts when I'm done, including two that are scrap quilts from the left overs. To conclude I find a fabric or theme, buy coordinates over time, then when a pattern or technique inspires me I make quilts and use it all up. I work on individual projects in between the batch projects, such as using up scraps, bags, wall hangings, table runners, paper piecing, ect......

You are describing me! Baubles come up every day on my computer, and I always have the very best intentions. . .

When I had a long arm business, I would start a new project if I didn't have any customer quilts to complete. Then here would come a few quilts to complete for others and I would put that project aside. Slack time....start a new project. Start a Block of the Month at the local quilt shop. When you finish the twelve blocks and get the setting kit, there is no rush to finish. Pick up one of my UFOs, here comes someone with the statement, "Can you do a quilt for a benefit auction?" So, I have made a three lists of twelve projects each, including benefit quilts to do during the year. And yes, I work better if I am working on two or more projects on a rotating basis as I get tired of the process, but love the finished product.

always have WIP and UFOs however a member of my sewing group challenged everyone to fnish some Yeah for me 8 done and gifted So happy---still have more