What Is My Problem ?!?
 

Does anyone have this problem? I make All sorts of plans to make quilts and wall hangings for various people as gifts. I buy the patterns and fabric and notions. I often start and maybe get half way done, then I put the projects away (even for years!!!) and never complete them! I don 't know if I lose interest or it is too complicated or the deadline is past! I do know that I don't have a lot of free time, and I really haven't had a sewing room to leave projects out. I have a friend that told me that I chose difficult things to work on (and I am somewhat of a beginner). I am better at completing crocheted projects. I am So discouraged with myself, as each week I say to myself, I am going to work on such and such, then I procrastinate and avoid it. Have any of you done this? If so, any advice? Thanks So much!

I have no advice at the moment except to say that you are not alone......

Just a thought...it sounds to me like you enjoy crochet more than you actually enjoy sewing/quilting.

Sweet, your comment made me chuckle! It is good to know I am not alone!

Slbram, you are probably right about maybe I like crocheting better. I am more confident with it , and it usually is 't such a huge project. But, I am So drawn to quilting. I will need to analyze it more. Thanks for your insight.

Try this. don't start another project until you finish one. Make a list and put a finished date which is a goal. Give yourself realistic time and see how you can accomplish this. As you finish on ufo put it in a bag and keep for a gift at xmas or Birthday for who you want to have this. Take a picture and look at your acomplishments often. Good Luck!!!!:thumbup:

Quit procrastinating....
Work on it for even as little as 10 minutes... press your fabric or pieces, separate them... then walk away...
A bit done today is better than nothing....
Kirsten

I don't know how "experienced" you are in quilting, but maybe your friend is right in the fact that you have a tendency to pick patterns too difficult for your experience. How about trying an easier pattern, if you can sew 15 minutes a day, you'll be amazed at how soon you'll get it done. If you could manage to find a space to have a "sewing area", it's sooooooooo very helpful, particularly if you have to pick everything up until the next time. If I had to do that, I would never get any sewing done, period. Another suggestion is whatever pattern you pick, maybe pick a smaller finished size.

I was like that for a long time.

It was hard for me to keep going because I didn't have a dedicated sewing space and I used to have major difficulty with leaving the sewing machine up on the dinner table and stringing things about while working on them.

I got sick of not doing anything productive besides cooking, cleaning and fixing stuff.

Life is too short.

I finally had to jettison the old OCD, get over it and get busy!

I'm much happier now and so what if the Singer is out on the dinner table all the time as long as we can work around it easily.

Oh the wasted years I spent worrying about the little things that don't matter!

I could have done so much more...

SMH

Start small. Make some pillows or potholders or something to ease back into it.

It's only a problem if you think it's a problem. Deadlines are artificial, so unless someone you want to gift with a quilt is near the end of life or the gift is for an infant, don't worry about the deadline.

Project choice is a bigger issue. If time and space are limited, try choosing less complicated quilts. My sister always goes for the complicated quilts, and has a stack of UFO's as a result. I, on the other hand, am impatient and won't devote the time and effort required for complicated or intricate patterns. And I still wind up with UFO's! Luckily, neither of us is a neat-nut, so neither of us really care about the mess.

Crocheting is, in my opinion, more relaxing than sewing and has the benefit of allowing you to watch TV while you crochet. I had to stop crocheting because of fibro, arthritis and tendonitis, and I do miss it.

In any case, don't feel forced to choose between crocheting and quilting. Do what makes you happiest and enjoy it. Otherwise, what is the point of either hobby?

Perhaps when you begin sewing after a long day at work you are too tired to register new concepts. Plan to do only 30 mins each day or every other day and reward yourself with your crocheting after.
i love knitting and crochet as well as hand embriodery on applique plus quilting.
i mix and match in timed sections I feel very productive and don't have any undoing which to me is soul destroying with any craft.

Everyone has good advice here. As a new quilter myself I have also found the finding and starting of a new project is more fun than the mid point. About 1/2 way I have to break the goals down to smaller steps...getting 4 blocks done, get one line of blocks together, things like that. I have been choosing progessively easier projects, and it has also helped me learn what I like to make. I highly recommend jelly roll quilts. There are some great patterns out there for them, and they tend to be fast and forgiving of beginner skills.
(and the UFOs will later be surprise gifts, try to let go of the idea of those deadlines. Deadlines are for work, quilting is for fun)

Life is way too short to waste time on a project that is not interesting you right now. I would pack them up in a way that I could easily identify them.
I love starting new things, maybe that is my hobby, lol. I do have days where I feel like working on different things though and then out comes that old project that I feel like working on again.
If you think you are picking projects that are too difficult you might want to look for smaller projects that you really like so you can learn the techniques before you become frustrated with them.

I don't know if reading this post will help, but it gave me a new perspective.



http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...r-t262604.html

Possibly you're crocheted so much that it's become a habit, integrated into your life, but sewing hasn't (yet). Or possibly you just don't enjoy sewing as much (I know, this is sounding completely unhelpful so far). Maybe a useful question would be, when you do sit down and sew, are you enjoying it? If you enjoy parts of it, which parts? Is there a way to structure your projects so that you're doing more of the parts that you enjoy? Some people only make the quilt tops and hire out to quilt them, for example.

If you enjoy it when you do it, then forcing yourself to do it might be a good thing to turn it into a habit, and then you'll have less problem with not finishing projects (although almost everyone does this - that's why we have the acronym UFO!) If you're not enjoying it while you're doing it, then: If the above isn't helpful, maybe this will be: I bought a Christmas tree skirt kit (one of those things with felt and sequins) in 1992 and got it about 2/3's done and haven't finished it.

I still swear I am going to finish it some day. Too bad I don't get a Christmas tree any more.

Oh dear, right after I posted I realized how my post above looked. When I said, "If the above isn't helpful," I meant what I wrote, not the quote I included from cathyvv. I included that quote because I thought it was great. Sorry if I looked like I was being rude, it was unintentional. Sorry Cathy!

It's hard to make items for other people especially with a timeline. I would try sewing something for yourself and your home first. Then see if you want to start on anything else. I always have an easier time if I give a gift I have already completed.

I run into this issue. Sometimes I make myself a list of UFO's in order of quickest/easiest to finish to hardest. This gives me a reminder of what I want to accomplish and try to put just a little time into it. Once I get started at the machine, I actually get more done than planned. :thumbup: I never do make it thru the whole list before another project catches my eye. But, at least I can say I do get some work done on previous quilts.

Lots of great advice here ... and one other tip:

I find I can move along a lot faster when ALL my fabrics are cut and ready to sew.

So I do everything in stages. Also, I LOVE hockey, so have to set everything aside to either watch my team or attend the game!

Here's an example: (I say days, it could be steps, depending on how much time you have)

Day 1 - figure out what quilt you want to make - that's it you're done
Day 2 - go through stash and pull out what you already have, make a list for what you need
Day 3 - buy all your fabic / threads
Day 4 - wash / iron all your fabrics (OK, I don't pre-wash, but I definitely press them all!)
Day 5 - cut them all up
Day 6 - spend some time studying the pattern and figuring out the BEST / MOST efficient way of sewing the blocks together - I betcha $100 you can chain piece most of it!
Day 7 - chain piece as much as you can without getting confused LOL
Day 8 - press all your pieces, and start sewing again
Day 9 - ??? - keeping doing the above day until they are all sewin into blocks


Does this make sense? I think you are overwhelming yourself so it makes it not as fun ... and there's nothing worse than having your new hobby become a nightmare.

And you are going to make mistakes, and you're going to toss out a quilt top or two (or three or four) - or give them to the cats / dogs LOL ... we all do it ...

Good luck

I have that same problem which I have created because I start something and then I see something different that catches my eye and there I go into a different direction. This year my goal is to complete one of my pending projects before I start something new. My UFO stack has decreased a little ( very little ) but I still have a long way to go. LOL

When I started my WIP I had no idea what I was going to do. I'm not good at planning everything in advance I just kind of figure it out as I go along.

My WIP was a Dresden Plate kit but the only thing included was the DP pieces.

I'm terrible at estimating what I'll need. I either do too much or too little

Once I figure out what I'm making first thing I do is cut my fabric but just for blocks. Then I chain piece everything, quilt the blocks as I go and assemble the quilt. While I'm doing this ideas for finishing drift in. I can't have too much going on or it bugs me-I have to do everything in stages.

Now I'm working on the borders.

I can't prep and plan all at once. It's just too overwhelming. I picked up background and backing at the thrift store and went back later for border fabric. Three cream colored bedsheets for around five bucks.

Cut background squares appliqued DPs then assembled block sandwichs quilted those and assembled quilt

I try and do everything I can in an assembly line manner in stages.

That way I don't get overwhelmed

Maybe you need to step back a little and do some analysis on yourself. You say you don't know why you stop working on things....why not? When you put a project away, do you already secretly know you're not going to want to come back to it? Do you put it away with regret that you have to stop, or are you glad to stop and can't wait to get it out of your sight?

Have you EVER finished a quilting project? How did you feel when you finished it? Were you glad to be done? Did you feel proud of your creation? Did you feel a little sad that the project was over? Did you hate to see it leave you? Maybe there's something about finishing a quilt and/or giving it away that makes you melancholy and you're subconsciously avoiding that feeling by not finishing them?

Do you work primarily from kits and patterns or do you do your own designing? Maybe the design phase is really what's fun for you and actually making the item isn't as thrilling. Maybe you're more of a designer than a maker? (I'm sort of like that.)

So there's some homework for you, LOL. YOU hold all the answers here, you just have to stop and observe yourself like an outsider would to figure it out. :)

But here's some good news - it's TOTALLY OK to just get rid of all your UFO's! Donate them somewhere; someone else will be happy to finish them and you'll be rid of these projects that seem to be weighing on you. And if you start to pull them out to donate and you find some that you just can't bring yourself to get rid of, maybe those are the ones you should start working on again; something about those projects in particular is calling to you.

Even if you're not ready to let go of any, try going through them as if you WERE going to get rid of all but one, and see which ONE is the most special or appealing to you and start with that one as your next project. :)

Good luck!

It's natural for the beginning of a project to feel more exciting than being halfway through. Some of the most immediate gratification comes at the beginning, when we're making decisions, choosing fabrics, spending money. The satisfaction that comes with working through a project is just as great, but not as immediate. So first of all, don't be down on yourself. It sounds like your really big problem is not having a dedicated sewing space. It wastes so much time and energy when you have to put projects away, and then get them going again. So I would suggest, focus on one project -- create a sewing space, where you can leave a project out until it's finished. I also second the suggestion that you might try working on something that isn't designated for a particular person or event, and see if that affects your attitude about finishing it.

When I was quilting professionally, I had NO time to work on my quilts or charity projects. If you enjoy doing your crocheting, then take time away from quilting and enjoy that hobby. If there is something that you KNOW you will never finish, give it to someone who may enjoy finishing up the project. Being disable, I don't make any larger quilt anymore. I am doing mostly laps and baby quilts for charity and some wall hanging for myself and friends. Take a vacation from quilting and when the time is right, try finishing up just one UFO. You may be choosing projects that may be too complicated for you.

For me it wasn't the size or difficulty of a project that was the problem. It was that I made it too hard on myself.

I found I needed certain things in order to enjoy the process.

- a dedicated sewing place or at least the ease of setting one up and being able to leave it for a few hours. Also, when my kids were younger I had to be able to monitor them without difficulty while also sewing/quilting, even if that meant the kitchen/dinning table. Heaven was when I finally bought a cabinet where I could lower my sewing machine and keep it off the great room!
- a comfortable chair at the right height and padding.
- good light.

Those were the needs, besides time. I used the old 10-20-30 Minutes to get going if time was a concern. There are lots of things I can do that don't take huge amounts of time but will advance whatever project I am working on: preparing the process by knowing the directions and rewriting them if necessary; possibly making a trial block if I feel it would help my process; and prewashing, ironing, and sorting fabric.

I DO NOT cut out all my material at once. This makes the project seem daunting. It does get boring too quickly that way. I have committed to a certain size as far as the material goes. I only cut enough for 10 or less blocks. To me that means I get the wonder of making the project quite a few times and my interest doesn't lag.

Yes, I do have some quilt tops that I haven't quilted yet. I try to do that when I have a larger span of time.

Those projects that I don't really enjoy I do donate to one of my quilt groups/guilds for charity quilts.

Each of us is different. For me, as my skill level increased so did my enjoyment of quilting. I am more than glad I took the time to challenge myself and learn more. The journey is really enjoyable.

This is the reason I have so many UFO's. Having said that, I do finish many projects. I used to feel bad about not completing every little thing. Now, I tell myself that I have NOT wasted fabric, I have started something for someone else. Don't stress over it. Go through them and see if one does not strike your eyes, and maybe you will finish that one. As someone else said, give yourself a realistic deadline.

When I started quilting I decided I wouldn't start a new project unless I had finished the last as I have so many knitting ufos I didn't want to repeat it with a new hobby. Problem is my friend and I started a class project neither of us liked, she has started new things, but I've just stalled 3/4 of the way through hand quilting mine. She found the answer recently though, she promised the quilt to a charity raffle, they were so excited and asked her how it was going all the time so within two weeks it was a done and she said it felt like a weight lifted it had left the house.

I'm back reading threads here to motivate myself to finish the thing, thankfully when I dragged it out I was further along than I thought and it didn't look as bad as I remembered, I might like it by the time I've finished it!

You are not alone -- me, too -- but most of my projects get done like the Christmas gifts and the rows/blocks for my bee -- but I seem to accomplish very little despite all my plans and desire to get them done unlike some in my bee that seem to get a new quilt done each time we meet!! -- a little at a time seems to help some, but....

Been there, done that. I realized just yesterday that it has been close to a whole year since I used my quilt machine. Got lots of tops done but not quilted. Now I'm on a timeline so can't waste anymore time. I do find out that I seem to work better under stress though. Finally finished my 1st quilt top yesterday so on to the next one and getting it quilted. Already have 2 projects waiting in the side lines but told myself I can't start them till I get all the tops needing quilting quilted, bound and out of the house. All my quilts are made as gifts for others so its not like its a job for me but more like a hobby................expensive hobby I might add with the price of fabric and thread going upward.

I make lists for the 5 projects I work on. This way I know exactly what needs to be done next on any given project. The supplies and directions for each project are kept together so I don't have to search. I have new projects on my list, along with projects I need to finish. It is the best of both worlds. I complete a UFO and still get to try something new! My projects are in varying stages so if I'm in the mood for piecing I pick that project, if I want to do handwork I pick that project. Crossing each line off a to-do list is extremely satisfying. It is difficult to stay focused when you have a limited amount of time to spend sewing. I had the same issue when I was working -- now that I'm retired I'm finishing a lot of those projects.

Sometimes I use lists too.

Earlier hand quilting was mentioned. I used to be a purist and believed everything should be done by hand. Guess I read too many Little House on the Prairie books. :-)

If you guys can do hand quilting, more power to you!

For me it's a major drag and I hate every minute of it.

I'm much happier doing everything possible by machine.

I think we expend a lot of energy thinking about it. I can speak from experience. Just this week, things have finally settled down and I am finishing up binding and doing little things. Get great feeling of accomplishment and things are finally getting done. When thinking about it, do something. As was mentioned, a little becomes a lot.

When I first started to quilt (yrs ago )I did not have much time either, by the end of the day something like crocheting was about all I could do, put your feet up and watch TV with the family.
I finally put my quilting on the back burner until I had more time and space for myself. I kept the started quilts that meant the most to me, found a new home for the rest.
When the time was right, several yrs ago, I came back to quilting and I'm truly loving every part and getting my projects done.
So maybe quilting is something you will truly enjoy abit later when you have more time.
For now make a quilt pattern collection of things you want to do. Like a Bride's book:D
Wait to buy the fabric, colors and prints do change

I just try to spend at least 10 minutes each day working on a project that is a victim of procrastination. Once I pick up on an old project, after a few days I find myself getting motivated to finish it.

One thing I've never promised anything to anyone and they don't know I have works/ideas in progress. I have asked favorite colors and thanks to Facebook I am able to figure out their likes and dislikes. Even with a sewing room, it is not unusual to walk in and walk right back out just because "not today".

I have 18 UFOs, at least 7 of them are for events that have come and gone. Yes, I have the same issue and sorry, I have no solution (yet).

Sometimes I feel like changing my commentary from "I am a quilter" to "I am a wannabe quilter who talks a good game."

Now that I've reached the ripe old age of fifty I've come to realize I have much more patience and perseverance.

I think a lot of the time it's simply a fear of failure that keeps us, me at least, from going further with a project. You think of all the ways something can go wrong and forget to focus on it going right. It either becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy or you paralyze yourself with the fear of failure and stop working on it altogether. Can't fail if you don't go any further, right?

A couple years ago I decided that I wasn't going to allow that to stand in my way any longer and so I gave myself permission to fail with no guilt attached. The immediate result was that I was far more relaxed both mentally and physically when I was quilting and that made my work so much better. I've since learned that some quilts are just not meant to be finished, ever, by anyone, but those quilts are some of the best teaching tools that I have ever had.

Switching to a more positive outlook has worked out really well for me and I no longer live by the "If you spend enough time planning, you never have to actually do anything" rule...at least when it comes to quilting. :)

After I retired last year, I reorganized my quilting room and found kits and ufo's I started years ago. I used to get overwhelmed and not be able to start or finish anything. I decided to only finish those I like and get rid of the others. Now if I start a new project, I will finish an older one that I like. I found an Americana type that I bought and started in 2009. I really like it so am working on it and quilting my granddaughters big girl quilt on another machine.