Why so many UFOs?
 

1. Is it because we'd rather piece than quilt?
2. Deciding how to quit it is difficult?
3. Saving up to quilt by check or credit card?
4. Enjoy the piecing better than quilting? (Oops...same as #1?)
5. Not happy with finished pattern?
6. Or all of the above?

For me it's all of the above.

Oh, my Julienm1, you are in my head and watching over my shoulder in my sewing room. I seldom, very seldom don't like the finished pattern but all of the others apply. Over time, I have discovered that I love, love, love the process of creating the quilt top. Finding the colors I want and then conquering the puzzle of following directions to create a block and then a finished top.

I do not like layering so much, but #2, deciding how to quilt the top, is where my progress slows down to a snail's pace. I guess this just shows that I am a bit insecure about putting need down and starting quilting the sandwich. Time to "get over it" and start trying some new quilting techniques and get my UFOs out of my closet and into the hands of some other folks.https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/smile.png

Oh forgot to add: Hating to create the sandwich. I really hate to baste, even glue basting even though that is SO much faster than pin basting.

I was just looking at the Challenges and one was the UFO challenge and I was thinking the same thing, why do folks have some many unfinished projects? I don't. I have 3 that need quilted on my longarm and my DH was redoing that room and although I could still use the machine, there aren't really any walls or at least insulated walls and I would freeze although that might make me quilt faster.

I do have lots of fabric and I buy more not for specific projects but I'm getting close to retirement age and I fear I won't have extra money to buy so I buy now. But there is always the thought in my head that what if I die, where will this fabric go? To a dumpster or someone using that bolt of fabric as a paint drop cloth. My goal will be to buy less. As for unfinished projects, I always think the same: how much did this cost me, how much time have I invested and how sad I would be if it was unfinished and got thrown away after I was gone. No one would ever throw away a quilt, perfect or imperfect. At least I don't think.

Think of the ultimate goal and don't start something new until you finish what you started. :) Good luck ladies.

Have no excuse for it, but it just took me 3 days to get the backing, batting and top sandwiched (using glue) for a 40 x 40 quilt that had only taken me less than a week to make, so I guess I'll say #1 and this is #7.

Mine is because I hate sandwiching. I do it sometimes but usually wait for my daughter to visit and she sandwiches them for me besides really straightening up the sewing room and deciding which fabrics she will take home with her. Sometimes she takes some of the tops home to finish. My real problem is having 16 cubic feet of stuff and trying to fit it into 10 cubic feet of space.

for me...it is...oh...that is cool....and I am off on a new project before finishing the last one....actually, I do like having a number in progress at that same time....so I bounce (well not really bouncing anymore...getting up there in age) from gathering the "supplies" for the next project, working on the current one, maybe throwing something on the longarm, getting a small project going to work on when I have a snippet of time. Currently, I probably have a 5-6 tops getting ready to quilt on...some have the backings prepared, some even have the bindings prepared, oh and a couple are almost pieced....and I stopped everything to work on the Bonnie hunter mystery...oh...I worked for years as a nurse and a inspector where I had to be ready to go inspect at a moments notice....so I never seemed to be able to completely finish any task I was doing....so it is what I am used to...ummm....seems to me that raising kids is like that....start a task...get interrupted finally get back to that task, sometimes sooner,,,but mostly later.

Is it a UFO if you didn't even finish making the blocks?

My recent UFO is because of the pattern. There were 14 fabrics and 16 pages of instructions. Each page had multiple blocks to make. I sourced all the fabrics and proceeded to number each one to keep them straight. I even purchased dies to make the cutting easier for some blocks.

Even with careful cutting and piecing, some blocks are still not coming out to size. They will have to re-done. At this point in life, I'm not interested in frustrations.

Another set of instructions (same vendor) were lacking with instructions on the finishing technique. I managed to finish it my own way.

There is certainly a way to write and "not to write" patterns. I'm putting the blame on the instructions.

The reason I have UFO's is because I taught block of the month classes for 11 years. By the time the year was over, it was time to start a new class. Even though I had blocks made, I didn't have time to put them together because I was teaching and running my business.

I have to say "all of the above" but the main reason for me ( I think) is that I'm a better piecer than quilter.

I will say though, that with Covid I took the time to practice and my machine quilting is looking better these days. Sometimes I feel like I have ADD when it comes to quiltmaking. I have too many projects going at once and then I see another one etc etc etc. The only time I don't have ADD is when I'm making something for my baby granddaughter.

I'm on Day 7 of my sewing room cleanup. I hope today is the last day. I found 10 tops. Some are about 5 or 6 years old and I don't like a few of them anymore. I always say I've never seen a quilt I didn't like but when I make them it's not the case LOL

One more thing- I detest basting the quilt, no matter what method. If I could find someone to baste my sandwiches I'd be a happy girl,

I only have a few UFOs but it's still more than I like. For me, the biggest factor is, by far and away, is that the most fun part of the process is the planning, designing, selecting fabrics and most of the piecing. The end of creating the quilt top, such as putting on set-in squares or triangles and adding borders is not as fun, but I'm pretty good at pushing through that. The remaining steps - deciding on quilting design, making a quilt sandwich and actually doing the quilting are much less appealing, so it's easy to procrastinate on tackling them. It's much more fun to run with a new idea and start working on that. ("I'm not easily distracted, it's just ... oh look squirrel!" This describes me more than I like.)

I think it can be all of the above you listed, for me at least. Right now I am trying to finish up UFO's by using them as backings. makes them reversible!! So two birds with one stone...

You just gave me an idea!! Maybe now I can say I only have 5 of them haha

I pretty much like all the processes but don't like putting the backing, batting and top together getting it ready to quilt. I do my own FMQ on my domestic machine and enjoy that but not putting the pieces together.

Big quilts-1 and 3. Little/small/wall/doll/mini quilts -1

Quilting has a steeper learning curve than piecing, and it is physically hard work if you are moving a heavy quilt under a needle. I think for many people, piecing satisfies the creative urge, and different motivations are required to see a quilt to completion. Or in other words, many people find piecing to be fun and quilting to be a chore.

QuiltBaer, now that's a unique excuse!

I agree with everyone's comments. I also blame the "squirrel syndrome", we are easily distracted when we see something more wonderful than our current project. It's pretty easy to jump into that new project and leave that boring one behind!

I didn't realize that some of your reasons are mine too! Bored with current project and found something a lot more interesting should have been on the list.

Only excuse I can't lay claim to is Baer's. If there was a prize for best reason she would be a contender.

(Maybe there WILL be a prize! A box of MY UFO's beautifully packed and sent to your house. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/biggrin.pnghttps://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/biggrin.png)

I'd say the "squirrel syndrome" is my main problem too -

I own an LA, so don't really consider my floppies as UFO's. they're just waiting in line to be quilted. Though some have been in line a long time and keep getting bumped back.

I love the design phase, and sewing blocks to see how it's going to look with the colors I've selected, but once i get it far enough along so I've got that figured out, I often start loosing interest and it becomes tedious and I want a different challenge. I have way too many totes with with sets of blocks that need to be sashed and assembled, and that part I don't find "fun" so they sit.

Adding to the possibilities .......
7. They multiply when we are not looking! :)
8. QADD - (Quilter's ADD) - we get distracted with a new shiny object (aka pattern, design, idea)!!! :)

. If I don't like a UFO enough to finish it, I would never finish it out of guilt. That would be quilt misery for me. I get rid of it and forget it. I stay much happier quilting without guilt. LOL

For me, it's quite a bit of Quilters' ADD - ooh, shiny new project, I must start that right away!!
And a bit of preferring cutting and piecing over the other steps in the process.
And a bit of "hating to make the sandwich" - ugh, what a pain, trying to find space, keep it flat, and usually crawling around on my knees for a while.
And a bit of indecision in how to quilt it - exacerbated by the fact that I'm doing it on my little DSM; I don't have the luxury of a LA and can't really afford to send stuff out for quilting.

But then to offset that, I really look forward to having the quilt completed and in use...it's a fine balance!!https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/tongue.png

All of the above! I can't count how many UFO's I have right now. I have 9 quilt tops from this year alone. I did complete 3 quilts in 2020. But 9 more tops to add to the stack I have stored away. I have one that I keep pulling out to work on but just can't come to finish it and it is one of those "must finish" quilts. I have just come to a stalemate with it. I will eventually get it done just don't know when. Of course I am working on a table topper right now and just finished the blocks for it. This one will be quilted soon even if it is SITD. I am in love with this one. More about that later. Maybe 2021 will see many of the UFO's finished.

I'm impressed that so many of your UFOs are at the "assembled top" stage! Mine are scattered all along the spectrum from "idea that I haven't quite figured out" to I really should finish stitching down the binding".

I'm definitely in the squirrel syndrome group. I quilt for fun, so if a different project tickles my fancy, I switch. Quilting/sewing is the only aspect of my life where I would consider taking this much freedom, so it's interesting to step out of my comfort zone and make frivolous choices.

I am the oddball quilter. I don’t have much of a stash. I finish everything because I don’t start very many things. Future projects live in my head. I like all parts of the process. I don’t usually design my own quilts. My favorite part is the part I am weakest in - free motion quilting. I quilt for my own pleasure. I have made quilts for a few people that appreciate them. I have only made one quilt since august 2019 and that was for my son as we nursed him through his cancer battle which he lost on November 6th. He wanted that quilt. It makes me sad to look at it. I have something under my needle right now but am not very motivated. But, I know I will finish it.

I don't have any UFOS. I have containers to store finished quilts, not unfinished ones.

I like all aspects of quilt making including sandwiching them.

I sign up for too many Block of the Month. I download, I start, and before I know it, I am behind on that one, feeling guilty, put it aside, and there is always another sign up and I have started that one too. I need to learn how to say No. Looks like that goal should have started already for 2021. All these people have already told me I have signed up and I think I am behind. Some of the these block of the month, block of the week, just go on forever. I won't name names.

Before I moved, flimsies languished in my home. Once here, though, I began quilting with my friend & to my surprise, sandwiching with her is a blast, & she loves to quilt & bind! Piecing, not so much. It requires too much precision for her tastes. Planning & piecing are my favorite parts, & I'm having fun with FMQ & regular quilting. I do have 2 tops I'm currently working on, with one that I put away just prior to moving & I haven't had the will to pull it out to see where I was with it. I have a few in the planning stage, & 1 with all the fabric purchased. I don't have a definite pattern yet, just a nebulous idea. Not all are UFOs but I have them listed.

I think we need a t-shirt that will identify some of us that have "squirrel quilting syndrome"https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/biggrin.png

With me it’s th excitement to seeing a new pattern and or finding fabric I just love that fits a certain pattern I like and the excitement is such that I will pick up everything and put it away and then start the new quilt. One really important thing I have learned is to put the pattern in with it cause when I get to the quilt I put away it like my brain left and what pattern was this. With this being a new year I’m trying to quilt at least a quilt I have finished at least one or two a week I just finished three baby quilts as I was testing my new machine before going to customer quilts trying to learn the new features on my new machine. Some days my brain feels fried. Today is a new day and will continue working on a top I started in December. And put on a new top to quilt.

I’m so sorry for your loss...I can certainly understand why it would be difficult to find motivation.

I am an oddball too with a very small stash (which I keep tamed on purpose) and I don’t have any UFOs. I don’t make as many quilts as most are able to accomplish but I do put a lot of thought into the projects I choose and finish them. I try to have only two projects going at a time but I am going to add a third ...a t-shirt quilt for a dear friend who just lost her 36 year old son on Saturday.

I don't have any UFOs either, I get super stressed out when I leave something unfinished.

I pick #1 and #3 but probably all of the above pertains to me too

Why so many UFOs
 

Quickly, as someone who likes making the sandwich, please share your method. Maybe I hate that aspect of quilt making just because I haven't discovered the best method yet.

What a great read this thread is.
I grabbed my coffee this AM and headed to my studio
Grabbed my phone on the way. Planned a manicure this AM, and to read the board while my nails are under the light.
I too can so relate to so much being said here. I have said before, I don't really have many UFO's, and that is still true, but..... I force myself to finish a project before starting another one...... Usually. Well, last winter I made several tops with the intentions of putting them on my mid arm this summer, which never happened.🤪 So now I have a "small" tote with UFO'S in it, and here we are half way through January.... I have been very busy sewing and making items for my craft space, which I was barely able to keep up with, which makes me happy but did invoke anxiety in me. Now that Christmas is past, that will slow down, so time to get to the mid arm. But wait, got to get projects ready for next summer for the craft space. So here I go down the rabbit hole to UFOville.

Joe'smom, totally agree with you. Quilting a quilt on a domestic machine is very much physically had work, hence one of the many reasons why I purchased the mid arm. I just finished a full size commissioned quilt, and quilted it on my domestic machine because the backing was fleece, and it is to stretchy for me to look at on a mid arm and come out good. And it would not have fit on my 60" rollers. And my shoulders paid.

Dorismae and Conchalea, your both lucky. We all need friends and or daughters like you two. You both are lucky to have them in your lives.

Quiltwoman44, your a genius. Love that idea......🤔

So as I sit here reading through the thread surrounded by quilting projects doing my nails, and the UFO's tucked happily in their "small" bin, I can't help but think about the patriotic fabric I saw at Hobby Lobby just a few days ago Oh wait, squirrel 🐿️.
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Quiltah Mama- can you tell me more about that gadget for your nails? I do mine all the time but not that way. I'm interested.

Squirrel Syndrome here. And I'd rather quilt than piece, so all my UFOs are ones that are still in the needing piecing of blocks or assembling the top stage. Once I get the top done, I don't mind doing the sandwiching because I know that means I'll get to do the part that I find the most fun- FMQ!

Rob

I saw a FB post yesterday of a sign that said, “I have so many unfinished projects because I have a black belt in partial arts!”