toverly

I accepted a friend's mom's stash several years ago. Completed about 5 of her UFO's. Never again. I don't even want fabric from the free table. I find it difficult to work on something I have no interest in. I completed them for my friend, not for me. As for the fabric I wasn't interested in, I told her that I would put it where it needed to go. It ended up on the free table at Guild, then the trash if it was left over.

SuzSLO

As I explained in my other post — Help with Vintage Quilt Top. — I’m about to start on a vintage quilt top. It was left to my grandmother by her aunt (in 1956), then my grandmother stored it for about 40 years when it came to me when my grandmother moved into assisted living and down-sized. My grandmother made only one quilt in her lifetime: a Grandmother’s Flower Garden she started before she married in 1932 and finished 50 years later after she retired. As I’m working through my own UFOs, I thought I should add my great great aunt’s to my pile (and another similar top from the same source). I’ll report back on the experience!

RedGarnet222

I have many projects that need finishing. I can't see me taking on any more. I do know how to gently say, " I am sorry, but I can't right now."
Hubby sprang a please make a baby quilt on me last minute yesterday, and I am franticly trying to complete one by tuesday baby shower deadline. Oh my, I guess I had better go and work on that applique.

entangled

That's a great question. I got someone's pinwheel square in a thrift store scrap bag a few weeks ago that is so badly stitched that I think I will toss it in the trash. It's maybe 6" square? Picking it apart doesn't make sense -- too much trouble for too small of pieces -- and the fabric is unattractive!

As an upcycler, it's TOO easy to acquire too much -- and too much of things that I later realize are not inspiring for me. So I am learning to be ruthless about materials and projects that I don't like.

Pbraun -- high five for Team Upcycle!

sewingpup

ummm....I have taken old stuff....and said no to some stuff....I will go through it...take what I want....I am a fabric snob so I will pull out the moda, northcott, riley blake....etc....I have made several "scrap bags" and stuck them in a garage sale for a buck or two....they have usually went. I have even made up bags or strange material and had the same thing happen...lots of fiber artists out there and teachers too who are looking for things to cut up and use. If it is a teacher....I will sometimes just forget about the price tag and let them take it.

Iceblossom

I often find UFOs at the thrift stores and I will say, there is usually a reason on why it didn't get finished. Some of which is pretty obvious, some we just never know.

I have a perfectly nice top that was intended as a wedding gift for my husband's niece-equivalent (daughter of best friend). But... a lot of things happened and the wedding was called off and now I call it the "Jerry Springer Quilt".

I've taken apart badly made projects just for the fabric. If the pieces are big enough, I'll just cut them apart.

Sometimes I will rework a project, like there was this huge pink blobish thing that when I took the blocks apart and added sashing made a nice pair of twin sized quilts. Turns out those were heart blocks under those blobs.

The thing is, I know the feeling of "all that work and this is what I have to show for it" on my own failures. By this point in my quilting career I avoid most outright failures but still, sometimes things just don't go together like we see in our heads. Anyway, after putting in "all that work" myself, sometimes I'm not willing to put it right. But, thing is, with the thrift store UFOs, I didn't put in "all that work" to start with, I just see -- well hey, I can do this and that and have a reasonable project out of it.

Rhonda K

I don't have the energy or desire to rescue projects especially when they are started by others.

pbraun

Thanks, entangled. I am constantly on the lookout for ideas. I have a baby outfit from the 1950's and a couple from the 70'I would like to do something with. Not sure what.

Macybaby

I had told my family that I'd make a quilt for everyone. One neice found some hand stitched blocks at a thrift store and asked if I'd put them together for her. Then her Mom (SIL) gave me some old cordory fabric for the back, and a bag of cheap batting. I think they were all sutff found at yard sales.

The blocks appeared to be a novice attempt at hand sewing. Lots of uneveniess in seam allowance, and many had been sewn with too tight of thread and puckery. I'm pretty sure it ended up in someone's UFO stash because they gave up trying to put them into rows as nothing was lining up. I took the rows apart and added sashing so I could get uniform blocks, had to resew several seams (by machine) and in the end it didn't look too bad. I did use the cordory by used my own batting as it was much nicer.

There was nothing special about the fabric, and it was so poorly sewing that I did close quilting to try to keep it together, but warned SIL that it might not hold up to washing.

I won't ever agree to a project like that again. Too many people see hand stitches and think "wow - really old or hand crafted with care" but in this case is was fabric from the 80's sewn by someone who was learning how to use a needle and thread.

Battle Axe

Timely topic. I can't even finish my UFOs let alone someone else's. I'm a starting person, not a finisher. I'm on the verge of taking the latest?? tub of Bonnie Hunter and asking someone on this board if they need the headache!!!

And my Grandmother on Mom's side made only one quilt too. A Grandmother's flower garden!! And I still have it. She absolutely hated sewing so I must have the other side in me that likes quilting, piecing, weaving, but most of all buying fabric.

The trouble with the UFOs that I have tried to do, took buying more fabric to complete them. I must cut down on the spending.