meyert

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

SusieQOH

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

SusieQOH

Here it is:
Originally Posted by Moira in N.E. England
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

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

NJ Quilter

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.

luvstoquilt

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.

Jordan

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!!

Boston1954

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.

pchp

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.

rryder

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) 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 .

Rob

Anniedeb

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!