2020 UFO Challenge
 

Many people asked for a UFO thread for the new year, so I volunteered to start it. This is where we can celebrate our finishes, along with stories behind why the quilt became a UFO in the 1st place. Whether your UFO is a few months old, or 20, or more (?) You are the one who decides what is or isn't a UFO. I'll be moving in the next few weeks, so I may not always be on top of monitoring this thread. But from having lurked for a few years, I know that members are so good about cheering each others' victories that I'm not really worried about it. So I'd like to invite everyone to share their completions & encourage each other through the year. Welcome all!

Please count me in - I have 5 UFOs at the moment. My goal is to finish 2 of them by the end of February and the rest in the first half of this year.

Thanks Conchalea for starting the thread. It's so interesting to hear how quilts get stalled and how to fix it so the quilt can become a fun and usable item!
I got the basting threads out of a queen sized quilt that I had planned to quilt on my DSM, but now can do it on the LA. Hope to get it pinned on tomorrow...or maybe today since it's 4:00 AM and I still haven't gone to bed...okay may think about that now...

Thanks for starting a new thread Conchalea!
I’m in- I have fewer UFOs this year than I did last year, But I still have more than 20. My goal is to get 1 finished each month and to try to keep new projects from becoming UFOs.

Rob

I am in again because this a good place to keep motivated to move ahead on our list of UFO's, find supported when one hits a rough patch and then to celebrate when a quilt moves from the UFO pile to the "DONE" pile.

Thanks for leading us, Conchalea! My New Year's resolution is to finish up eight UFOs. I'm currently working on one that I started in 2018. It's queen size, so I don't know how long it will take to finish..

I'm in too. I found some I had forgotten about. I think I will be more apt to finish some up if I feel the need to "confess" about it. I have a pineapple quilt I am determined to finish this year, have 13 blocks made, need 42, according to my calculations. Between this thread and the moratorium thread, I should be able to accomplish lots.

I'm in again this year. Last year was disastrous with only one finished, one discarded and one passed on to someone else to finish.

1. Jan Hassard's Spirals (my avatar) - Still waiting for borders, but now I have the fabric.
2. Mystery Quilt - waiting to be sandwiched
3. Katharine Guerrier's Scrappy Houses quilt - begun when I was new and enthusiastic. Some blocks are too big. May become several smaller projects.
4. Stack and slash quilt - needs sashing, but I have a plan!
5. 4 patch chain quilt - begun at a BOM class. I hate it but have spent too much money on it to throw it in the mud and stomp on it. No change to this since last year but I am planning to work on it at a retreat in February.
6. Jelly roll race - begun 5-6 years ago. Only needs binding and has for 5-6 years. This is the year!
7. Charity quilt - not finished in time for Christmas.
8. Temperature quilts - Stuck in June.
9. Curved bargello

No Avatar shows... by chance did you load it from Google photos, or FB, or other hosting site? If so, the pic here will disappear if the original moves or is deleted.

UFO's
 

I am in. I have 5 or more UFO's I need to start working on finishing again. I have one that is at least 15 years old and when I finish it I will tell you the story. Thanks for making this thread.

ufo's
 

I finished one yesterday, have about 5 more to go. Just need a push. Thanks

Ufo
 

I am in mostly as a lurker until I get moved. Just found out today that I have to delete more that 90% of my belongings. So, I'm going to sew until I can wrap my head around all of that. I'll say this I really don't want to give up my quilting. Thanks again Concheleta for starting up the 2020 UFO Train. Will you implement that tracker as a tool to help out? Have a pleasant Saturday

Cherrybsixty

I pulled out a flannel quilt I started over 5 years ago. It is a brick quilt using layer cakes cut in half. I have added about 5 more rows to the half done part. if i could get motivated iwth the rest of the day I could probably finish it up today, then just have to find backing, which is probably in my flannel stash somewhere.

Cherrybsixty,

Just think of quilting on a smaller level. Maybe, lap size quilts and wall hangings or table toppers. Keep the fabric that really really speaks to you. And, if possible, store your stash with a family member, friend or storage unit. Or, if your a scrappy quilter, Keep a 6" strip by WOF from anything that speaks to you. You can always cut down.

Only buy what you need for one project at a time. Think of the store as your storage unit. And, you will never get tired of the old stuff. There will always be something new.

My DH pointed out to me that if we down sized, I could no longer quilt. I sure did give him a dirty look. I told him No, I could quilt, just on a much smaller basis. I would keep my very favorite machine, tools and fabric and sell the rest. Where there's a will, there's a way.

Good Luck.

Conchalea - Thanks for starting a new thread! I have been waiting to post on the new one for 2020. I promise to try and do better this year, last year was just a starter or dry run for me. (insert smile here) I think I had 3 or 4 finishes. But now since I have more time at home, (by choice) I want to get the clutter under control and get all the unfinished projects done and given to who they were intended for. I am not going to search for the UFO's and PHD's but just do them as I find them. My goal for the year is to start with one room and work clock wise around it to sort and organize it, then move on to the next room. But will do my sewing room at the same time, it will take about 6 months to really do it justice. Wish me luck.

I did faithfully read last years thread, and wonderful finishes everyone. I will post as I find one to work on, have to finish DGS's big quilt first before any UFO's

I'm in I have 2 major UFO's and several others that fall into the category of "I forgot you even existed" It would be nice to get a handle on all of these but the main 2 are long over due graduations gifts.

I am very happy that I got all but 2 rows of the brick quilt together. I searched my stash of flannel and found yardage of 2 of the prints to be used for a border and binding. And I found my deer print flannel to be the backing, and there is plenty. So two objectives completed at one time.... UFO reduction and Stash reduction.

I started my big clean up last summer and I'm still at it! I cleaned 3 closets and rotated items from one to another in the process. I moved a bed out of one room and into another and got the second room painted before moving it in. It is all neat and tidy, but GD was playing with a quilt layout and messed the bed up with her fabric auditions..I haven't checked to see if she put them all away. I still have boxes to sort in my "holding area", but 2 bedrooms and sewing room are fully functional. I am amazed at how many small boxes/totes I eliminated in the reorganization process. Now to get it really done.

Best of luck in your process and keep us informed!

Conchalea, thank you for starting this thread! I will be following along and hopefully contributing a few finishes. I have many UFOs, which for me are finished tops waiting to be quilted.

I want to thank you, too, Conchalea!
One year, about 5 years ago, I made at least 8 quilt tops (or more) but didn't quilt even one of them! They are on a shelf. I need to get moving on them.
I think I like piecing a lot better than quilting lol

Thanks, Conchalea, for starting this thread. I am working on finishing a top that was started by an 'unknown to me' quilter. I am working on the alternate blocks now.

Thanks for starting the thread! I'm going to try to get myself in gear to complete some UFO's this year. Here's my Chart of Great Ambition.

And I finished one on Friday, Jan. 3, a behemoth of a t-shirt quilt that had been sitting partially quilted since some time in 2018. After doing the New Year Mystery I just felt like getting it done and over with and managed to bang it out, so I've already got one success!

Good luck, everyone!

I too am glad another UFO thread has been started. I really need to get some of the tops quilted that I've had done for years. I also have several other quilts started and quilts planned (pattern picked and fabrics bought) . I started a t-shirt quilt I was hired to make yesterday and that is my priority for January. T-shirts are all cut and interfaced. I'll get the sashing fabric Monday and hopefully make some good progress on that next week.

Can't wait to see what we accomplish this year!!!

Quossum I printed out that same form today but unfortunately was out of colored ink so the letters/squares in the last column didn't show up so I'll have to get some ink and re-print so I can make my list...it has many more started projects than yours!

I have a second page with 13 more where I have fabric and a pattern set aside...but haven't made a single slice. Those I am forbidden--forbidden, I say!--to look at until I get through more of those that I've at least legitimately begun!

Thank-your Conchalea, for taking on this site this year. In reality I’ve been busy enjoying our great weather here (40-59) and working on planning new projects, recovering from the holidays and feetball (that’s our nickname for football), that’s I completely forgot to start this thread. I’m very sorry to everyone. Again thank-you for starting this thread for this year.

I plan to finish on average a UFO per month. Unlike a lot of you here I have lots of UFO’s. I have 2 only needing to be trimmed and sew binding on, both are black scrappy batiks. My project this week. I’ll post pics when they are done.

Happy New Year everyone and happy sewing and quilting.

I'm a quilting newbie but somehow have still managed to pile up some UFOs (why are they so much easier to start than finish!?)

What I'm hoping to finish this year:
1) Merry Mayhem Mystery Quilt (current)- going to add an extra row, then 2 or 3 borders & quilt
2) Split Rail Quilt (1 year old)- have to add sashing between the already sewn rows, then add the border & quilt
3) Aztec Quilt (6 months old)- I only have a little bit of the fabric cut out for this but I'm looking forward to it, as is my mother who is doing her own version of the same pattern
4) Remember Me Quilt (2+ years old)- bought the kit and never started on it, bought to make my grandma a quilt in memory of my father but ended up giving her a different quilt I made instead
5) A quirky little Halloween quilt kit (2+ years old) I bought when I signed up for a quilt class to work on the Remember Me quilt, but was so worried about remembering the sewing machines that I forgot the Remember Me kit (the irony!) and had to just get something quick to work on for those couple of hours

It's good to get it all down in writing as I've promised myself I wouldn't buy anymore fabric (except for backings) or kits until these were finished (although that does not preclude using my current small-ish stash to start new quilts... what can I say, my willpower is more aluminum foil than iron...) A whole year sounds like just enough time lol

I'm in! I have 'sponsored' a UFO challenge in our local group for several years and have been able to complete at least 15 UFOed quilts that have languished, last year I finished Safe Haven a nearly 20 yo Thimbleberries pattern. Most of my UFOs get stuck in top status, needing to be quilted - I have a sit down Tiara. I spent last weekend preparing backs for 3, in the next week or 2 I will be layering and basting those 3, one that already had a back ready AND hopefully Bonnie Hunter's 2019-20 mystery, I know, not a UFO but when I get the tables out to baste, I want to do a LOT! (Plus if I finish it right away - it doesn't become a UFO!!) I have one already basted and ready to quilt so......

UFOs
1) Moth in the Window - already basted
2) Log Cabin
3) String X
4) 9 patch/hour glass
5) Spiderweb

We must be from the same area! I challenged the local guild to UFO finishes this fall. I am surprised at the folks who do not have any UFO's and then there are the guilty parties. I'm not sure if you have been following last year's thread, but I have completed 6 quilts and a couple of table runners since August! I'm in the middle of pinning another UFO on the frame right now. I can't count my UFO's...it would scare me! Take care, S. G

Good for getting those things finished!! I did get 5 done last year, but I know I started more that 5 new ones! I definitely will NOT be posting my total number of UFOs... I'm pretty sure the number would scare me. I've done Bonnie's mystery for the last 6 years and I have finished each of them at least by the end of February, it is nice to have at least one that doesn't slide into a UFO lol

I'm in but likely won't add much to our thread tally. I have two completed 2019 tops from prior to my move that need quilting that I'm calling UFO's (shudder) and one incomplete BOM that I had to pack up that needs my attention. Other than that, I will endeavor to finish what I start, which is my motivation for participating in this challenge....and to cheer everyone on and see all the pretties... Good luck!!

Thanks, Conchalea!

Thank Judith1005, I will keep your kind suggestions in mind as I am sorting and packing what I can. I just may leave some things here in a storage that my other daughter maintains the families heirloom. I plan to donate a lot of my things to shelters or charitable organizations, but I love your suggestion on the six inch WOF. Have a good year and I hope you are able to clear up as many of your UFO projects. My daughter did say I need to pear down my hobbies to one. Maybe so

cherryb

I’m in! Thanks for hosting, Conchalea.

For added incentive, can we add a Group Tally Goal per month? I found that gave me an extra push to feel I was contributing to “the community”. There were many binding stitches happening at 11:00 pm on the last day of some months!

Maybe an annual goal of 220 for the group, divided into monthly goals, with higher tallies in the first 9 months (before holidays)?

Anybody else favor this idea? I’d be happy to do the work of setting group goals and counting finishes on the 2nd or 3rd of the month.

If I recall the last Bonnie was a show winner for you! Looking forward to this year's finish.

And it's fun to see other's quilts and hear why they disappeared into UFO land and then hear how they re-emerge and come to life.

Yes I too like this idea. I'm one who likes to "count" my achievements, whether it's quilts finished or stash fabric used. Happylab, how do you feel about zo taking the time to add up the totals for us? If she's okay with it, I say "go for it" zo...

Well, I finished up the flannel brick quilt top, and it is prepped and ready for the longarm. Now I am rewarding myself by starting one of my kitted stashbusters. I am going to alternate between UFOs and stashbusters. The reward for completing a UFO will be to start on a fun new project, and it will be worked to completion.

Go to it Zozee. I am working on keeping a journal to keep track of my projects and yardages. Don't know how long it will last.

Yes, I like this idea. It really helped me focus on getting things finished when I felt like I was contributing to a group goal.

Rob

I'm in again, and this year hope to keep up with the group. Although not posted on here, I did get around 15 UFOs finished that were left from the previous year, and made around 8 more from scratch. All throw quilts. I don't have as many this year - probably around 10 or 12 - and some of those are small wall hangings. I use the Project at a Glance form, so will fill it out and post sometime this week. Some of my UFOs are in the storage room and I'll have to dig them out.
I am in favour of a group tally. We started doing that last year and it was helpful.