UFO Challenge 2026
02-24-2026, 12:50 PM
#81
Super Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Ballwin, MO
Posts: 4,603
Here is my first finished UFO of the year, just back from the quilters. It is one of my earliest tops, from 2013. The pattern is from the Bloom Creek quilting book. When I started quilting, I was enamored of the big print modern fabric lines, and this is a good example. My relief at finally getting my tops quilted is overshadowing the regret that I'm not able to quilt them myself.
02-24-2026, 02:50 PM
#83
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Portage, Michigan
Posts: 9,460
Joe's mom, what a lovely use of a large print. Congratulations on the finish. I have always wanted to make something with the tiny sashing and wee bitty corner stones. It looks perfect on you quilt.
Julienm1, a cheer is rising for you on your February success. Your progress is to be admired. Yea!
Hope to see more finishes this month!!
Julienm1, a cheer is rising for you on your February success. Your progress is to be admired. Yea!
Hope to see more finishes this month!!
02-25-2026, 02:49 PM
#84
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Carroll, Iowa
Posts: 3,979
#2 Finished for February
Well, just got the binding on this bad boy and in April it will head to a quilt auction for the disabled. My next quilt will also head there too.
This one is called Exploding Hearts and I made it only because I thought I could use all my miss cut pre-cut 5" squares only to find out once I read the instructions, that it took 5.5 squares. I didn't think about resizing the blocks to fit my pre-cuts. Maybe next time. Anyway, it's done and I learned yet another new thing on my robotics. I was having a heck of a time with thread breaking constantly. I changed needles, even changed thread spools as I know the 1st spool was damaged by one of my fur babies. He thinks its his job to take the loose thread ends and wrap them around the wheels and anything else he can wrap it around. I now cut the spool off at the back and put it where he can't find it during the night. Anyway, with all the thread breaks, when I put the machine back to where I needed to start, it didn't always start right at the exact spot so I'd have to "realign" the machine. Found out I could go back to the beginning or yet another spot nearby the area I wanted to start at and it would put it back where it needed to go. I'm a self taught quilter in every aspect. I would read lots of books, watch youtube videos and just try my luck, always trying new things so I could say I'm advancing my hobby.
Anyway, here it is. I found the E2E at Urban Elements called Curls & Hearts. The border pattern I've had for some time but can't remember where I got it. Might have been Ellen Munnich's site as I bought all her patterns back in the early days before I found out there were other sites to check out.
I used a silver thread on this quilt. Also still working on my stitch in the ditch but it needs some work.
This one is called Exploding Hearts and I made it only because I thought I could use all my miss cut pre-cut 5" squares only to find out once I read the instructions, that it took 5.5 squares. I didn't think about resizing the blocks to fit my pre-cuts. Maybe next time. Anyway, it's done and I learned yet another new thing on my robotics. I was having a heck of a time with thread breaking constantly. I changed needles, even changed thread spools as I know the 1st spool was damaged by one of my fur babies. He thinks its his job to take the loose thread ends and wrap them around the wheels and anything else he can wrap it around. I now cut the spool off at the back and put it where he can't find it during the night. Anyway, with all the thread breaks, when I put the machine back to where I needed to start, it didn't always start right at the exact spot so I'd have to "realign" the machine. Found out I could go back to the beginning or yet another spot nearby the area I wanted to start at and it would put it back where it needed to go. I'm a self taught quilter in every aspect. I would read lots of books, watch youtube videos and just try my luck, always trying new things so I could say I'm advancing my hobby.
Anyway, here it is. I found the E2E at Urban Elements called Curls & Hearts. The border pattern I've had for some time but can't remember where I got it. Might have been Ellen Munnich's site as I bought all her patterns back in the early days before I found out there were other sites to check out.
I used a silver thread on this quilt. Also still working on my stitch in the ditch but it needs some work.
02-27-2026, 06:27 AM
#85
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Portage, Michigan
Posts: 9,460
Snooze, what a lovely version of the exploding hearts. I have only seen it is pinks and purples and reds, but I like the variety of colors you used. The multi-colors should appeal to the auction participants. I hope your quilt brings in a fortune for the organization. And Ta-Da, a UFO out the door...real soon but finished NOW! Yea!
Congratulations!
Congratulations!
02-27-2026, 05:20 PM
#86
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: The Great State of Texas
Posts: 416
Exploding Hearts is fantastic! @Snooze2978 I love your version of it!
Okay, so reporting in for the end of the month of February!
I did manage to finish my January quilt in February. It was the Lupine & Laughter mystery, and I posted a picture of the finished product on that thread in this subcategory.
My February number was the Mathemagical quilt, one that I had only the fabric collection for: a set of Australia-themed fabrics. Though I won’t have it *finished* in February, I have completed the top (lots of straight lines, quite a comforting and easy pattern after the fussiness and detail of the the L&L quilt!), I have the binding ready, and I’m moving right along on the back of this quilt, so I think I’m doing great!
Let’s keep it going, everyone! Finishes FTW!
Okay, so reporting in for the end of the month of February!
I did manage to finish my January quilt in February. It was the Lupine & Laughter mystery, and I posted a picture of the finished product on that thread in this subcategory.
My February number was the Mathemagical quilt, one that I had only the fabric collection for: a set of Australia-themed fabrics. Though I won’t have it *finished* in February, I have completed the top (lots of straight lines, quite a comforting and easy pattern after the fussiness and detail of the the L&L quilt!), I have the binding ready, and I’m moving right along on the back of this quilt, so I think I’m doing great!
Let’s keep it going, everyone! Finishes FTW!
02-28-2026, 09:08 AM
#87
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: North Wales
Posts: 485
WMU Teach - I look forward to showing you my finished SBS once it is done. The final borders have now been sewn on, so this is another that will shortly be ready to go out for longarming, woot-woot! It is a truly massive quilt though. Or at least mine is - 108" x 90".
Me being a book dork, rather than follow the instruction book, at the start I went through and re-read the actual story, noting down when a block was mentioned. I then compared the blocks mentioned in the story to those in the instruction book, and swapped in the story ones for those I didn't care for in the instruction book. It added some additional headaches to completion, for sure, but I am very pleased with how it came out. I also kept to the colourway mentioned in the story.
That is my main update, although I have also now started a new quilt (shhh! lol). I'm calling it Snoopy and Shamrocks - it will be in greens and whites, using the Irish Shamrock Snoopy fabric I've had for a decade or more in my stash as the backing. I suppose I could argue it is a UFO since I've known what I wanted to do with it for about as long as I've had the backing fabric, I just haven't actioned it previously...
Snooze - You have prompted me to add Exploding Hearts to my list of 'Want to Makes'. That is a truly gorgeous pattern, and I love your version!!
Happy Quilting!.
Me being a book dork, rather than follow the instruction book, at the start I went through and re-read the actual story, noting down when a block was mentioned. I then compared the blocks mentioned in the story to those in the instruction book, and swapped in the story ones for those I didn't care for in the instruction book. It added some additional headaches to completion, for sure, but I am very pleased with how it came out. I also kept to the colourway mentioned in the story.
That is my main update, although I have also now started a new quilt (shhh! lol). I'm calling it Snoopy and Shamrocks - it will be in greens and whites, using the Irish Shamrock Snoopy fabric I've had for a decade or more in my stash as the backing. I suppose I could argue it is a UFO since I've known what I wanted to do with it for about as long as I've had the backing fabric, I just haven't actioned it previously...
Snooze - You have prompted me to add Exploding Hearts to my list of 'Want to Makes'. That is a truly gorgeous pattern, and I love your version!!
Happy Quilting!.
02-28-2026, 09:10 AM
#88
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: North Wales
Posts: 485
This is a test to see if I can finally figure out how to upload a photo of my Halloween Table Runner (UFO finished at the start of Feb)...
OK, well it's upside down (but right side up if you click on the thumbnail) so kind of worked
OK, well it's upside down (but right side up if you click on the thumbnail) so kind of worked
Last edited by Panchita; 02-28-2026 at 09:11 AM. Reason: Add info
02-28-2026, 02:00 PM
#89
Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Canon City,CO
Posts: 60
Well, I made the deadline! I got my February UFO done today. It is a QAYG one that I started many years ago and I now realize why it was a UFO. I hate the method. I must have started it before I got my quilting machine. It morphed into 2 small quilts. I made many mistakes on them and am certainly not very proud of them but they will keep a couple of kids warm.
02-28-2026, 03:31 PM
#90
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Portage, Michigan
Posts: 9,460
Panchita, My photos do that to sometimes. Why? Who knows? I have not figured it out. Good looking table runner.
twhvlr, congratulations on finishing your QSYG. I now some folks LOVE the method, while others.... not so much.
UPDATE on my progress, I picked up my January quilt this afternoon about 5:00 pm. The long arm quilter turned "questionable" into pretty impressive quilt. Not a chance II will get the binding on it by midnight.
My February quilt top was finished layered and "rats!" the wide border is ruffled on one side. Time to pick, pick, pick and then remeasure and sew again. I will, I will, I will get January and February done in March.
For the UFO Challenge quilters, watch the thread tomorrow for our next quilt challenge.
twhvlr, congratulations on finishing your QSYG. I now some folks LOVE the method, while others.... not so much.
UPDATE on my progress, I picked up my January quilt this afternoon about 5:00 pm. The long arm quilter turned "questionable" into pretty impressive quilt. Not a chance II will get the binding on it by midnight.
My February quilt top was finished layered and "rats!" the wide border is ruffled on one side. Time to pick, pick, pick and then remeasure and sew again. I will, I will, I will get January and February done in March.For the UFO Challenge quilters, watch the thread tomorrow for our next quilt challenge.
