Monday, May 5, 2014

UFQ's Assault Tactics

Welcome to my visitors from The Inbox Jaunt where Lori has been challenging us to use A Quilt Notebook to take control of our UFO's (or as I call them UFQ's) since the first of the year.   If you aren't aware of her series of "assignments", you can read all about them at The Inbox Jaunt as well as her wonderful FMQ (free motion quilting) tutorials which were what drew me to her blog originally.  She has graciously invited me to share some insight about UFQ's based on my experience (and I have lots of it!!)
Lori's assignment on Friday was to review our progress and she asked us how many UFQ’s we have – not sure I want to admit an exact number but it might convince you that when it comes to UFQ’s, I know my stuff?!?! 

Over the weekend I revisited my list, added a few more UFQ’s, and re-counted. . . . . . . (can you hear the quiet groaning . . . . it seems like I should be making more progress).  I’ve been dealing with UFQ’s since closing my shop, Erie Street Quilts in Willoughby, Ohio 9 years ago.  I’ve made steady progress as a once full shelf of the UFQ department in my sewing room has been given over to large fabric hunks because the UFQ's that lived there are finished (or gone)!!   One of the results of my progress has been to organize what I've learned about dealing with them into a four lesson home study course, UFQ ASSAULT TACTICS (and some pretty entertaining guild lecture programs).  This week, you have a chance to win a tuition free opportunity to participate in my program.  Read on!!
Hard to believe this is about 30 quilt tops -- the top shelf is big hunks of fabric -- the backing department!
Whenever I review my UFQ’s, I try to name the point at which I stopped working on a project – while I can’t always remember the “why” I can always see the stage at which I stopped.  I learned early on in my own quest that a list of these stopping points helps pinpoint recurring stumbling blocks giving one a better chance to gain control. 

Without a doubt, my biggest group of UFQ’s are tops ready to be quilted – and that in itself is a huge clue to my most common stumbling block.  As a teacher, I feel it’s important to do the majority of my own quilting so I can help my students with that aspect of making a quilt.  But for a long time I’ve justified not moving past this point of making a quilt because as a teacher, a quilt top is easier to haul around than a completed quilt.  (Two attitudes that don’t exactly complement each other, do they?)
Detail of a piece I finished with "big stitch" hand quilting -- now one of my favorite ways to "get it done".
There are 40 quilt tops on my list of tops ready to quilt (TRQ’s?) – really?  (But there were 72 in 2005.)  It was a productive exercise as I was able to thin out 5 tops to donate to charities – designating a reason to finish them will motivate me and some can be donated in an unfinished state.  37% of my TRQ’s have been made since I closed my shop in 2005 – I do much better these days at moving all the way through a quilt from beginning to end than I used to do.   I still have 17 tops that were made before 2005 – that’s getting pretty old. 
Lori’s advice in January to pull all our UFQ’s out and review them is a good suggestion but just getting them out isn’t enough.  To get fired up about old projects requires understanding why they aren’t finished already.  The reasons could be manifold – life interrupted your work flow, you didn’t enjoy the process as much as you thought you would, you hit a fabric blockade, you went back to work full-time, you got ill, and so on.

Finally off the shelf after about 25 years and proudly hanging by the back door!
 
If you make a comment on your list of UFQ’s about the point at which you stopped, it may reveal more than you expect.  Do you always seems to stop at the borders?  Are all the "clear color" projects finished tops or quilt and all the "muddy color" projects just heaps of pieces?  Both of those are true scenarios from my own experience and that of my students.  During the give and take of mentoring students through UFQ ASSAULT TACTICS, I can help quilters pick up on the subtle issues that keep us from finishing everything.

Here are some common issues (stumbling blocks) I’ve helped students through.
No time you say – 15 to 20 minutes a day of work amounts to 2 hours a week and that’s significant.
Not the skill you need – once again, 15 to 20 minutes a day of work on that skill specifically will yield marked results and in less time than you might think.  I machine quilt all my charity quilts because it improves my ability to design and execute machine quilting.  There’s more to developing skill than taking a class -- you have to do it often -- think practice the piano 30 minutes every day!!
Ran out of fabric – that is a creative challenge that will spur you on to step outside the box.  I ran out of fabric so many times in 2012 when I challenged myself to use a big hunk of my stash and still made some of the best quilts of my life (which I finished).  Now I look forward to running out of fabric!
I don’t like it anymore – then repurpose it.  Make it smaller – put an applique on it – chop it up and make a totebag or placemats.  Explore blogs and pinterest for fresh ideas. 
Not sure how to proceed -- asking questions of quilters who can do what you don’t seem to be able to do has been a good strategy for me.  I have a friend who moves through a quilt from start to finish most of the time.  She might have 3 or 4 unfinished projects at any one time (amazing?!).  Once I realized that the designing of the quilting was a stumbling block for me, I talked with her asking specific questions about how she approaches that part of the process.  Her answers gave me a completely different perspective and changed my approach completely to the design aspect of quilting a top.  Coupled with all the practice quilting I do on charity quilts, I now finish two dozen quilts a year. 

Detail of the BIG hand quilting project I finished this winter -- top made in early 1990's.  Yea!!!!
Knowing that a quilt with a purpose is more likely to get finished, I visit the “quilt top shelf” every time I want to give or donate a quilt before starting a new one.  Most of the time, there is a finished top sitting there waiting for a purpose and “ta-da” it gets finished.
Today my major goals as a quilt maker are to use all the best fabric in my stash (don’t want it to be a yard sale steal) and to have all the projects in my studio set into quilt tops with people’s names on them (so they aren’t yard sale steals either). 

What is your goal?

Leave us a comment -- how many UFQ's do you have and what do you think is your most common stumbling block?  Friday, we'll chose a winner and that quilt maker will be on her/his way to a personal UFQ ASSAULT plan.  And if you don't win, you can start your own conquest by ordering UFQ ASSAULT TACTICS at http://www.maryhueyquilts.com/catalog/c1_p1.html

Mary Huey
www.maryhueyquilts.com


115 comments:

  1. I've got about 15 - 20 finished tops done of varying sizes. My main bottleneck is the cost to send the tops away to a quilter. I would love to finish them myself and have been saving for a long/mid arm for a couple of years.

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    1. I understand your dilemma -- that's one reason I began to quilt some of my large pieces in sections -- a modified quilt as you go approach. Marti Michell's book, Machine Quilting in Sections is my "bible". Thanks for visiting!!

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  2. I currently have 98 UFQs--they are all in the RTQ (Ready to Quilt) stack. I have a longarm but don't feel my skill level is good enough--and I don't want to "ruin" those beautiful tops. I don't want to use pantograms on them as I want the quilting to enhance the top.

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    1. I know this feeling, as I had the same attitude when I got my longarm. My solution was to quilt charity quilts for myself and others until I had some confidence in edge to edge quilting (freehand, not pantos), and then I chose my own tops that called for that kind of quilting. Then I worked up to custom quilting the same way. The benefit is that your practice quilting has a function,and someone will love that quilt, no matter that the quilting is part of your learning. Good luck!

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    2. Thanks for visiting!! Pat W's suggestion is a good one. Pick 3 or 4 that you like the least and go for it!!

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  3. I have about 60 quilts waiting for me to quilt them. When I started quilting 6 years ago, I would take a quilt from start to finish before I started on another quilt. This worked great until I spent 9 months at my daughter's home house/pet sitting while she was deployed to Afghanistan. With nothing to do but piece quilts, I pieced 40-50 of them! Since coming home from that 2 years ago, I always seem to be putting customer quilting ahead of getting my own quilting done. Other than time on my longarm, my stumbling blocks are making the borders and after quilting I hate hand sewing the binding down! Thank you for this great opportunity to get these babies finished!

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    1. Thanks for visiting -- have you thought of swapping machine quilting with someone who enjoy binding and would do your bindings for you? I think all long arm quilters should schedule their own work into the queue on a regular basis!!

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  4. I counted 14 unfinished quilts as I started working through Lori's quilt Notebook series. They are in all stages of the process, from having purchased only a couple of pieces of fabric and having an idea so what I want to do with them, all the way to one that has the binding complete, but needs a quilt label and for me to clean up some thread nests from when the finish quilting was done.

    Most of my quilts that are anywhere close to completion are charity quilts. I need to get them out of the way so I can do some that I just want to do.

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    1. thanks for visiting, Leisel -- I find it often takes me longer to start those last steps than it does to finish them . . . . (-:

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  5. I have about 20 UFO's in my stash that are ready to be quilted. My stumbling block is choosing the pattern for the FMQ and then quilting it. I have started this year to go through my pile and complete them. With each one I am gaining confidence and experience.

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Donna -- I'm glad to hear you are working down through the stack and hope other readers are encouraged that as you accumulate experience with the FMQ, you are gaining confidence -- its the only way to get better -- to do it!

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  6. I can't count the number of UFQs I have. A dozen or so waiting to be quilted, queen-sized most of them and too large for me to handle adequately at home, yet lack of money prohibits sending them out. Lots of projects at the "have most everything and just need to start sewing" stage. Lots more in my head -- have some of the fabrics, pull another piece of fabric occasionally to add to a stack that I want to become a quilt. Maybe uncertain of design I want, or know the design but uncertain about fabrics/colors, don't yet have all the fabrics I need. I do lots of "virtual" quilting because of my health -- projects that are planned but have been unable to execute them. Hard to scale back to what I CAN do. Lots of UFOs, lots of blocks.

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Brenda -- I can relate to trying to scale back. Since I certainly own more fabric than I'll ever need, it's a constant challenge. One of my fabric "new" quilting skills has been Big Stitch Hand Quilting -- not as difficult and love the impact of it. Check it out!

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  7. I think I have 42 right now. As a longarm quilter, finding time to quilt them is always a challenge but I think my biggest obstacle is once I can envision what the quilt will look like, I become bored and want to start something new. I could easily start a new quilt every day!

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    1. thanks for visiting, Cynthia -- I could start a new quilt every day, too!! I've been trying to manage my own tendency towards boredom by having 3 things in active process at a time -- one machine quilting project, one machine piecing project, and one hand work project -- seems to be working!!

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  8. I must have at least 70+ UFO's that are in various stages of completion. Some aren't even started, but I have the pattern and fabric all together, ready to go. Someone once told me there are "process" people and "product" people - I am a process person. I like to get my projects to the point where I'm comfortable with the process they require, then I seem to lose interest. Currently I am hand-piecing a 30-year old hexagon quilt that I just dug out of a box - obviously, I NEED a personal assault plan!

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    1. thanks for visiting, Leslie -- a woman after my own heart. You notice I didn't mention all the miscellaneous UFQ's at other stages. I used to think of myself as a process person -- that's my natural state, but after helping a family liquid the mother's stash I'm determined to become more product oriented so that all my beautiful stuff doesn't become some quilter's "steal" at the big yard sale!!

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  9. Oh my. I have at least 10 tops to finish. Countless others in the piecing stage. Tension troubles are my challenge. ....

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    1. thanks for visiting! Tension -- I hate that -- so frustrating. I have started using Magna-glide bobbins part of the time for my machine quilting and they do make a difference.

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  10. I am avoiding looking at the UFOs, so I can't tell you how many there are. I often end up not liking a quilt after working with it so long. Besides the fact that I am easily distracted by and attracted to new projects, patterns, fabric, and tools, I think I am just disappointed with my finishing skills. I don't really like tied quilts, hate to spend the money to have someone else quilt my quilt, and only have fair home sewing machine quilting skills. I did start out the year finishing two quilts, but lost steam quickly.

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    1. thanks for visiting, Mariette -- so get your steam back up!! One think I think contributes to disappoint is working on projects that aren't true to your personal preferences -- not hard to have that happen with all the excellent marketing of new fabric lines these days. It was a big relief when I realized I could love something without having to make it, too!!

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  11. I have no idea how many UFQs I have. Many are waiting to be quilted while others are not yet completed tops. My main stumbling block is time and the lack thereof! Add to this I also quilt for my Mom and for a friend so it adds to my workload. It isn't a race and if I stress about how much I have to do it stops being fun so I just take my time and enjoy what I am working on at that moment in time!

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    1. thanks for visiting, Karen (the cause of one of my smaller UFQ's) -- like your attitude to keep your enjoyment of the process at the forefront!

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  12. If I actually counted...which from your suggestion, and Lori's notebook...is a tool I will begin. I know I have 42 finished quilt tops. I just gave one away to a dear friend who needed a wedding quilt for a grandson in 3 days! I use her longarm. In containers I have 78 unfinished projects. They range from paper piecing quilts to various BOM's I've received. Along with 5 containers holding the partial blocks and fabrics for the Puget Sound Shop Hop held each June! Oh...add two more UFQ's, I went to a shop hop here in Western Idaho this last week with my granddaughter. We will be heading into Wyoming and Utah to finish the hop!
    My excuse....we moved from a big sewing room in Seattle to a rental home in Idaho. After being ill for two years, we are finally getting everything moved from a big semi-trailer we own into our house. I am just setting up my sewing rooms...but for now I sew at the kitchen table and it is a mess! Just finished two prom dresses and now helping to create Rodeo Queen shirts! Over Extended

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    1. thanks for visiting. Moving the stuff around is a great opportunity to thin it out a bit -- last time I moved the sewing room around in my house -- every project was evaluated and if it didn't appeal any more, it went to the yard sale box or was donated to my charity group. Eliminated about 25% of my backlog and that was a big lift to my morale!!

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  13. I have 6 projects in progress now, probably about 20 that have the pattern and fabric ready to go. I have 3 unquilted tops right now, 3 piecing in progress projects. I do like to have more than one piecing project at a time so that when one makes me mad then I have something else to work on. Biggest stumbling point for me is deciding how to quilt it but I have been just diving in, finished 4 in the last 6 months. Seems that when I just go for it things turn out a lot better than I had envisioned and I haven't totally ruined anything yet.

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    1. thanks for visiting, Tracy -- I agree -- just go for it. If I can only make up my mind about one small aspect of the quilting process, I start anyway. Once my mind engages with the quilt top, the ideas seem to bubble up. I've also started to really study the quilting on every quilt I see -- pushing ideas into my head!!

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  14. Most of my ufq'a are ones that were started in classes but not finished when the class ended. I need to get a handle on these. If only I didn't think of something that really needs to be done (?) before I work on ufq's. I have absolutely no idea how many of these there are--maybe I need to stop trying to not look at them!

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    1. thanks for visiting! You know you don't have to finish those classes projects as designed -- I repurpose lots of stuff -- mostly into little charity quilts. I'll make a note to do a post about some of them in the near future.

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  15. I have 2 UFO's. One is about 10 years old, all I need is binding. Learning how to put on. the second one i need to quilt, it is only from a couple of weeks, my sewing machine's feed dogs broke over the weekend.

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    1. thanks for visiting, Lisa -- only 2 -- that's amazing! I just replaced the feed dogs on my 20 year old plus Bernina -- it's like a new machine!! Well worth the expense!

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  16. I find that as I am learning how to machine quilt, fear is what keeps me from finishing the quilt. The quilt is basted ( I did learn how to board baste!) but when it comes to quilting the quilt, I am afraid to "ruin" the perfect top with my inexpert machine quilting. I am practicing every day but taking the leap to actually begin has been difficult. Right now I am piecing one baby quilt and have a king sized top for my daughter and her husband that is waiting for basting and quilting. Not too bad ... but I think I am going to make a quick appliqued wall growth chart this week for my grandson's first birthday!

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    1. thanks for visiting, Nani -- can relate to the "fear" factor. At some point, I had to take the leap and put a special quilt under the needle. It worked out fine -- as long as the brain knows it's just practicing, it doesn't make the full effort, but when it finds out this is the real thing, it has to step it up a bit!! Really!!

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  17. I have UFO's to keep me busy for a year or more, but attending too many quilts classes keeps me away from it and make the pile just bigger.

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    1. thanks for visiting! So you only have 15 UFQ's -- that about all I can tackle successfully in a year and that includes ditching some of them. Skip a couple classes but schedule yourself for a sewing "retreat" day in their place and do some catching up -- better yet, do it with friends!!

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  18. I have 2 quilt tops basted and ready to quilt, just need to learn how to free motion quilt. I just purchased the HQ Sweet Sixteen, now I have to learn how to use it, practice, practice. I also have 3 quilt tops done, ready to baste. I also use the board method. I have 1 quilt top almost finished and partially basted started in class, going to do quilting in parts. I have another UFO, that have to finish the stitching some of the applique, then join the blocks together. This nothing including the ones doing a bom, plus all the patterns and fabric sitting on the shelf ready to start. Just not enough time in the day or week. My daughter thinks I have ADH because I have not finished one yet, maybe this is the year.

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    1. thanks for visiting, Cathy! Have your daughter read the comments today and she'll understand your normal -- just part of a different crowd!!

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  19. I do have 15 tops ready to be layered to be quilted. My skill is much less at the quilting point than I like. I quilt on my domestic sewing machine and usually stitch in the ditch. I try free motion but it is so poorly done I am not happy. Yes I do practice on donation quilts. I do have to make 3 great grand baby quilts this summer for the new babies next winter so that is my focus right now. They are in process of putting blocks together and are starting to look so great. I have over 50 projects in various stages of completion because I love to make blocks. Designing and making blocks is much more "fun" than quilting the quilts.

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    1. thanks for visiting, Dorothy. I can relate to your love of piecing!! Suits me just fine but as I get older, I want to see more of them covering someone up!!

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  20. I worked in a quilt shop for 5 years. .. taught classes and made tons of samples. I probably have at least 30 projects in various stages. Some I love, some I hate. Plus over the past two years, I have added to that stack. HELP! !!!

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    1. thanks for visiting, Debra -- I can relate -- owned a shop for 26 years!! I've repurposed lots of my old teaching and shop models into charity quilts -- I'll do a post about that in the near future!

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  21. My biggest stumbling block of completing quilts is that I can's resist a good quilt along or BOM project. I keep joining them and joining them. BUT, I DO finish quilts! I just have a lot going on at once. Currently I have 38 WIPS.

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    1. thanks for visiting, Kathy. 38? I'm pretty new to the QAL scene but I can relate -- the anticipation of "what's next" has bitten me hard. Have had to cut myself off and just pick the two most interesting ones at a time -- that was hard!!

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  22. I have about 5 bis large size of UFO.....I need help with these projects....just reading the tips in the blog has given me insights to some of the reasons why I haven't completed the projects. I especially like the idea of 20 minutes a day. This seems so manageable.....also who wants to stop after 20 minutes. This already is an incentive, once started, keep going. Thank you.

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    1. thanks for visiting! I don't stop after 20 minutes but the commitment I've made to it has really worked well. Plus, the bonus is that my skills and confidence have increased effortlessly!! Hope you can give it a try!

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  23. Right now I have 11 UFQ's. (That I can think of off the top of my head....) My main stumbling blocks are putting the borders on, getting the quilt layered, and getting the binding on. Although, now that I think about it, several of these projects are in earlier stages as well!

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    1. thanks for visiting, Sarah -- had a student with the "border" fear -- her solution was to stop making quilts with borders -- now she makes the most interesting quilts and finishes lots of them!! Think about it.

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  24. Right now I have three UFO's. I have a personal rule (sort of) that I won't start anything new until I finish what I'm working on. That means a lot of plans and a lot of fabrics pile up while I work on the quilting part of it. It takes me such a long time to finish the quilting. Ugh.

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    1. thanks for visiting, Allison -- try the 20 minutes a day idea -- it enables me to finish 40 plus projects a year!!

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  25. I have 7 tops that need to have backings sewn (the fabric has been cut); I have 50 kits (in various stages of completion) and I have more orphan blocks than I can shake a stick at! LOL

    I believe that my problem is I get bored working on one project and then start another one. . . .and so on. . . .plus I used to purchase all the BOM's or kits that I fell in love with without thinking through the time constraints that I have.

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    1. thanks for visiting, Sherry -- try sorting all those orphan blocks by color, then make charity quilts out of them. It's one of my group's most successful strategies. The color holds them together. Best book on the topic is Setting Solutions by Sharyn Craig -- old book, but I think it's available as an e-book?

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  26. I have 6 tops that are finished. I hope to get them quilted and then I make something that is a gift that I do complete and in the meantime I've started another quilt. Way too many fun ideas floating around in my head and I want to do them all!

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    1. thanks for visiting, Karen -- well fun is what it's suppose to be about. I try to assign new projects to someone as I start them -- like this one will be for a graduating friend -- that has helped me a lot!!

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  27. Oh my, I have 28 UFQ's and 4 PIGS (Projects in grocery sacks). I have simply run out of room. This UFQ problem started 3 years ago when my sister died. I kept many of her projects, some that I love for me, and some that I love because they remind me of her. Then, the same year I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. Every time I felt even a little better I would go and purchase a quilt kit. Kind of my hope to live and be able to play again. Well, it looks like I might live after mastectomy, chemo, and radiation. Therefore, I am really trying to work on this quilts. I have taken Lori's advise about only 3 projects at a time. I hope I win your course so that I can continue to move forward on finishing this up. Yes, that would give me a excuse to get more !

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    1. thanks for visiting, CJ -- glad to hear the health issues are receding!! I will share that I battle a bit with depression and I use my daily dose of stitching to center myself -- so keep on and try to make it a daily habit so it will carry you forward. Best wishes for the future!

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    2. CJ -- you are my winner -- congratulations!! Give me a shout at maryhueyquilts@hotmail.com and I'll get you started!!

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    3. YEAH ! I am the winner ! Life just keeps getting better. Thanks to Lori and you for sending me on this great adventure. I am looking forward to your course. CJ

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  28. This is some great advice. Seeing how many projects some of your other commenters have makes me feel better about my stack :) Thanks for linking up to Anything Goes Monday!

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    1. thanks for visiting, Heather -- it makes me feel better about my stacks, too!!

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  29. Thanks. I've only been quilting since January but I already have five unfinished projects.

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    1. thanks for visiting, Denise -- you are off to a roaring start!! Do I need to do an intervention so you don't get too far off track? (-:

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  30. I am embarrassed to admit I have 28 UFO's sitting in my sewing room! Yikes! The good news is that I had 34 in January so have completed 6 so far this year. Slow but sure wins the race, right?

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    1. thanks for visiting, Mary -- don't be embarrassed -- you are in good company!! And 6 so far this year is terrific!

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  31. I have 13 UFOs - May not sound like a lot, but finishing all of them seems like a daunting task to me. And I DO want to finish every single one of them. I just can't make myself postpone starting new projects. Quilter's ADD, I suppose! Your course sounds wonderful - exactly what I need!

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    1. I find working on a new one and an old at the same time helps me progress. Thanks for visiting, Kay!

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  32. I have 14 UFQs, if I don't include the ones in my head. FMQ is a stumbling block as I need practice before working on the quilts. But the real problem is that I let more urgent and interesting projects move ahead in the queue!

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Mary Jane! I, too am distracted by "more interesting" and that's what I've started repurposing more of my UFQ's -- sparks some interest for me and shortens the work time!!

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  33. I did not physically count my UFO's but they are in the 10-15 range. I think my biggest stumbling block is just losing steam. I haven't done any quilting since the beginning of the year until tonight when I pieced a table runner. The quilts waiting to be quilting aren't very attractive to me and the ones waiting to be pieced are probably waiting to be sewn for the same reasons. I wouldn't want to give them to anyone so I am not inspired to finish them.

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Just Pam -- try the 20 minutes a day approach -- it helps me maintain momentum and often what is suppose to be 20 minutes becomes longer. It also improves my skills without any effort - frequent repetition!

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  34. I'm so embarrassed when I actually look at all the UFO' s I have hidden all over my sewing room. Lori Kennedy has helped a lot to get me to get somewhat organized! At least I am making an effort to try and finish some of them!

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Karen -- bring them out of hiding!! Some of them may actually be interesting again or your improving skills help you take one on more confidentally!

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  35. I probably have around 20 that need attention. I have been pretty good about getting some done this year, but I have a ways to go.

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    1. Thanks for visiting! Sounds like you have some momentum going -- that's great -- keep up the work!!

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  36. I have one, but it's my first and the iron died on me this morning...I'm sure that as I get better--or worse, maybe? :D --I'll have more unfinished projects lying around. (or should that read "abandoned"?)

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Melissa -- they are never abandoned, we are just easily diverted. Get a good iron -- it's an important tool!!

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  37. I have at least 17.... there are probably a couple more hidden in my sewing room that I've forgotten about. A couple are over 10 years old. My biggest stumbling block to quilting a finished top is trying to decide how to quilt it. My biggest problem finishing a quilt top is that I loose interest in the technique. I found that if I have to make the same block more than a couple times I won't finish the quilt, so, regardless of how beautiful a pattern is, I pass on starting repetitive types of quilts because I know they will end up, unfinished, in a drawer.

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    1. Thanks for visiting! I use my quilt group sometimes to help me brainstorm quilting ideas -- it has really helped as often I get myself so paralyzed, I can't see the obvious!

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  38. At one point I had so many UFQ's that I couldn't count them as I didn't want to be depressed. LOL Just found your site today and I sure am happy about that. Your class sounds perfect, taking a look at a problem and talking with others is a great way to get new insight. I have read lots of the other comments from today and I love the idea about the 20 minutes a day. Time seems to be my biggest problem, I work a lot of hours and the ideas just fly around in my head. Just recently I started a mystery quilt with my guild. I decided that I REALLY want to finish this quilt, so I have it on my kitchen table with all my supplies close by. I am going to give that 20 minute plan a try. I would really love to take your class and hope I win. Janet

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Mrs. Wiggles!! The most important piece of using 20 minutes effectively is to have the next step ready to pick up when I get to the machine or my hand sewing chair -- if I leave it all ready to go, I can be totally exhausted and still make progress because all I have to do is sit down and pick up where I left off. Then the stitching calms me down and that's terrific!! Try it for 3 weeks and see if that gets you back into a groove!

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  39. At least a dozen, maybe more. I think disorganization is my biggest problem. I will say, I have not added to the problem in 2014. I have finished what I started. Your 'program' sounds like what I need. Thanks.

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    1. Thanks for visiting! No new UFQ's is a good start! Interestingly the first step of my course focuses on organization!

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  40. Stop at the borders, you say? I resemble that remark. ;-). I am in recovery though. Great post, Mary!

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Lori -- and this is the gal who has survived "no borders" very well!!

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  41. I stop when the top is finished. I currently have 42 tops in need of quilting! This is down from 50 about 3 years ago. This pile of tops keeps me from wanting to make anything new.

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    1. Thanks for visiting! We could have a challenge to see who can get through more of 42 tops?!? One of the big motivations for me to help students deal with UFQ's is because I see many quilters quitting the craft because they are overwhelmed with UFQ's. Pick one for a donation this spring -- quilt it and get fired back up, please!!

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  42. I started a quilt when my oldest went to college, we picked out the fabrics together. It was a jewel box which grew from twin to king and she finally received it after graduating from medical school. I have another twin quilt in the quilt frame And 10 other projects that need to be done and one to start... I Ned this course.

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    1. Thanks for visiting! Does it help to know that I'm currently hand quilting a top for one of my daughters that I made in the late 1990's -- have to set regular goals to keep moving now that I've started but forging ahead!!

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  43. I currently have four UFO's. Two are QAYG projects that I started this year to learn FMQ. Still experiencing the quilter's version of writer's block when it comes to FMQ. Art and doodling do not come natural to me at all. It still feels forced even though I try to practice. I also have two regular quilt tops. I put off prepping them due to lack of space (my house is small) and I have too many pets so creating a clean enough space for extended period of time is a challenge. I hate pinning on the floor and I have to do it all at one time as my husband will only leave the dogs outside for a short while.

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Kellie! Okay stop saying "art and doodling do not come naturally to me" -- say "I want to get comfortable with this" instead -- you need to tell your brain what you want it to do for you. It helps more than you might think! I layer my quilts on a table -- perhaps I should post about that -- noted on the idea list!

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  44. Cheers from Australia.
    You gave some good advice here - thanks. The actual quilting is what holds me up. I can't afford to 'quilt by check' so I have 'almost finished' tops - once they're finished I have to stop and quilt. I have at least a dozen quilts waiting for borders as well as other small projects. Fortunately I am learning quilt-as-you-go and am also embracing some of the modern quilting designs that use a walking foot instead of free motion (which I will get to one day as well).

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Shari! The modern quilting designs are very practical and I'm starting to incorporate some of them into my work. I have to remind myself sometimes that many of the folks who get my quilts are just blown away at the fact that I cut all this stuff up and can sew it back together by myself -- so they aren't likely to be harsh judges of the "beauty" of my quilting.

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  45. I have about 15 UFO's... and some I know exactly why they are sitting there... and others I did repurpose... and they turned into more than one project!!!! Some of mine go back to the late 80's, much too long to hang about!

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Beth -- my oldest UFQ dates to the late 1970's, is 2/3 hand quilted and I have it laying out with the expectation that it might guilt me into finishing it -- no luck so far!!

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  46. Very good advice for all of my projects not just the quilts!!! I have one UFQ of my own, one of my grandmother's and one my daughter and I are working on together. That one will get finished when she has time. I ran out of two of the fabrics in my own UFQ. I really don't know how to proceed. Guess I better get creative? Thanks for the chance to win some help.

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    1. thanks for visiting! Ran out of fabric? Get it out and audition it with everything you own in compatible colors -- something might work and be even better than what was intended -- works over and over for me -- challenge is to have the guts to try it!!

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  47. Hi - I have over 20 UFOs. My problem is that the next project catches my eye and I can't wait to start that one, so the current one becomes a UFO. You know the feeling, like a kid in the candy store who bought a chocolate while spotting a bigger, better one in the case...just gotta have it!

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    1. Thanks for visiting! I do know what you mean, but now that I realize I can't do all of the great new ideas out there, I try to pick the most interesting ones -- things that will really challenge me and keep me interested.

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  48. After digging through my sewing room, I was surprised to find that I had 27 UFOs. I have really been taking Lori's advice to heart and started a quilting journal listing all of my projects and the steps I need to complete them. It was a good exercise because it helped me to see a consistent pattern in my work methods. I have 5 completed tops that need to be layered and basted. Some of my projects are languishing because I tend to buy fabric without a specific project in mind and can't find a fabric that works for the border and backing. There are 5 projects just waiting for the blocks to be sewn together. When I really thought about it, I realized that I was putting all of my projects on hold and starting new ones because I am not confident with the quilting process. I tend to do standard stitch in the ditch and use the wavy line stitch from my sewing machine at its widest and longest setting. The quilt tops and UFOs are mostly patterns that are not suited for stitch in the ditch quilting. I need to push myself to practice FMQ to get rid of my quilt log jam.

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Kathleen -- I'm glad to hear Lori's suggestions are helping you -- Stay with it and some solutions will begin to appear. I urge you to push yourself to quilt something for real -- practice only takes us so far!

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  49. I used to have a list of UFOs - I wonder what happened to it? Just off the top of my head without much looking and digging around, I can come up with 22 quilt tops in various stages of construction. About 10 of those are tops. One of which I am actually currently work on the FMQuilting. I really like the ratio you have come up with Mary, 3 to 1, three finished before starting a new project. My personal stumbling block is falling in love with a new pattern, technique, or fabric and wanting to get in to it, before finishing up the last project. There are so many wonderful things to experiment with out there in the quilting world! Another stumbling block is fear of messing up that beautiful top with inferior quilting. Need to improve my FMQ skills!

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    1. thanks for visiting -- your ratio could be 2 finishes for 1 start if you think it will help motivate you -- you don't have as many UFQ's as I do.

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  50. I have 31 UFO's (gasp) I actually said that!! Some are from way way back. Classes that I took and lost interest or something I didn't like when it was finished. I always struggle with how to quilt it. So in a drawer they went. It breaks my heart that they aren't being used. I need that kick to "get it done". I hope that there's someway to get these quilts back in my life!!

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    1. Thanks for visiting! Donate the ones you don't like to a charity group and then start with finished the ones you love the most -- that will reduce the guilt and perhaps motivate you.

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  51. Of the umpteen UFQs I have, I have 5 quilt tops. What I see I have a lot of is stacks of quilt blocks. It always seems that there is a new top I must work on, sigh. I need an assault plan or more hours to the day. Thanks for the chance, Mary. PS I do do 15 minutes a day at least.

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    1. Thanks for visiting again!! There are no more hours I'm sorry to say -- I've been working to gets my block stacks into tops, make a backing and binding and then hold onto them until I find someone to finish them for -- seems to be helping me make progress!

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  52. I have about 15 tops now that are done but not quilted because that is my stumbling block! I'd like to quilt them myself but want to do more than stitch in the ditch or straight lines. Lori's blog has given me lots of great ideas and I've been practicing on some small quilts. I am making slow but steady progress. I am trying to finish most of my current projects before I start any more (but it's really hard to do!).

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Verna -- it is really hard not to start something new -- it's so much more fun, but keep at it and celebrate your progress when you finish something -- Lori's designs have inspired a couple of my recent finishes!

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  53. I have three antique quilt tops that I have aquired over the years, one is from My Nana and I would love to finish them! I also hand pieced a quilt for my first born son and his Bride 15 years ago that sits on my shelf... Several others are just hanging around to have that perfect free motion quilting pattern but I still haven't found it.... I am working on a free motion grid pattern that I keep ripping out as it isn't quite square.... and of course I have embroidery work to do on all the Grandkids t-shirts... I need help and it sounds as if Mary could be the ONE! Thanks for the opportunity.

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    1. Thanks for visiting -- perfect is an illusion -- go for the best possibility from what you know!!

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  54. I have at least 10 completed quilt tops and more partially finished quilt tops. A roadblock for me is getting them basted, and I have a lot of trouble deciding on a quilting design that looks great and can be done on my home machine. The battle cry these days is FINISH before I start even more projects.

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    1. Thanks for visiting -- I don't enjoy layering either so I either do it with a friend --- one for me and one for her -- or watch a favorite movie while pinning. And I try to do 2 or 3 at a time while I'm on a roll -- and never when there is a full moon!!

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  55. I have 19 UFQ's, but every so often I find another skulking around a closet. I have 2 completed tops that aren't sandwiched. I don't even want to count all the quilt tops I inherited from my Aunt Marie, my quilting muse. Those I don't think of as unfinished. I hand quilt those. My problems? Getting a mitered corner on both sides of my quilt when putting on my binding. The biggest hindrance is quilting on my machine. I have challenged myself to quilt my own quilts. I have done a QAYG. I'm fine with stitch in the ditch. I have a couple of different stipple patterns. I need to have more ideas for quilt patterns and then practice them.

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    1. Thanks for visiting -- earlier this year, I posted about binding -- think it was in January -- check it out and see if that helps with your corners.

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  56. I try to finish every thing asap. I have a top to quilt and that's about it. Your hints are great. Thank you.

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    1. thanks for visiting -- finish everything asap -- that's incredible -- you may be one in a hundred!

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