Thanks for coming along with me as I work to gain more focus in my quilting life. My goal is to tackle my UFOs one at a time and finish them! Please note that the number one UFO on my list is now a finished quilt top with all borders attached! Close up below.
One of the biggest obstacles to finishing quilting projects is switching from one to another whenever a new idea catches your attention. I am so guilty of this. I can be plugging along, making blocks for a project I am excited about, and then get inspired by a new idea I saw on Instagram or somewhere else, abandon ship, and get distracted by planning and starting a new project. Before I know it, my sewing room is a disaster, and six half-started projects clutter my space.
Step one was to list all my UFOs in my cute notebook and note the next steps needed to move them toward completion.
Step Two in my Focus Plan calls for:
Picking a Primary Project
This is the project we are going to focus on. I have chosen three projects to work on one after another. All three projects are one step away from completion. I just want to wrap them up and get them done. I have prioritized them as follows: first, outside borders on the 4th at Granny’s quilt top; second, final border on the Border of the Month quilt top; and third, machine binding on the Red Pineapple quilt.
Here is an alternative way to manage Step Two. This works well if your UFOs aren’t as close to the finish line as mine are. Here’s what you do:
1) Pick your primary project to work on
2) Pick a side or secondary project to pick up when you get tired of your main UFO
3) Organize your other UFOs in project boxes lined up in the order in which you want to tackle them. You aren’t abandoning these projects; you are just setting them aside and getting them out of the way while you work on your Priority Project. These UFOs are now neatly stored and waiting their turn.
When I finish my three nearly completed UFOs, this is the plan I will move on to. I will pick my Primary Project: Corn Maze. Steps needed to finish: connect rows, attach outside borders. Back up project to pick up if I need a change: Plow and Harvest blocks.
See where I am going with this?
This approach is great because it lets you enjoy variety without scattering your attention across six or seven quilts. The main aspect of both these approaches to Step Two is that YOU ARE NOT STARTING ANYTHING NEW. I think this method could be just the thing for we gals who crave variety in our projects. We just need to control all that variety a bit, right?
Next up is Step Three, which focuses on organizing your sewing time.
4 Responses
Good luck! I know you can do it! But I do love to see you get distracted by a new pattern or line of fabric. 🙂
It’s always good to have a plan! I look forward to watching your progress!
I loved the blocks on the design wall and it looks fabulous on the bed – and not quilted yet, so it will be even more fab when completed!
You have worked out a great plan. I really must get into my treasure chest and see what I can pull out – I think one could be a finish without the need for a border – it’s already big (sewn at a retreat years ago but it was the border making me go meh!), with luck I might find another one like it!!!! Then iron it/them and put them in the line with the other ready to quilt ones. I really must make notes to keep track. I do keep track of my quilted ones, the patterns used and a brief description/sketch of the design and the designer of the pattern.
That sounds like an excellent plan! Thoroughly looking forward to seeing it in action.