UFOs

I love the planning, designing, picking colors, piecing, and anything to do with the top, but I hate the sandwiching and quilting, so I have at least a dozen full-sized tops languishing on the shelf. I can always find an excuse to start something new and forget about the tops waiting for years.

I think it just comes down to human nature Jo. We lose interest and have our eyes on the next new idea. Think about how many folks almost are all the way through college. My old guild used to do swaps and auctions where we mixed up our projects. I was so happy to see an almost finished top return to show and tell all finished by another quilter that was able to get excited about it. I was really over working on it but she picked it up and carried on. Sometimes letting go of projects is a good thing. This is a hobby for fun. Enjoy it whatever way you can. Taria

I'm pretty sure that everyone here (apart from Ragmop) has a couple of UFOs, probably a few more than they would care to admit or would like and I once again wonder.... why is it that we have UFOs?

For myself, one quilt is waiting for me to remember how to do a seamless join on the binding, and then I can finish binding and it will be done. So it's about 90% finished, but I never get the time to read the bit in the book which is relevant to this, thread the machine with the right colour and DO IT. Also, I do not like the bit where you cut the binding fabric after you make the join as it seems so final. Perhaps I am overthinking this.

I have a few more where I have simply lost interest. Occasionally I will feel pangs of guilt and work on these projects but my heart is not in it. I really should finish them, if only to give them away, but it is not fun to sew because you SHOULD, instead of for sheer enjoyment. It becomes simply a chore, a task to cross off your list and rather akin to doing the washing up or scrubbing floors.

At least one UFO is not done because I don't like the colour scheme and althought the recipient will love it, I drag my feet on completing it. Also, I am unwilling to post this overseas due to the tiny chance it might go missing or get stolen, so I am planning on getting it done for our wedding next year, when I can lure the recipient over, or it will have to wait until we go to the US and it can be transported in my carryon luggage. So all that acts as a disincentive to finish. I need deadlines.

One UFO is unfinished because the recipient died half-way through the piecing of it. It is brocade and velvet (never again!) and will look lovely. However, everyone I know has a cat and said cat would claw the quilt or shed all over it, and this quilt really needs a careful, cat-free owner. While I try to find such a recipient, it sits half-completed.

Well there is the woeful tale of several of my UFOs and why they came to be UFOs instead of crib quilts, twin quilts, lap quilts and so on. I can almost hear them pleading with me to come rescue them from their dismal fate.

Why are your UFOs still UFOs?

-- Jo in Scotland

AHA! I saw that. You said, "For my wedding next year". YeeeeeeeeHA. I've been so hoping to hear that you've decided to marry that wonderful, brilliant precious babyson's father. Well. I reckon that's whom you are planning to wed. Happy, happy day here. You two have been through so much trauma and joy together; might as well get the vows and paperwork done. As to UFOs; their time will come. When there's a big need like the disaster in Japan, it was good to turn to my UFO tops and have an easy start to getting a hug ready to send. Can't think about UFOs. Gotta go rouse the gators and do a happy dance. Jo's got "my wedding" plans. And ah One and ah Two. Might even get them to waltz. Polly

I'll join Polly in this! I re-read that bit, and decided there was no other meaning >g< Congratulations Jo. The UFOs will have to wait a bit longer I suspect: lots of planning and, probably, needlework, ahead. Can't wait to see the page boy outfit >g< . In message , Polly Esther writes

Interesting! Like you, I have a piece produced with one of those "instant" piecing techniques, using stuff from my stash. One of those things where you don't really know how it will look until you've put a lot of it together. And it doesn't look that good! I would have picked very different fabrics if I'd had to buy it all new. But that's my only real UFO. I have no cats either.

Your b>I'm pretty sure that everyone here (apart from Ragmop) has a couple of

I have two or three UFO's sitting around. The main one is one I started on a quilt cruise some years ago (so many I can't remember). I got some of the border done and one block then ran out of time. By the time I got home with it I'd slept and couldn't remember which already cut piece went where. It now languishes in a box with the pattern waiting for me to sort the cut pieces into their appropriate piles yet again. I swore then I'd never take another quilt cruise. Cruise yes, absolutely, but quilt classes too, no never. Off tirade mode now :>) One other is one I didn't make the center but added borders. I didn't make it from scratch and can't get myself excited about quilting it. Soon on that one for Ronald McDonald House. Here's to fewer and fewer UFO's and more finished. Donna in Bellevue

I really like the days at sea to be with DH, go to lectures, play cards, lounge around, etc. On the quilt cruise I was on, it was only a week and the sea days were spent in classes. They started early with a short break for lunch and ended just before dinner. No down time. I've been on cruises that lasted up to a month and they were just about perfect with sea days and shore days interspersed. I like that but the pressure I put on myself with the quilting aspect was too much. My quilting buddy here has been on lots of quilt cruises and loves them. Her DH likes to spend time at the pool, she doesn't. The cruise gives her something to do with other people of like mind. To each his/her own. I'll spend my cruising money ( if there is any) on longer cruises and no pressure. It''s a nit-picky personal preference that's all. Many of my friends from Washington love quilt cruising. Donna in Bellevue where I'm trying to get over my grumpyness and having some success

I am very uncomfortable with UFOs and I prefer to work on one project at a time. Multiple projects distract me to the point of paralysis. My definition of "finished sufficiently to put away" is a flimsy -- an unquilted top. I can live with flimsies for years.

I apply bindings by machine. I usually zigzag the top stitching.

Nann

Like you, Nann, I'd much rather finish one project before starting another. I also have to have a neat and clean sewing room before I can sit down and sew! That's just me! Currently, I'm working on some crafty projects for our Church Bazaar in November. The only UFO's I have are two sets of blocks that I won in drawings. I really don't like the one set at all, and the other set came in two sizes....even though everyone followed (or didn't follow) the same directions! I'm thinking I could make two table runners or table toppers....one from each size!

That's interesting. In my cache of quilting a top is considered a ufo. I like the idea of counting them out though. Less ufo's in a snap! Taria

I apply bindings by machine. I usually zigzag the top stitching.

Nann