I have tried the tough love approach - giving myself a deadline to finish it and not allowing myself to work on anything else. Ha! Do you think I would listen to myself? Not! I have tried the 'to-do' list approach with reasonable deadlines set at 3, 6, and 12 months in the future. Seemed doable but it wasn't. I have pulled all (ha! who am I kidding? I'm sure I missed some, I don't even know where they all are!) my UFOs out and critically appraised them with the intent of letting some go to the great fabric graveyard. One actually did pass over the fabric bridge but there are still too many left to complete.
Whatever the reason for how we ended up with UFOs, we need to do something about them. I recently read an article that may help on a blog called Quilters Stashbox - CLICK HERE The owner of the blog, Brenda Wolfensberger, asked some pretty famous quilters how they handle their UFOs (August 10/17 post) and here are a few of their answers:
Physician, accomplished designer, quilter, and esteemed quilt judge - Scott Murkin has a lot on his plate yet remains remarkably prolific, having completed hundreds of quilts since 1994.
The surest way to tank a UFO is to put it away where you can’t ever see it. If you have the luxury of a design wall, leave one or more UFOs out at all times where you can glance at them while working on other things. When you least expect it, something will spark you to get back to work on it. If a design wall isn’t practical, find other ways to look at your UFOs regularly or they will almost certainly stay UFOs.
I think these ideas could work for me - put it where you can see it instead of hiding it and develop a reward system. Sounds very doable!Make lists of what step each UFO needs to move it to the next stage. I love marking things off lists, so that’s a great motivator for me. Other people make themselves do one or two things from the list before they can work on their current favorite project. Figure out the reward system that works for you and engage it.
Mary Schilke co-founded the MQX Quilt Festival. That alone should take a moment to really sink in. Her impact on the industry has been profound (along with co-founder Janet-Lee Santeusanio). She is an award-winning longarm quilter and instructor.
Another excellent suggestion - I know when I sit down with iPad the minutes fly by and it's really 'useless' time if I'm honest with myself. And I really would rather be quilting.Make time every day even if it's 30 minutes. Instead of watching the TV or surfing the web, promise yourself the time to work on your project a little bit every day. Those little points of time will contribute to inspiring you to finish, hone your skills and get you on to the next project.
And here are a few more ideas from other quilters:
Just Pass It On!
Sharon Murphy takes a no-nonsense approach: "I pick one UFO and do at least 15 mins of sewing on it before sewing anything else. If I have to force myself to sew on it, then I box it up and give away as-is."
Judy Stupak is also willing to push those UFOs out the door. "My strategy is to either reduce the size [of the quilt], or give it away if I really don't like it anymore. Our guild has a members' garage sale once a year where your junk becomes someone else's treasure." Judy then spends the first six months of each year finishing the UFOs she still likes, then allows herself to begin new projects during the second half of the year.
The 'No Excuses' Approach
Cindy Vogel knows how to put herself on the spot. "I tell people when I am making them a quilt. I share photos along the way. It keeps me motivated to keep working on their project."
Hedda Pike tells us to push through the less fun parts of quilting. "Honestly, I think it is just plain discipline, unless you ended up hating the project. Once it is sewn, now comes the hard yards, the boring sandwiching and finishing bits - it's like the creativity is finished. So just buckle down and do it!"
Keep 'Em Visible
Angela Palmer Henrie agrees with Scott Murkin, saying, "I like to see my UFOs. If they go in a drawer I forget about them... if they're hanging on a design wall I can't go too long before I have to finish it."
Joyce Ray tells us she has tried the "one at a time" approach and denying herself any new fabric until her UFOs are complete, and "IT DOES NOT WORK!" Fortunately, she has better luck just keeping those unfinished projects visible. "My tip is to package those UFOs in a clear plastic tub (no lecture about plastic, they will be there only a year or so) and to put in the thread you plan to use, batting if the box is big enough, and even the backing. It helps to have everything there."
Kathleen Kitty Jones keeps her UFOs in plain site as well. "I get fed up of them judging me," she says.
Great ideas! Do you think you'll use any of the to help you get your UFOs finished? Bev
