Thursday 13 January 2011


Good morning. I have a couple of questions for you today. The first one I'm pretty sure I know the answer too but I'm very curious about the second.


1. Do you have UFO's ? - see I think I'm almost positive most of you will say yes - lol. I think of my UFO's as something I have started and abandoned before it is done. I am not classing my long term projects in this - such as my English Paper Piecing quilts ( of which I have a few ) as I keep doing a bit here and there. When I get to the stage where my quilt becomes a UFO for whatever reason - deadline on something else, just got distracted etc - I stop working on it. This leads to my next question.

2. Are your UFO's carefully put away in a logical order - perhaps with notes - so you can see where you're up to ? Or are they literally bundled away out of sight, out of mind - lol.

You have probably guessed I'm going somewhere with this. Yes I am working on one of my numerous UFO's - not sure how many I've quite got but a few should cover it :-) After the Christmas rush I got to thinking which one of my quilts-in-progress would I like to see finished first. I decided on one I started only last year but which I really want completed. I will re-cap on this. It is one I saw in Quilters Newsletter and was love at first sight. It is made mainly in Reproduction fabrics and my wonderful friend Dawn very kindly bought me the poison green, chrome yellow fabrics I was struggling to get hold of. She had seen the quilt " in the flesh " and also sent some photos of it. We decided to both make this quilt.


Anyway I knew where it was - all piled up on a tray under my sewing table - like so






Some bits were done - some fabrics cut - little bits half done - no order whatsoever ! So I spent a bit of time working out exactly where I was with this.


There are 25 blocks in the quilt. I discovered 4 were complete.




Each block starts with a nine-patch in the centre and is then bordered. I found all nine-patches done and some ( about 5 more ) had their borders. I had no little borders cut so first job was to go through my fabric drawers and get the fabrics I had used so far - adding a few more to the mix - definitely a scrappy quilter at heart.




I now have all the borders on the nine-patches and am in the process of making lots of flying geese units ( there are 600 altogether )




To my delight I also found I'd made the 80 four-patches needed for the outer border. I can't even remember making these - lol !


I know this is a little long winded but I wanted to share how much fun I had sorting through all my bits and pieces and finding out what needed doing. I know it would have been far easier if everything had been tidy and labelled in little bags and the rest of my pieces cut out but I guess that's just not me.

I am up to 9 blocks complete now with lots more flying geese made and ready to sew. Might get some done later with a bit of luck although my leg is troubling me today. Could be worse.
My heart goes out to everyone affected by the Australian floods - so much devastation - the world truly has it's troubles. I hope to make a small donation tomorrow and wish it could be more.

Take care xxx
















25 comments:

Misty said...

Wow this is going to be a gorgeous quilt!

Which issue of Newsletter was this quilt in?

My UFOs are out of sight (but not completely out of mind!). I'm trying to decide what would be a reasonable goal to set for myself to complete some of them this year. Realistically, as I also avidly knit and crochet, and I'd like to make some new quilts, I might be able to complete two.

Rhonda said...

Great questions.....#1 is easy....oh yes, I have "many" UFOs. To the second question...are they organized and stored......LOL....most of mine are not and have been added to other projects but the most important ones are in ziploc bags or pizza boxes with the magazine or a picture of what I was doing. Like you, I do have to go thru everything to see just where I left off but it's been easy to pick up and get back to it.

Angela said...

Your quilt is going to be stunning! I have lots of UFOs, quilts, embroidery, knitting..you name it I have it, lol. Sadly I'm not an organised person so they're al; just thrown in various boxes and bags stored in the bottom of my wardrobe until I have a fancy to pull something out and have another go at finishing it :)

A Time for Stitching said...

I'm glad you had fun sorting this out. I think what puts people off finishing UFOs is having to recap and remember where they were when they left it.
I have only one UFO which is a cross-stitch picture which is in the cupboard under the stairs. I thought I might get around to finishing it one day but after making a cross-stich bookmark for a friend for Christmas (and not enjoying it much) I'm not so sure.
Teresa x

O'Quilts said...

I think that your quilt will be lovely. Isn't it exciting to find things partially done. So I prefer to call my UFO's WIP's (works in progress)..althought that is just me tricking my mind. I am soon off to a 4 day retreat with 10 WIP's ha ha..one is 30 yrs old, one is 20 years old and the rest..well you get the picture. I am working on organization. Guess your question hit a nerve here..Good luck:)

Vicki W said...

1. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
2. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Your quilt is going to be gorgeous.

claudia said...

I can see why you fell in love with this quilt. It is gorgeous!
I have to chuckle at your questions...yes I have UFO's, lots of them. I am fickle at best. Some of them I have carefully put together in air tight bags with labels, directions, etc. Others not so much. When I have pulled out the ones with the directions and all parts kept together, it seems I am as confused as the ones I pull out that were put away with abandon. I go through the piles wondering what I was thinking!
Can't wait to see the progress on your beautiful quilt!

Gail said...

I love the quilt! It will be fantastic when you finish. I have UFO's (or WISP works in slow progress as some call them.) Most are but not all are in project boxes waiting for me, I would still have to "recap" each piece before I could begin again. This is my on-going project for this year-to finish what I've started!

It was good to see your post!

Floss said...

Yes, ofcourse I have UFO. Most jut start by getting pushed to the side. At some point I think I need more space here and then they get put into some kind of container, anything from bag to nice container depending on when I think I will get back to it. If it is something that I know will be a while it moy even get baggies inside the container. If I think I will get bag to it in a couple of week (LOL) then its a bag on a shelf. Its surprising how many of these I have.

country mouse said...

Oh yes do I have UFOs!! No, they're not neatly organized. Maybe a little, but hey, I kind of like the surprises I can pull out of the fabric bins when I start looking for something. Kinda like Christmas all over lol ;cD

I love the project you are working on now, just beautiful!!!

Pam said...

The way I figure it is - So long as I am alive - all mine are Works in Progress!! All of mine are in it's own bag with the various instructions and fabric required so I can catch up pretty quickly when I do work on them.

LOVE - LOVE that quilt!

the ark said...

I have maybe 20 UFOs but they are well-ordered in 2 gallon zippered bags, so they don't bother me too much. In 2009 I went through my UFOs and decided which to just give up on, which to use the fabric and pieces for other quilts and which ones I wanted to actually finish. I think I finished 10 or so last year. This year I am focusing on NEW stuff-those projects that I really have wanted to do but never got around to starting.
I saw the quilt you are working on in the magazine and I am impressed! Sometimes I see these quilts with a zillion pieces and just want to take a nap! Yours looks so beautiful already, I can't wait to see it all put together!
Tricia

Teresa said...

Good luck with your quilt...its going to be a beauty!

Quilts And Pieces said...

Oh WOW! You have way more done than me! Your blocks are looking soo wonderful! I have to get back to working on mine! Thanks for the inspiration!

Deb A said...

1.) Yes, but they are going down due to a challenge with my guild for 1 a month. I listed things to get done one a month Sept-June. So far, I'm doing ok.
2.) I had all pieces in one or two big rubbermaid tubs which were stored in the closet in my son's room... kinda out of sight out of mind. I pulled them when I got my 'sewing closet' in September. Still a work in progress but it was fun to sift through and pull projects out and find things to work on for the challenge. At least I had all the parts in one place!
Like many others, I also have a counted cross stitch that hasn't been picked up in years, various knitting/crochet - a sweater for Emily - my first attempt at a sweater and I do dishcloths for mindless knitting.
Love the quilt, can't wait to see it finished.
So glad you are feeling better and back to your blog!

jovaliquilts said...

I have more UFO's than I like to admit, some very well organized and ready to be taken up again, and some ... not. I love what you're working on, and the scrappiness is wonderful.

Quilter Kathy said...

Love this quilt...so glad to see you are working on it again :)
I have lots of hidden UFO's...usually with no notes, because I never intend to be separated from them for so long! I hope to be more organized this year.

welsh penny said...

Hi Andrea,and Happy New Year to my english [sorry, welsh] Cousin! Love the quilt,as I was reading I was thinking I want to do that one! I have a big bundle of Bread & Butter Repoductions by Kaye England and I am looking for a project. Then you went and spoilt it! 600 x flying geese! No way. U.F.O's are great! Need A quick birthday gift or xmas present,grab a ufo to finish,why not? the works already half done! Gail

Andrea said...

I just love the quilt - totally awesome - I hope to see a pic of the completed flimsy someday.
And.. to answer your questions - yes I have UFOs. Yes, they are in containers becuase I had to catologue everything when we had 2 overseas moves in 3 years, so I needed to know for insurance and removalist purposes. My NYE resolution is to complete at least 24 this year, that is 50% of my total UFOs. Some of these have such a small amount to finish them and others require a lot of work. But, gosh, I just love the fabrics and each one is so exciting when I open up the container. I only hope that I don't get too distracted from my goal..........

julieQ said...

No, I do not have any UFO's...(NOT!) I have lots and lots!! Hee! I have always admired this quilt, and yours is just beautiful...I know this quilt will not stay a UFO for long!

Vivian said...

My UFOs (I have many) used to be all over the house, but this is my year of "organize and simplify," and for a change, I'm really doing it. I'm finishing my 3rd UFO of 2011, I'm giving away a few, and I'll work on the others in between new projects.
The UFOs really wear me out, then bore me, then frustrate me if I think about them too much, so it's time to finish them or get rid of them.
Your project is gorgeous. What a great surprise it must have been to find so many parts already done or partly done. That's the best kind of UFO--well on its well to being done. Yours will be a stunner!

Shirley said...

Silly question :p do you have ufo's, uh plenty. I Guess about 10, but who's counting. And some way to organize them, just plastic bags, some with the measurements of the pieces to be cut. Love the blocks you found!

Anonymous said...

I love that quilt, could you tell me the issue/number of the magazine it was in please....

Hope you leg will be better soon.

Christine

Unknown said...

My UFOs are here and there and it bothers me to think about them!

scraphappy said...

Your blocks are beautiful! I hope you get the quilt top done soon.