One warm palette:
The other cool:
Since each contains elements of equilateral triangles and skinny strips, I figured I'd try to tackle both at once. Lots of chain piecing and ironing, but definitely no mixing up fabrics here! And I have to say it makes for an extra colorful workroom ;)
In the interim, I have these friendly reminders
But what you can't see are all the other WIPs in my world (I may or may not have had to rearrange the racks just to snap that picture). I started making a list; once I hit a dozen I decided I needed to adopt a new sewing philosophy. From now on, I'm giving myself one month to quilt once I have a completed top. (In my head I was thinking one month from start to finish for the whole project, but as soon as I saw it on paper I knew that would be overly ambitious... and dare I say contradictory to the tempo of quilting itself!?)
In any event, that means the clock's ticking on the tartan top I finished last week. As for these two, it's a good thing they've reverted to incomplete tops; otherwise that timer would be bouncing off the shelf by now ;)
What about you? Do you take it one quilt at a time or have you worked out a good system for balancing (and finishing) what you've started? I'd love to hear how you make it work!
It's always tough to keep yourself in check… I try not to have too many WIPs. I think if I ever started approaching ten I'd have to get a little ruthless with my free time to demolish the pile. I have rules, too, about starting projects - I ask myself, "Why am I doing this - want vs. neeeeeeed, learning a technique or something new vs. sewing for the sake of sewing, gift for someone vs. specific purpose vs. creative exploration? Do I already have fabric or will this mean buying more? Am I still going to be enthusiastic if it isn't done in six months? Will it get used when it's finished?" My answers to those questions can determine whether or not I start something. Not that I don't have whims that turn out wonderful or giant plans that go sour but asking those questions at the outset tends to cut a lot of UFOs from ever being.
ReplyDeleteI also tend to go really hard on a project - I get to a point and then I sprint to the finish - and on a regular basis, I make a little list (no more than 4 or 5) of things I need to finish up before I start anything new. I've managed to never get overwhelmed with WIPs and UFOs.
I think I need to adopt Carly's philosophy! I haven't actually counted how many wips I have for ages but I'm pretty sure it is pushing 20... Most of them I still love though, I just need to find time to actually finish them - maybe next year, lol!
ReplyDeleteWow - there are some beautiful colours going on in this pile! Sigh, I don't have a good system for balancing WIPs - the list seems to be going up and up! I do prioritise quilts with a deadline though, so I manage to finish things on a fairly regular basis. I just start things even more regularly!
ReplyDeleteI have a few projects on the go at any one time, but I also like to have finishes so I try not to let one go for too long. As long as I'm keeping them all moving along I'm happy!
ReplyDeleteI'm a one quilt at a time girl. I love piecing, but HATE basting. So, I know myself. If I allowed myself to have more than one quilt going at once, I would have a ton of quilt tops and no quilts. But, that does mean that I can finish about one every week (or two). If I've worked on something I find tedious, I don't allow myself to start anything else until it's finished, then I try to alternate with something quick and easy. I don't even cut fabric for the next quilt until the binding is done on the current one. I do sketch ideas in my pattern notebook though, just so I don't forget them. It just works for me! :)
ReplyDelete-Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation
I should really adapt some system even though I'm not a quilter. Your projects look great!
ReplyDeleteIt depends on how excited I am about something. Or if I'm making it for someone (baby shower gift for example). But a lot of the time I'm guilty of just hanging on to tops since I don't enjoy the quilting part of this hobby as much (I know, terrible!).
ReplyDeleteGosh, the eternal question :-) Right now I'm picking three projects to work on each quarter: something small, something to finish and something new to keep me going. I found that just working on unfinished things got sad after a while because too many new ideas that I wouldn't let myself start were distracting me. It's been working well so far and I've finished more this year than ever before. We'll see how long it last though.
ReplyDeleteI bought a little whiteboard and put all my WIPs down the left hand side. Then for each one I put another column with percent done, and what the next step was. Then I proceeded to completely ignore it. This pretty much sums up all my efforts to "get organized."
ReplyDeleteThose are some slim strips and I am anxious to see it all put together:)
ReplyDeleteI try to work on one quilt until it is completely done. That said with BOM'S obviously that isn't going to happen.
What pretty projects to be working on!
ReplyDeleteThose tops are going to look fab with the pieced borders, can't wait to see them together! Most of my WIPs end up being gifts and have deadlines so I don't have too many hanging around... Although I do have some nearly finished Christmas table mats that didn't make it to completion last time round, maybe this year!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see the border on your BBP quilt top! And i've yet to try that pattern you sent me for Sam's Quilt, i really must get on that, i just love yours!
ReplyDeleteI have no rhyme or reason when it comes to my projects. I do prioritize anything with a deadline but other than that, whatever i feel like working on i do! Unfortunately it leads to way more WIP's than finishes.
I can't face seeing all my WIP's i think i might cry, but i am on a mission to get a few done these next few weeks, so i can start some new ones with a clear conscience!!! :o)
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ReplyDelete