Hi friends!
In todays’ post, I want to chat about sewing goals, quilt UFOs, overwhelm and time.
Quilt UFOs
Last week was my local quilt guild’s monthly meeting. It was a Zoom meeting and a friend of mine was the presenter! Sew fun!
They mentioned during the meeting that the guild is sponsoring a UFO challenge- you sign up, fill out a form listing 10 UFOs and then, once a UFO is complete, you send in a picture and get an entry in a Grand Prize drawing at the end of the year.
Do you have quilt UFOs? Quilts started but not completed? I have a bunch! In my pile, or in my project boxes, there are “business” ones- quilts that were going to be patterns until I got a new, shiny quilt idea, abandoned the first quilt and moved onto another one!
There are personal UFOs – some that I started YEARS ago, transported from CT to CO when I moved and they have sat in boxes since then. Hmmmm….
So… I decided to go through my boxes and find my UFOs and see which ones I would want to finish. Turns out I have WAYYYYYYYYY more than 10!
Seeing the amount of UFOs in my possession was overwhelming as I have them stashed in many, many places!
Overwhelm
Looking at all those quilt UFOs… now what? how do I start? Where do I start?
Kate, take a deep breath.
Let’s make a list and then make a plan.
A list doesn’t have to be fancy; it can just be a list! But for those of us who like a pretty list, click here for a fun downloadable one you can use!
(Note– I had to print the list at 96% so my printer did not cut things off the top and bottom!)
Time
Some of you know that I have been doing a 100day challenge on Instagram- everyday for the last 30+ days, I have made and posted a nine patch block.
Just cute little nine patch blocks using leftover 2 ½” squares from other projects. What have I learned so far?
First, it really doesn’t take very long to make a nine patch block. If I spend a little time once a week laying out the squares into groups for each block, then the sewing can be done in 5 minutes.
5 minutes!
I often say I “don’t have time”. I have 5 minutes. It is just that getting started is the hardest part. Deciding what to work on, getting the fabrics out and making a plan…
Second, if I know what I am going to sew and have it ready to go, it’s really pretty easy.
I have realized if I set small sewing goals each day, it is easy to get done and it doesn’t overwhelm me. No one said that the quilt has to get made this week! A little everyday and it will get done!
So that is how I am going to approach my UFOs, make a plan, get organized and have it easy to grab a block, a border, whatever! each day and then sew a little everyday.
Quilt UFOs on the List
I am up to 5+ rows done for my Tula Pink’s City Sampler quilt. A few years ago, as a part of another 100 day challenge, I made the 100 blocks and now I am finally putting the quilt top together! I designed a setting and I have been sewing the borders on a block everyday along with my nine patch block and I see progress!
I love being able to drape the quilt in progress over the half wall in my sewing loft.
What project/UFO do you want to get started on? Leave me a comment!
happy quilting!
Kate
P.S. Excited about the Sisterhood Quilt Along??? The pattern is almost done! We have sent it to multiple editors and are just checking and rechecking, dotting the i’s, crossing the t’s and hoping to be done and sending to you all soon!
If you missed hearing about it, here is a link to last week’s post with more information about it!