Pat Sloan's 12 UFO Buster Tips - Tip 1 Know what you have

Start at the Beginning..

You need to Know what you have.

If you have NOT done this lately, then do it today or before Tuesday...

COUNT your Projects in Progress... you know ... the UFOs! 

Yes I am serious, very serious.

You need to haul out ALL the projects that have been started.

Just the STARTED ones.

And we are going to sort them.

 
Sort them into these groups 

• Group A - Almost done – not much left to finish it AND I LOVE the project and WANT to finish it
   
• Group B – Almost done but .....This is the group that you have lost interest in and really don't feel like working on it any more..  GIVE THEM AWAY.. yep.. you'll feel MUCH better
   
• Group C – Patially done AND I LOVE the project and WANT to finish it

• Group D – Partially done but....Do you REALLY want to finish them? I think we often have more in these piles than we think we do
  

• Group E – Barely started – do you want to keep or not?

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I'm not only going to give you 12 tips to tackle your UFOS

I'm going to LIVE these tips with you.

Let me show you what this sorting can do for you.

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This basket has quilts that are in various stages of the quilting process.

One just needs binding!

Group A - Almost done - now list them..

And put them in order of importance

here is mine(If I can do it YOU can do it!)

1. yellow/pink log cabin – binding only
2. A Secret Garden
3. paper pieced from video workshop
4. Purple/yellow town square
5. nick of time pink 
6. nick of time teal

 Group B – Almost done but ...

From your list above I bet there are some you REALLY don't want to finish.  I actually have 3 that I used for demos on George my sit down Longarm. I want them done to give to charity. If I just finish quilting I could give to someone else to bind and off they go.... mmmm... several just need one border finished!

Point here is.... you do NOT NEED to finish everything you started. I can give to someone else to bind.

If you no longer love it...

• give it away
• sell it
• but do not keep it

 Group C – Patially done AND I LOVE the project and WANT to finish it

The photo aboave is of my tops. I have gone through them MANY times and right now I THINK I want them all. But the longer I do not quilt them... the more chance I'll have out grown them.

Now list your Partially done.. I'm just listing my tops today

And put them in order of importance

here is mine(If I can do it YOU can do it!)

1. seaside pieced
2. Seaside Applique Quilt
3. quilt from online workshop
4. Mango Tango – OP trade – baste to take to shows to quilt.
5. 5 o'clock somewhere
6. Farmer's market
7. Crooked cabin with tropical border
8. SL block swap
9. 30's swap blocks with sayings
10. Frogs in the pond
11. Pimitive Blackbird 4 block
12. 30's antique

• NOTE - I have about 16 MORE projects that have been started .... I'll share that another day

Group D – Partially done but....

From your list above take out the projects that you really have outgrown, that you never liked that much, that are giving you Guilt.

At this point I'm SHOCKED I have 6 tops in progress and 12 tops unquilted.. one is VERY VERY VERY old... like 12 yrs and I STILL love it.. BUT... really ... seriously.. I need to quilt it and enjoy it!

Group E – Barely started

And the last group for you to sort is this one, the ones you have BARELY started. I have those too... they are way down on my list (but I'll share in future posts!)

• What is in this group anyway?
• Are they NEWLY barely started? 
• OLD Barely started?
• You must have done SOMETHING to put it in this pile. 
• COLLECTIONS of fabric and pattern do not count (YIPPEE!)
• Take a GOOD... HARD... RUTHLESS look at thsi group and be sure what you leave in this pile are projects you want to continue

NOW WHAT?

Between today and next Tuesday get everything sorted

Be RUTHLESS... need support?

Join me HERE at the Quilt Forum where we can all hold hands

Shead tears for old projects

And give support for getting rid of DEAD WEIGHT

Post photos to share at our flickr group

Chat on Facebook.

I'm here for you!

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Can you do it? I KNOW you can because I have!

Tell me what your Oldest UFO project is .... I want to know!

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11 More Tips - Tues and Thursday until Thanksgiving day!

In my Newsletter and here at my blog

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Comments

[gregg]

test

[Leah Holland]

This is a great project. I am working my way through a few UFOs this week...

One is done! YEAH... Another is in the machine waiting to be quilted. A third & forth are out on the desk... Must get them done soon. But progress is being made.

[Barbara Jones]

I'm slowly trying to organize my UFOs - you can see my progress on my blog: http://wvheavenlyhome.blogspot.com/2010/10/ufos.html

Thanks for the shove in the right direction! ;)

[Jan Harmon]

Okay, I counted them up and I have 37 UFO's. I found two sets of blocks that I would be willing to part with, BUT then my dog friend suggested I finish them off into a dog bed for my dear border collie, Buster. Now I am going to keep EVERYTHING!
:-)
--jan harmon in southern california

[Mary Ellen]

Okay I'm making my list Good thing the quilt guild had a ufo challenge so I got 10 done Yes thats right ten. Anyway my list will be done tomorrow Where do we post it?

[Lady Rags]

http://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/

NO WAY IN "HECK" am I going to get my UFO out of the basement. I just got them down there, stacked nice and neatly. I have a list of them in a journal and on my computer and I have been getting out one project whenever I start a new one. I work on them simetaneously till they get done. I do not allow myself to start another new project until the UFO is completed.

This system has been working for me for the past year and I have completed several UFO along with working on project I am currently interested in.

I know there are a couple of UFOs that need to go to charity quilters to finish up... good fabric... but I no longer am interested in completed them but I know a group of ladies who love this kind of donation.

I have decided I am a process quilter more interested in playing then actually having 100s of quilts finished... still work outside the home. ... so more quilting will have to wait until retirement.

Come to think of it my UFOs are my retirement nest egg.

Nonnie
aka
Lady Rags

[Nancy]

The way my list looks on what I have to get done my end of month, I can start looking to see what UFO I don't know about!
Thanks for the inspiration
Nancy in IN

[Mary Ellen]

Okay I'm going to make a list and then try and sort them into categories and of course off to work at 3:30 Think I'll get it done? Positive thinking!! Better go get started

[Mary Ann]

My oldest UFO is a 15 yr old QIAD log cabin, one of my first quilts. It only needs binding. Its done with high loft batting (what was I thinking?) and lives in a big trash bag taking up lots of room in the sewing room closet.

[JoAn godfrey]

I like your ideas for weeding out ufo's. will have to spend some time working on mine, but there is a wedding today and don't have the quilt finished yet. ready to layer and tie. that will be next weekend.

[Lisa Garner]

Pat--will you post a photo of your Primitive Blackbird quilt? I absolutely LOVE blackbirds and would like to see it!

[Sherry Redowl]

I am part way ahead of the game. I sorted the quilt tops that I have done and ready to quilt (21 of them)in December. I also named my partially finished projects (WIP's) and have 12 of those. I listed them on my blog and have tried to work on getting some off the list each month. I have failed dismally. I think this blog will help me get some things finished. And yes, they can be Christmas presents.....

[Grace]

Actually, for once, I am ahead of the game. I have already gone through my old UFO's, and I have purged what I was no longer interested in finishing. It is very freeing to get rid of it, and not have it hanging over your head any longer. Currently, I have been working on the things that I do want to finish. Getting three tops ready to send to the Long-Arm quilter, and finishing up a few smaller projects that have been sitting on top of my sewing machine table. It may seem a little overwhelming at first, but little by little, things do get done, and you feel like you have accomplished something. So, persevere, and you will see result too.

[Linda]

I have about six quilts that are over ten years old that just need the binding--so horrible--I was a caregiver for years and never got to it....you are right--you do out grow the old quilts....thanks for doing this task with us---if you are a quilter, you just have to face who you have become every few years.....

[Shirley in Canada]

Well the oldest one I can find was one I did in 1999; got it quilted in 2007...and then total stand-still Again. All that is needed is to bind it, but for the life of me I cannot find the right color of blue! Do you have any idea how many 3/4 metre pieces I have brought home and not be what I'm looking for??? Think I will just do it and get it over with already....sheesh!

[Michelle S]

I'm going to do this Pat! But is it really okay for me to not count the projects that are just fabric and a pattern put together? I have a LOT of those!

[Angie]

LOL - this is a great project, but beyond me at this time because I have 20 years of quilting to go through to find all the ufos. It would probably take me a month rather and a week to get it done. So I'm going to do this mini style. I'm just going to pick up a box (one of those banker's boxes) and start there.

Thanks for getting us started, Pat!

[Pamela]

I have "most" of my UFO's corraled in a drawer, but I know there are some others that need to be dug out. Thanks for the inspiration, and helping us all get rid of those projects that would never get finished! I think I have my work cut out for me :)

[Sandi]

My oldest UFO is a patchwork pillow that I cut out and never stitched. It was in a book from the 1980's and long ago, I tucked those pieces into the book and put it back on my book shelf. One day when I'm gone and that book ends up in another quilter's hands, she will chuckle when she sees my UFO inside. LOL!
I have my "projects in progress" in those clear plastic scrapbook holders (12" square with a loop to secure them). Block of the month projects fit perfectly in those things and you can see exactly what project is inside. There are about 15 of them that hold projects in various stages of work. I plan to finish them all ....... someday! When I tire of a project/fabric, I generally pass it on. :-)

[Pam in KC]

I know what my oldest UFO is. My double wedding ring. I bought the fabric and signed up for the class in Sept 1989. The good news is I finished piecing the top and I am about 1/3 of the way through quilting it. This is my current priority. I've maintained a list of UFOs and Quilt Tops for about 2 1/2 years.

[Shirley in Canada]

Oh my Gosh!! Do I have my work cut out for me when I get home. Then I read "by next Tues".... HUGE sigh of relief LOL "I think I can, I think I can" Thanks for the shove, Pat :) I know I have empty totes that I can label for the sorting process, so I hope NOT to be creating a huge mess while doing this...but I know many are already in boxes or totes now LOL

[Deb Fox-McHugh]

Pat-this is awesome. I am emptying my sewing room, so perfect timing! I have lots to go through and I'm sure there are a bunch of things hiding that I have forgotten about.

[Brigitte Baierl]

thank you Pat for this tipps, they are so helpful. I started to count and organize my UFOs already. At least I finished 2 during the last month. That's at least a beginning. I'll follow your tipps
greetings from Germany
Brigitte

[Carole Sullivan]

OH TERRIFIC! a swift kick!! that should jump start me! do you really have only six items in group *A*? this is the time of year I really get to finishing things--

[Lynda M]

This is what my plan was for last Jan. Just didn't know how to start. Thanks Pat, I will get this assignment done by next Tues. I really like the way you have us starting out.
Lyn