UFO......what IS normal....?..

Ok....I still consider myself a beginner.....BUT.....I got curious and decided to count the quilts I have made.....Not easy since being a normal quilter I had given most of them away....I counted 41 finished quilts......and 22 UFO's......5 in various stages....and 17 wanting to go on the "RACK"......( I have a Lady Grace quilting frame....and a Janome for FMQ.....that I have a love/hate relationship with).....LOL.... ..ok sooooooo... here's my question......Is that NORMAL......?....what's the normal UFO count from my friends out here at MSQ....?......and YES.....I still want to start a new quilt.....rather than finish one....OH well......YIKES.

Hi Donna........if you are looking for normal.......you might not find it here. :D A lot of us are probably considered "Abby Normal"! Just kidding of course.........I only have 2 UFO's but I've only been quilting for a couple of years............but I'm guessing there would be anywhere from 1 to 100 depending on the quilter! It's just so addictive. When I get almost finished with one I get anxious and I'm already planning the next one. Have you checked out the UFO group under the Group heading. Some of the forum members are in that group......that might help you with finish some of your UFO's. If I haven't already said so.........welcome to the forum!

What is normal is what feels normal for you. Some quilters only work and think about one project at a time and wouldn't dream of buying fabric for the next quilt until their current one is completely done. I work more like you do...I have several quilts in the works at all times. I don't finish quilts often, but when I do, I finish several at about the same time. I usually devote the first three months of the new year to trying to finish up a few UFOs so I don't feel guilty starting new projects!

Don't worry....just keep sewing and quilting!!

Hi Donna, I've only been quilting since January this year. I have finished 8 small (lap/crib) quilts and 1 twin. I have 4 ufo's all in some stage of quilting. But, I have at least a dozen waiting in the wings with design and fabric already on hand.

I go at my own pace. I don't consider my finished pieced tops to be UFO's. They're done, they just need finishing. If it takes me a month, or 13 years (my oldest quilt top to be finished), so be it. I'll get to it when I get to it. I usually try to get one project done at a time. So I guess that's normal..........for ME. :icon_rofl:

Hi, Donna Mae, and welcome to the Forum!

41 ?!?!?!

Honey, I don't think you're a beginner any more! :D

When do we get to see pics of them?

I've done 6 quilts and a bunch of mug rugs and a couple of table runners since last fall. I've got one I'm working on right now and fabric/plans for at least three more.

Well Donna Mae, I don't know if this is "normal", but it sure looks like my life.

I refuse to count but it is in the double digits.

I never counted how many I've finished even though I have photos of probably 90% of them in the past 18 years that I have quilted.
My average over the past few years is about 70 UFO's but that breaks down to: projects that I want to make that is not even started yet, projects where I've made a few blocks and need to make lots more, finished blocks that need sewn together into a top - etc. etc., tops completed and need quilted, hand embroidery projects, applique projects, and a scrap rug project.

If I could stay off the computer, don't clean my house, don't work through the school year, I could get a lot more done. haha!!

I'd say 40 some is do-able!

Hugs,

I don't have any UFO's. I won't start a new quilt until I'm done with the one I'm working on. The only exception is when I'm going to my Fall retreat. Last time I had 3 things going at one time, but I did finish all three before I started another. I do, however, buy fabric with a quilt in mind...but I usually change my mind before I get around to making it!

I don't think you can call yourself a beginner with all those quilts you've made. I have a feeling that you are a modest expert! LOL

I definitely don't consider finished tops as UFOs. They're folded neatly in a box with their binding strips, easy to finish.

Half done projects a rents UFOs either, if I'm still working on them, even randomly, they're works in progress.

I consider a UFO as something that's cut out, a few blocks made, and I just don't like it!! I don't have many of those as I either salvage what fabric I can, or throw them in the scraps tub, or bundle them up and drop the. In the charity bin.

This is one thing I e taken control of in the past 6mths, getting good at being honest with myself that I don't like it and I'm never gonna finish it. I guess it was accepting my time IS valuable, as is my storage space. Lifted a big weight of guilt off my shoulders!!

Cheers, Pami

I have no idea what normal is. I am not convinced there is a true normal in life. LOL
I have one quilt started and I will finish it before I start another. I just have to operate that way.

ha ha Pam - Abby Normal! lol, I say that all the time (I'm sure we're referring to the same thing!). I agree what's normal is what works for you. I'm a start-to-finish kind of gal and enjoy finishing one project so I can start the next one! New fabric, new pattern, new needle! ;) I would also like to see your photos!!!

I recently counted the ones that were out of the closet and came to 19. Since then, I am down to 17 (well, as soon as I put the binding on.) That's pretty normal for me.
BTW, I do count "just tops" as UFOs because my goal is to make a quilt - not a top. On the other hand, that would reduce my UFO count greatly.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sharyn J

I go at my own pace. I don't consider my finished pieced tops to be UFO's. They're done, they just need finishing. If it takes me a month, or 13 years (my oldest quilt top to be finished), so be it. I'll get to it when I get to it. I usually try to get one project done at a time. So I guess that's normal..........for ME. :icon_rofl:

---

I LOVE that you don't consider your finished tops UFO's.......GREAT ANSWER......So...I'm gonna call my finished tops....DNQ's.....for Done Need Quilting.....actually.........you gave me permission.....to start 2 new quilts today.....Now that I have ONLY.. 3 UFO's and 18 DNQ's.....Thanks......I LOVE your answer......WOW....

I love that you take pictures of your quilts....I do too....I just can't remember where they all are....I need a quilt photo album.....I'll put that on my to do list .....Thanks....

With 41 finished quilts, I would say you are well past beginner! I have finished about 12 quilts and have 7 UFO's and innumerable projects waiting to be started.

That looks 'normal' to me. started taking pictures of all my projects when I started quilting less than 18 months ago. There are 2 pictures on a page and I'm up to page 27!

Most of my UFOs are WIPs but there are also lots of things still in my head or fabric and patterns bought and not yet started.

So that 54 things made
17 to finish o0ff
about 12 ready to start
numerous others going round and round in my head or 'some day I want to make.........'

Don't think I can call myself a beginner any more

I started last August but I'm really, really slow! I've just finished one for my daughter and have my next one cut out ready to start sewing. I've also just ordered 20 moda fat quarter to make a single bed quilt, I'm just about to make a mat to stand my machine on and now I've seen the little pear pincushion someone posted today I will just have to make one of those! I suppose I'm a lightweight compared to most of the other ladies here!:lol:

Not counting the projects that I have stored in my mind that I want to start, I have 10 UFO's in various states of completion. Three of them I am planning on completing this month.

You sound normal to me! I'm ALWAYS thinking of the next quilt..... And i have projects in all stages of construction. Lots of times, when the top is done, do am I! The rest of the quilt making process is too much like work.... Unless I am planning to hand quilt a project. It's fun to have the option of piecing, quilting, or stitching a binding down.... Whatever you are in the mood for.

It's hard not to start a new project before the one I am working on is halfway done. There really are quilters who work on one quilt at a time....and will not start another quilt until the first one is completely done.... But, I know I could never do that. And, I never buy everything I need for a particular quilt ll at once. I like to keep my options open.... I sort of let the quilt tell me what it needs.

So.....yes.... You are quite normal.... Normal is, as one replied said, what works for you.... And it seems to me that your way of quilting is working for you!

Sandy from Cincinnati