how do you decide??

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Originally Posted by WendyI

which quilt you are going to make next? I know you all have a tonne of UFO's hangin around...there's always a quilt you want to make. But how do you decide? I normally see a pattern that I like then a fabric that I like then go from there. I seem to be struggling with quilting on a budget tho!

How do you decide which you will do and with what fabrics?

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Want to come & join us in the Second Hand Rose group? The goal is to make a quilt from fabric that has been used before -- so it is budget-friendly! Some members have bought thrift store shirts for a total of less than $20 to make a quilt top. I spent the princely sum of $30 for enough cotton shirts to make a quilt top, & I'm guessing I might have enough fabric for backing or binding too. Some members are using old sheets or clothes from their own family, which is even more budget-friendly. Some forum members like Lenie have posted examples of quilts they have made from recycled fabrics in the past, & some have posted Pinterest examples. There are lots of options!

Decisions, decisions! I have so many UFOs, I should probably not start another project till I finish these up. But...I keep seeing tuts. & patterns I want to try! Sometimes I make just 1 or 2 blocks to see how they turn out. Sometimes I make a whole quilt top -- usually kids' or baby size. Right now I'm working on the big star block, which is 32" square. I'm adding to it until it will be rectangular shape for a boy baby. I'm using fabric from my FQ stash as well as yardage I had on hand. I'm sort of developing it as I go. lol My choices for baby gift quilts usually depend on the mom's theme & color choices. JCY

I usually find the fabric first and when I see it a pattern pops into my head that the fabric would be perfect for. I am working on a scrap quilt right now. Then my next one will be Jenny's Big Star.

I like to give quilted items as gifts, so often my next project is the next gift for a birthday or a holiday. I also have a very long list of quilts and quilted items I want to make, so I can refer to that list. Finally, I have a few kits I have purchased, so that is another option. I have a stash, but almost everything I bought was intended for some specific project. Well, some of those projects never were started, and now I am looking at using some of those materials in a different way. I still find it difficult to buy material with no particular purpose in mind - how do I know how much to buy if I don't know what I will do with it?

Much of the material I have was purchased a few years ago when I was still working. Some of it was purchased from stores that were going out of business, and I also participate in a shop hop where the stores offer 20% a days purchase (material, thread, batting, tools) during the first six months of the year. So now I try to plan all my quilting projects by June each year, and go to those shops to get the fabric I need with the discount coupons. Most of my batting comes from Joann's - where they are already discounted or I use coupons to get them at 40 - 50% discount.

I go by what's funnest for me. King size quilts are not fun... brown anything is not fun...

I don't have a very big stash yet, either. I'm building mine, hoping that once I retire I won't have to give up quilting. As you know, it can be a very expensive hobby. I don't have to limit my purchases at the moment, but if I did, I think I'd comb thrift stores for mens shirts. I have seen MANY lovely quilts made from mens shirts. In fact, it could become a treasure hunt!

But that wasn't your question. How do I decide on my next quilt? Lots of things affect it. I have an unwritten rule that I finish what I start. I am going to allow myself to break that rule in a couple of weeks when I start hand quilting my great grandmother's quilt. I will work on that in front of the TV while I'm working on modern quilts on the machine. My next machine-made quilt will be made from the prettiest charm packs I got from Daily Deal. I just fell in love with them and bought background, border and backing fabric and decided I had to see those charms in action! Next after that will be the Christmas quilt kit my hubby recently bought for me. Seems only fair that he should see me working on it soon. After that, I'm not sure. I have so many possibilities. It often comes down to what colors are speaking to me at the moment. Or sometimes Jenny's latest tutorial calls my name. If I was on a budget, it would probably come down to what I can create while using the least amount of resources.

I dont have any fabric stashed away. I have a long list of "sew it". There are a few projects Im already working on but when a daily deal comes up that I really want, I go through my list to see what it would with best.

This is what I recommend. Give husband Crestor or other stroke medication. Buy those charm packs. He probably has a hobby that he spends money on. When we moved across Texas, lots of boxes marked dishes, were really boxes of fabric. Worked for me.

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Originally Posted by janbee

This is what I recommend. Give husband Crestor or other stroke medication. Buy those charm packs. He probably has a hobby that he spends money on. When we moved across Texas, lots of boxes marked dishes, were really boxes of fabric. Worked for me.

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Janbee, when I comment on the expense of quilting, my husband says "at least it isn't horses."

It depends upon which I find first the pattern or the fabric or one of Jenny's videos. Currently, my next project is going to be a mini quilt by hand. Between being at the pool with the children, waiting at other various times, I am needing a project. So I will just do a mini quilt. A friend of mine started making layered flowers through handquilting - they are very pretty but I am not in a spot to get the pattern right now. Her quilt was beautiful when she was done.

I like that she took an empty rectangular plastic baby wipes box and decorated the outside. She put her handquilting supplies including fabric and takes it with her to quilt when she had a free moment throughout the day. She has gotten several projects done this way in a short amount of time.