Quilting 101: Tackling UFO's

For whatever reason some quilt projects simply lose their sparkle, and we move onto something new and exciting! Read my creative tips for Tackling UFOs in this month's Quilting 101 post.

If you're a quilter, you'll likely very familiar with the acronym UFO (unfinished object) and there's probably a few lurking in your craft cupboard. A UFO is a quilt project that you began with good intentions but for some reason the love has gone, and it remains untouched, unfinished and uninspiring.

We live in a hustle culture where our creative lives have become more about our productivity than the gentle art of creating. We're enticed with time saving techniques to churn out quilts, we're tempted with new fabric trends or patterns and with inspiration at our fingertips, we move onto the next project before we finish what we're currently working on.

Most quilters battle with UFOs, so I thought we'd look at some creative ways to reignite the spark and cross some of these projects off our lists.

Why do some projects become UFO's:

Whether you've fallen out of love with the fabrics, lost confidence in your abilities or simply cannot find the time to work on a quilt, UFOs are part of everyone's quilting journeys, and understanding the why might help you move forward.

Only you know the reasons your quilt project is at a standstill, so take a critical look at your current progress. Be honest and determine why this project has hit a roadblock.

Are the fabrics no longer inspiring? 

Are the blocks too difficult or time consuming?

Is it too large and unmanageable? 

Are you overwhelmed? Do you need some help finishing the quilt?

Is your self-confidence affecting your progress?

Is perfectionism holding you back?

Whatever the reason, your project is at a standstill and sometimes a simple mindset shift will reignite the love needed to see it through to completion. 

Alternately it might be time to pick your battles, let it go, and relieve the guilt and pressure that lingers with an unfinished project.

Assess each UFO:

When dealing with UFOs, the first step is to assess the progress of each project and determine the steps needed for its completion. 

Store your finished blocks, cut pieces, fabrics, pattern and your current progress together in one labelled bin for easy access and record what you have done and what's left to be done. 

I'm providing a UFO Tracker sheet for you to download and print to record the details of your progress and the necessary steps required for completion.

To download and print the UFO Tracker, simply click the link below:

Fill out one tracker sheet per project and store them in your project bin, in a separate folder or on a noticeboard in your sewing room for easy access.

Busting those UFO's:

Let's discuss some creative ways to revive the sparkle of your UFOs and implement a plan of action to cross these projects off your list:

Refocus - Set a Deadline or a Daily Time Allowance:

One method is to set a deadline or weekly goal (i.e. "X" amount of blocks per week).  This will keep you motivated and focused, but make sure you're realistic with your time frame - you don't want your project feeling like a dead weight. 

Let's face it, life can be unpredictable and some weeks quilting time just doesn't happen. Don't let this add pressure to your time frame, be flexible and adjust your deadline as required.

Another method is choosing a quilt project and marking a block of time in your diary every day to sew. As little as fifteen minutes a day for thirty-one days will give you almost eight hours of sewing time and quilty progress. 

Working in smaller increments helps alleviate boredom and pressure to finish your project. Turn off your phone, close the sewing room door, crank up the music and find your flow!

If you feel like extending your time one day, then go for it - just commit to your daily time allowance and watch how quickly the end goal approaches.

I personally work better with this method. I struggle with pacing myself towards a deadline and it's difficult to find the joy. My daily time allowance allows me to tick off a task (my favorite thing to do) and then I can return to other projects feeling accomplished.

Repurpose - Change Plans or Downsize:

Be creative and change your plans or downsize your project. Quilt blocks can be used for so many projects - mini quilts, cushions, bags etc. - so if a project just isn't working for you anymore, consider your options and look at it with fresh perspective.

You've worked hard on your project up to this point so repurpose it into manageable projects - you'll be able to move onto a new project without lingering guilt. Downsizing takes away the pressure, but it also allows you see the limitless possibilities for your UFO.

Could you make a sampler style quilt with your blocks?

Would someone love a smaller project like a bag/wall hanging/cushion?

Would a throw quilt be loved and appreciated just as much a full-sized quilt?

Can you use your blocks for quilting practice? Simply add some backing and wadding and learn a new technique without fear of ruining a project your passionate about.

Revamp - Add new life to a project:

With new fabrics being released regularly, colour palette trends changing and designs evolving all the time, it's easy to fall out of love with the choices you made for a quilt project.

Sometimes adding a new fabric or revamping the layout of a quilt can inject new life and provide you with some much-needed enthusiasm for your UFO.

Consider adding one of your current favorite fabrics and see how it changes the look of your UFO - it may be the missing link that lifts it from drab to fabulous.  Be bold and play with the fabrics you love right now and see how they work with fabrics in your UFO. 

Would sashing help unite the blocks and reignite that dwindling spark? Would borders (plain or pieced) revive the layout design and reduce the amount of work required to finish your project?

Giving UFO's a purposeful revamp can go a long way to helping you fall back in love with your work and give you motivation to finish it. If you're struggling to see the missing link, ask someone for an objective opinion - they're more removed from the project and to them it might be obvious.

Redirect - Choose a recipient:

Nothing fosters motivation more than making a quilt for someone special. Assigning a recipient to your UFO will give you purpose and drive to finish the project.

Children are the biggest motivators - they'll stand next to your sewing machine waiting for their new quilt, albeit impatiently, and their excitement is infectious. This shift in mindset may be all the motivation you need to cross this UFO off your list.

Report - Stay accountable:

We all have that one person who keeps you accountable - for me, it's my husband. He asks for regular updates, checks on my progress, and he's my biggest motivator. 

Share your UFO list with a friend, your Instagram followers, your next-door neighbour or that one person you can rely on to keep you accountable. 

Many quilting groups or websites run UFO Challenges - particularly at the beginning of a new year - and you can join and support each other. They will inspire, motivate and celebrate with you as you tick UFOs off your to do list.

Reframe - Kick fear to the curb:

My oldest UFO is a log cabin quilt top. My self-confidence has been the reason its enjoying life in the craft cupboard and not on my bed.

It's such a beautiful quilt and my plan is to machine quilt it with feathers and detailed motifs. I've practiced my quilting but I'm afraid to start on the actual quilt top - what if I ruin it? This fear cripples the project but in reality, does it matter if it's not perfect?

I could send it to the quilters and alleviate the pressure, but it's something I want to do myself, so until I kick fear to the curb it remains a UFO.

Quilt projects also stall because tasks feel insurmountable and create anxiety. Most times we've built our own roadblocks and it's not as bad as we envision. This overwhelm paralyses our progress but if we simply let go and sew, magic happens! :)

What if you simply trusted yourself, let go of perfectionism and finished your project?

Be courageous, do the hard things and embrace imperfections!

Request - Ask for help:

If you have a supportive and encouraging sewing group, asking for help to finish a UFO is less daunting - they'll be more than happy to help out! 

Working together on a project unites quilters towards a common goal and it's a wonderful bonding experience. We learn so much from each other and when everyone lends a hand the finish line quickly approaches.

You can also join online groups to find support with techniques you're struggling with or to keep you motivated and accountable. 

Relieve - Swap UFOs and relieve the pressure and guilt:

Have you considering swapping your UFO with a friend's UFO and completing each other's project? 

Both of you will have a new project to get excited about and you can inject some fresh perspective and enthusiasm to the quilt. 

Set a progress point for returning the UFO - perhaps once all the blocks are sewn and ready for construction, or when the top is complete and ready for quilting - and check in regularly with each other and provide support and encouragement.

Reward - Celebrate your achievements:

Bribe yourself! It's amazing how quickly you can motivate yourself when you know there's a reward at the end.

I try not to bribe myself with more quilt projects because they seem to happen organically, but I do have other motivators. Buy that new fabric line you love, have a home spa day, go on a solo date, start that book, cook your favorite dessert - choose a reward that makes you happy.

Motivators are personal and knowing these special rewards are within reach will increase your focus and commitment. We all crave that huge dopamine hit so work towards a memorable reward.

Reject - Find a new home:

When all else fails it might be time to reject the UFO and find it a new home. Quilters sell UFOs on social media to connect projects with the right recipient. Quilt guilds collect UFOs for charity projects or maybe someone has been admiring your work and would enjoy the challenge.

Don't lose sleep over a quilt project that no longer brings you joy! Life's too short for you to be bound to projects you've lost passion for and removing the burden provides you freedom in the sewing room. 

Let it go to a new home!

Currently in the bottom drawer of my cutting table, my UFOs patiently wait for their time in the spotlight. By brainstorming some tips for you, I hope I can rekindle the spark with my own projects and see them through to completion - we're in this together lovely!

Be kind to yourself and make a manageable plan for your UFOs and watch how small but deliberate steps bring you closer and closer to your end goal.  

Who knows, your UFO might become your new all-time favorite quilt. 

Have fun!

PIN FOR LATER:

Happy quilting :)