A Little UFO Update

Posted on March 11, 2016 by prairiemoonquilts in Quilts

Back in January, I decided to make a better effort to lower my total number of UFOs, and I’ve been working on it.

However, so far, the list has actually gone higher because, as I’m cleaning and organizing, I keep finding ones that weren’t even on the list! And we won’t talk about the new ones I’ve started just since the beginning of this year, either.

But I’m here today with a couple of finishes to show you — finally!

Back in THIS post, I drew out some numbers and those were the UFOs I decided to concentrate on. I’ve been concentrating on them ever since, and sure wanted to have them done sooner than this, but when it comes to working on my own quilts, I’m sloooowwww.

Right around the end of last year, My Cowboy was sick, and I took a break from the longarm to do some things around here, and try to de-stress a little. It lasted two weeks, and I kinda liked it. But when I take a break from quilting for that long, I like for the first quilt I do after the break to be one of my own, so that I can get back into the rhythm of it and make sure everything’s running all right. (I always do this after I’ve had any serious work done on my machine, too, which is not very often, thankfully.)

This is the quilt I chose this year (by random number drawing from among all the quilts on my to-be-quilted list). Naturally, it was a huge one!

BBLfull2

 

This quilt is called Baskets, Berries, and Leaves, and it was a Block-of-the-Month quilt put out years ago by Jan Patek.

BBLfull

 

Don’t mind my little helper, there.

BBL1

That’s Shadow, and you can probably guess why he’s named that!

BBL4

 

I can’t go anywhere without him.

BBL3

He’s pretty sure I made this just for him!

BBL5

 

He seems to know exactly what to do with it!

BBL2

My friend, Rose Marie, and I decided that we would each make one of these quilts. I’m sure you can guess that she’s had hers done for years, while mine has languished in the to-be-quilted pile for way too long.

BBLbottom

How long? Well, on the front of the quilt, one of the blocks has the year appliquéd on, and as you can see, it says 05. Ten years this thing has been laying around, and do you know what? I knew right where the binding was that I had already made for it. A minor miracle!

BBLcu

And I used up a lot of stash to make the backing for it, too.

BBLback

And I still like this quilt, after all those years! I’m very happy to be able to call it finished.

And that’s not all!

I drew another number, and thankfully, this time, it was for a small quilt. This little wall quilt I made from a tutorial I did for Riley Blake last year, Rodeo Baby.

RodeoBabywh

This was my test block, so I framed it up with the rest of the scraps and quilted it into this little wall quilt, which could also be used as a table topper, if I only had a table!

But wait! There’s more!

I made this Candy Hearts quilt, and I finished my Triangle Salad quilt, and I’m very near the finish line on another little wall quilt.

And now I can draw another number and see what project I’ll get to quilt for myself during March. I hope it’s one I’m excited about!

So tell me . . .

How are you getting along with all your UFOs so far this year? Is your number growing or shrinking?

14 responses to “A Little UFO Update”

  1. Wendy says:

    I was getting some old projects done, but I’ve been detoured by some new ones. I have a pile of little quilt tops that just need to be sandwiched, quilted and bound. I keep telling myself to be brave and machine quilt them. But, yikes. Sooner or later I need to get ’em done. That’s my goal. Maybe I’ll get them done before fall.

  2. K. Holt says:

    Those quilts are too pretty not to finish.

  3. Swooze says:

    I got one done for a challenge I’m in. Not discussing the 6 new starts though…..

  4. LOL – there are too many to count and I know I haven’t found all of them. Four is great! Congrats! Love that first one – it’s gorgeous.

  5. Susan says:

    I’m proud of you! That big one was quite a job and it looks beautiful. That’s a good idea to do something of your own first after a break. I set aside six for the year, and I’ve done one, but I did also put together a bunch of blocks donated to me about two years ago, and made a top for American Heroes, so it’s SOMEONE’s UFO blocks. =)

  6. Judy S. says:

    I started with 14 UFOs for the year then joined the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, as well as 2 other BOMs, so you can see where this is going. I love new starts. That’s a serious problem.

  7. Lori says:

    Go YOU!!! Hooray for finishes! I am WaaY behind…as usual, but so tickled for you!!

  8. Sue Hook says:

    Great Job!! I did get my Women of Bible quilt quilted finally – now just to finish the binding.

  9. Erin says:

    mine is shrinking!g at tiny bit I finished a disappearing nine patch I started last August, finally finished and waiting to be quilted. Yea!

  10. Kathy Fraser says:

    My hubby and I are working on a queen size quilt for a veteran’s organization for their convention in June. We have the top done. Yeah! Now we have to sandwich it and I will machine quilt it on my JUKI. I do like that machine. Glad I bought it.
    We also started a civil war quilt today. Lots of work. He3 is doing all the machine sewing and I will be doing all the hand work. It is called “The Potholder Quilt.” It was originated here in Maine during the civil war. It is fun.
    I do like both of your quilts but I like the applique one best.
    I am collecting a block of the month from Keepsake Quilting. But it is way too expensive. Won’t do that in a hurry again.
    Anyway keep up the good work. You going to conquer it yet.

  11. Rose Marie says:

    I think it would only be fair to say that you quilted my quilt and doing for others is why you don’t finish so much. I love yours………and I’m so glad you finished it!!! Doesn’t that feel good!!!!!

  12. Cindy says:

    Well you are doing better than I am. Love Shadow’s quilt! You have been really busy.

  13. katie z. says:

    Steadily shrinking… I feel the urge to start something new, but I’m trying quite hard to finish some needful things first.

  14. Congrats on all your finishes! I finished a UFO in early Feb and hoping I can do better this year than last year. I’m allowing myself to start new projects provided they can be done from my stash, AND if I can promise myself not to create another UFO. My first new quilt top is nearly finished, and today I’m hoping to finish a mini.

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