Saturday, May 13, 2017

Summer 2017 Challenge: UFO's


Art Quilt Challenge Group                 May 13, 2017 next meeting Sept 9, 2017

                                                             Location to be determined

                                                                                                                                           
Summer 2017 Challenge:   UFO's  

 

Make it the Summer of UFO's...Let's clear out the old to make room for new and exciting inspirations!

 
Reasons for UFO's: 

·       Ran out of materials

·       Ran out of time

·       Forgot about it

·       Started in a class

·       Lost interest

·       Hate it

·       Boring

·       Too complicated or time consuming

·       Don't want to quilt it

·       Too many mistakes

Solutions:

#1 Rule:  Better done than perfect!  It's not your life's masterpiece or show quilt, is it?  Just finish it!

 
·       Gather all your UFO's and orphan blocks and identify as:

o   Finish

o   Repurpose

o   Donate

o   Trash (or disassemble/cut up for stash use)

 
·       Get rid of the ones to donate or trash immediately...DO NOT put back in the closet or pile of UFO's.  If you don't know where to donate, I will collect them for you and get them to appropriate people/organizations.

 
·       Prioritize the ones you want to finish...by desire to finish, oldest first, newest first, amount of work to be completed, or any other system you decide on.  Label them with your priority number.  Put #1 project at your sewing machine or design wall, gather materials needed and start working.

 
·       If you don't want to quilt a finished quilt top, donate it or get someone else to quilt it or choose a very simple or minimal quilting pattern or tie it or use it as a table cloth.

 
·       If you ran out of fabric for the project,  be creative...use your stash, do something different with the rest of the quilt, reverse the color scheme so the difference in fabrics won't be noticeable, make it a smaller project, use it as a medallion center and border it with new fabrics.

 
·       Find projects for repurposing orphan blocks or partially completed quilts such as functional items and gifts.  http://www.patchworkposse.com/52-ufo-quilt-block-pick-up-tutorials-ideas-and-inspiration/    It's nice to have a little inventory of hand made gifts for those last minute gifts.

 
·       Rethink your big UFO's.  Would they make a nice baby or lap quilt or throw pillow cover?

 
·       Finding the time:  if you are busy busy busy, disorganized, distracted, or have a short attention span, just sit down and do 15-30 min chunks of time.  Have everything ready to go (bobbin wound, project at sewing machine under the needle, pieces stacked ready to sew, etc).  Quit while it is still enjoyable rather than get tired of it.  Prep and setup for the next time you will sew. 
 

·       Set a timer for the amount of time you have available to sew.  Start a load of wash and sew for the time it takes to finish.  Get up 20-30 mins earlier and sew. 

 
·       Schedule a monthly sew day (or half day or evening) with friends or go solo with headset and audiobook (or most great music).  Put it on your calendar and keep your commitment to yourself!

 
·       If you have a deck or patio, get a long extension cord and take your machine and project outside

 
·       Always have some hand sewing (hand piecing, applique, sewing down binding, etc) ready for those times you want to sit and watch TV or have quiet relaxing time.
 
 
Peace out.  Have a great summer and we look forward to hearing about your adventures and seeing your finished UFO's!

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