When I was cleaning in the sewing room I realized how many UFOs I have. I don’t mind the UFOs that I have. So many were cut out over nap time when I was doing childcare. Cutting out quilts was the thing I could do that was quiet while the kids were sleeping. It made good use of my time…but now, I have quilts that are cut out that I need to be sewn. It’s not a bad problem to have, but, it’s time. They need to get sewn.
Mary at Country Threads is hosting a “Dirty Dozen UFO Challenge”. Essentially you pick 12 unfinished projects and number them 1-12. Each month she picks a number and that’s the project you finish. Read more about it HERE is this blog post from Mary. (Country Threads is currently down. They are hoping to be up soon)
I thought this would be a good way to tackle a few of my UFOs. So I’m jumping in. Here are my projects….
1-Virginia Bound:
This one is a top…sort of. I have the center section done.
This is the original quilt….
But..when Kelli and I were in Moline for a quilt retreat with the Mississippi Valley Quilters years ago, I saw this one that someone else did….this…
It’s applique around the outside. I think I want to do something like this.
I love the look and like the challenge of trying something a little out of my box. I might not get it completely finished in a month but I sure can try.
2-Churn Dash Shirt Quilt
This is my shirt quilt. When #2 is chosen, I will made the decision on whether to put a border on this or not. I’ll also get it quilted. It’s time.
I love the quilt…no borders is growing on me.
3-Hawk’s Nest
This isn’t really even very far along. I have the triangles..and I have the fabric.
The finished quilt looks like this…
It’s a Bonnie Hunter pattern. I’m using up a BUNCH of bonus triangle to make this. All I really have is bonus triangles…nothing else is started so I wonder if that even counts as a UFO.
4-Hawaiian Sunset
If you’re a long time blog reader, you know I’ve wanted to do this for YEARS. It is for sure getting done this year.
In the last 9 months or so I even bought a few more fabrics for it. Seriously, it’s time for this to get done!
5-Scrap Bargello in Plaids
I’ve made this quilt before…
I adored it. Over the years as I’ve deboned shirts I’ve cut more strips to make another. I gifted the first one and thought I’d love to make one to keep.
Here’s the book layout of the quilt.
It’s easy sewing and look forward to tackling this one.
6-Garlic Knots
Several years ago a blog reader gifted me a bunch of batik scraps. All were on the small side. About the same time Bonnie Hunter was making this quilt, Garlic Knots. I thought the batiks would be perfect.
So over nap time over the course of a week or two, I cut out this quilt. It sat and then last fall I sewed about 10 of the blocks together, then it got put away again. It’s time to get it out and finish it.
7-Floribunda
This is Bonnie Hunter’s quilt: I have most everything here to make this. I collected floral scraps over the years. There was enough for me and Kelli both to make the quilt. Kelli ended up taking the fabric and cutting strips for us both.
That’s as far as the quilt got.
It suppose to look like this. (Picture from Bonnie’s blog) The free pattern for this quilt is HERE.
8-Oregon or Bust
This is another Bonnie Hunter quilt. It’s from the book Scraps and Shirttails II. I have long wanted to make this ever since I found Mary from Country Threads version.
I collected shirts for several years as Mary’s version was made with only blue and orange 100% cotton upcycled shirts and I wanted to make mine like hers. I am as in love with Mary’s version. I have the shirts deboned but that’s as far as I am. I can’t wait to make this!!
9-Sofie’s Quilt
This is a quilt of a friend of mine. They found it in grandma’s cedar chest. They asked if I could quilt it. I’m super nervous about this as the white background is thin. I think I’ll consult with my friend Carla from Longarm Quilting Inspirations about this.
I LOVE the design. I’d like to replicate this quilt.
10-Sugar Bowl
This is another FREE Pattern from Bonnie Hunter you can find HERE.
I have some strips cut but that’s about it. This finished quilt (Picture from Bonnie’s blog) suppose to look like this….
11-Show Off
This is a free Quilted Twins pattern. This is a 100% cotton recycled quilt. (Find the pattern HERE)
Kelli just made on in all blues…
I have to admit, I wish mine was all in blues.
12-Holy Toledo
This is cut out but that’s it. It would sew together pretty fast though. This is another Bonnie Hunter quilt. This one is from Scraps and Shirttails II. I LOVE this book.
There are more project too…. I need more months in the year. I am putting these here though as I’m not going to make this so strict that I don’t enjoy it. I’m giving myself permission to substitute other projects in if I want…or do two projects in a month if I want. (It likely won’t be the two project thing but here’s to wishing)
I am numbering remaining projects and letting myself choose either project…the corresponding number from list one or the corresponding number from list two.
I have a
1-red spider web quilt…
2-black spider web quilt started too but forgot to take a picture.
3-I have this wool project…I’d love to get this done. I have the frame for it already..I just need to finish the inside.
4-I need to stitch the stems and make this into a pincushion. That wouldn’t take long at all…but, I have to do it.
5-I have scrap vortex that I started- It’s the project in the bag on the left in the photo below.
6-I have this project in the basket on the right, with the red square in the middle. I’d really love to finish that up. It was so fun to make.
7-I have this baby quilt cut out….
It’s this pattern…VERY simple and would be quick to finish.
It’s a free pattern on our blog find it HERE.
8…and this baby quilt…same quilt as above.
9-I also have this quilt I started for my grandson Scotty. I’d love to make this for him for Christmas-or his birthday but that’s in July. It’s a Crooked Courthouse Steps quilt with Mickey in the middle of the blocks.
10-Double Wedding Ring Quilt
I hope to get to this soon but I want to put in on here in case I “forget” about it. I want this finished.
11-This is my Quilted Twins Mystery. This needs to get tackled too. I have the first blocks done…I need to make the alternate blocks.
12-I have other things too…these were started back in January….
These were started last fall….
Here are a couple projects I was putzing with.
…and of course, the dog quilt. I want to make that too.
I don’t want to get so bogged down in these UFOs that I don’t have fun quilting. I don’t want to not be able to start any new projects so I’m joining in on the challenge and doing the best I can.
I also want to be creating some original designs of our own and submitting them. All of the UFO sewing has to fit in between that work.
So…here we go. Starting July 1st you can count me in on tackling, or at least progressing some of these UFOs. I know one thing for sure, I am not going to have this many UFOs by the time 2021 rolls around.
Again, HERE is this blog post from Mary that tells about the Dirty Dozen Challenge. Are you joining in too!
Several years ago I made a list of all my UFQ’s. I completed 13 of them that year. I still have a few but it’s not as overwhelming as it had been. Once you get the momentum going finishing them, you’ll just keep on going. It’s such a wonderful feeling to be finishing projects that have hung around for years! Happy stitching!
I started on my UFO’s a few months back, but I don’t have what you have. At one time, when I was a new quilter, I bought blocks on eBay really cheap, all are vintage. Some I finished but as I became a better quilter, I didn’t finish these blocks. Several were Dresden Plates. Now I’m trying to make these blocks into quilts. I had hoped to start some quilts that have been on my bucket list but so far haven’t done it. As soon as my Postage Stamp quilt is finished (this is an original), I’m going to make a batik Storm at Sea, with blue, green and purple. Then I will go back and tackle the really big Dresden Plate blocks. I always hand sew them to the background but I don’t know about this pile. I so enjoy quilting and will not make these a chore. We have the same attitude about quilting and I’m grateful that it’s a hobby I truly love.
I suppose the Dirty Dozen Challenge could overlap with the UFO Club that I participate in on the Quilters Knitting group on Ravelry. You have SEW many wonderful projects, Jo!! A number of which are on my To Make list (and have been there for YEARS.) Depending on the fabric requirements for Floribunda, I may have recently started the fabric collection for that quilt. Happy finishing!
The quilt top in your Number 1 UFO made by me. The backing is 10 1/2 squares of shirts (ala Bonnie Hunter) and was quilted using Big Stitch.
Hi June…You were such an inspiration. So glad we met you Mississippi Valley Quilters!!
I cleaned and labeled all the boxes in my sewing room earlier this year. Now the UFOs I want to finish are labels so identifying 12 and numbering them shouldn’t take long. I did the challenge for a couple of months last year and it felt great to finish some old projects! I’m going to do this challenge again this year and hope I get farther along than I did last year!
Link isn’t working for Country Threads
Boy, wouldn’t it be nice to be able to actually tackle those ufo’s. I’ve got fabric sitting in the closet just waiting to be cut out and made. One will be difficult as I bought the fabric but now they want it larger and the fabric is no longer made. What to do…What to do!
Our Guild did this two years in a row and I got 21 of my UFO’s DONE!!! Made progress on the other 3. Sad to say I have a lot more UFO’s! So yes, I am going to join in on Mary’s challenge! I need to at least make some progress on all of my UFO’s. I need the incentive and the accountability! Work seems to always get in the way, but come September when I retire, I hope to get some real sewing time in! Jo – you are a real inspiration! You get alot done and I admire that! Thanks for the inspiration! HUGS… and stitches
I don’t have UFO quilts as I usually do wall hangings, but then there is the knitting, and the embroidery, and the applique……… well, you get the picture. I did the “She seeketh wool..” and turned it into a pillow that won a prize in the local fair. I guess one could number any kind of project — it wuldn’t HAVE to be quilts……hmmmm………something to think about Thanks for all your inspiration and positive thoughts. Love the blog!
Jo, I’m not sure what’s going on with Mary’s blog. It is no longer active and available. Hugs to you and your family. Kara
I have not participated in CTs UFO challenge. But during this “stay at home” time I have finished two quilts and I am working through a third one. Great feeling of accomplishment.
I notice that many of the quilts in your UFO pile have flying geese or half square triangles . What method do you use especially for flying geese?
Thanks and take care of yourself we’re all thinking of you!!
Pat, I make flying geese the connector way with a square on top of the rectangle. Easier for me….also I’m a bit of an “old dog”.
The link to Country Threads is not working….not sure the page is still active?
Mary is having some trouble with her Country Threads blog right now. It will be up and running soon.
I’ve been thinking of making the “Show Off” pattern using my collection of old feed sacks. I collected them for a while, before the prices went through the roof. I think this design would show them off to good advantage. Good luck getting some UFOs done. I’ve been doing some work on some too. If we just didn’t want to make so many quilts that we see….
I have a denim quilt I began making for my son when he was in 4th grade. He’s 42 years old. Do you think it might be time to finish?!
What fun. I absolutely LOVE your churn dash quilt top. I agree…no border. I think the binding will be frame enough for that one.
I love the idea of making a couple of different lists, so that you can choose. When I first started reading, I thought “I can’t just choose 12 – I have so many, and what if I don’t want to work on that number” – all excuses! I’m finishing up my new craft/sewing room this weekend, so as I put things away, I’ll make some lists as well and join in.
Hi Jo, You’ve got a lot of work done on many of your UFO’S. That’s a nice advantage for you!! Good Luck –you do get a lot of quilting done!
Hey Jo, if you want, I could help you out by finishing piecing a couple of your UFOs that you can’t quite get to. I am not making masks anymore, can’t get any fabric, don’t have much with me, and have a couple days a week that I could sew. Send me an email and we can talk about it, and I’ll give you a new address. We are the only campers on a 26000 acre wildlife refuge! But, we’re only here till September, then we move on again, not sure where to yet!
I did the challenge this past year. Didn’t get too far – but I’m happy with what I accomplished. If anything, it reminds you what needs to be finished at some point. It’s help me stay focused and get my sewing mojo back. Hope Mary’s blog is backup soon.
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Glad to see this. . .