How old is your oldest UFO?...........
This one dates back to about 1989......yikes that is 30 years ago! Jinny Beyer made a charm quilt and named it "Inner City" and I wanted to make it. I looked for it last night in some books but didn't find the picture. A charm quilt isn't made with 5" squares......no that is another "modern" use of the word charm. A true charm quilt historically has no piece of fabric repeated. One of the charm quilts that I made with this same assortment of fabrics has 961 pieces in it but I don't know if that many pieces are here with it. All of the fabrics are from the 1970s and 80s.
I have been reading up on minimalism and about parting with everything that is really excess baggage. It is explained that it doesn't matter who gets the thing you are disposing of, what matters is that it leaves your house forever. That has always been a hangup of mine being a child of the 1940s, knowing that there is someone out there that wants or needs every single thing that I am discarding and I have to make sure it gets to them. How ridiculous, right? So this project has been in a box......
I sewed my pieces by machine. The seam sewing 2 hexagon halves together can go edge to edge but every seam after that has to start at the intersection of 2 seam allowances and end at that intersection with backstitching so it won't come undone.
It is a royal pain to sew this by machine but I demonstrated it at many classes and therefore have 30 of the 3 hexagons sewn into units (pile at the center right in the first photo. There are 2 bags of half hexagons and some hexagons sewn together.
Now should I just drop the project in the dog bed stuffing bag, take it to Goodwill, or what? Do you all have this problem too?
35 comments:
I definitely have the same problem. And I can’t even blame being a child of the 1940s, because I was born in the ‘70s! Haha!
I would say that if you haven’t finished this project, presumably because you don’t enjoy the process, then you should give yourself permission to let it go to someone else who may give it the love and attention it deserves. The vintage fabrics are pretty cute! And I also dig the shadowplay that’s created by the color placement. I’m sure someone will be happy to pick up where you left off.
Yes, yes, YES! It is so hard to get rid of any of my quilting fabrics/supplies/UFOs because I know there would be someone who would love to have them. I just can't bring myself to throw them away or even to take them to Goodwill. Therefore, my sewing room is bulging at the seams!
Not any longer.....my time is limited, so I want to work on what I like and do best. That helps me let go rather than feel frugal.
I think- that projects, even if- it is a UFO, we have put time and effort into it, (+ money), finished or not, and therefore has enough of us in it... to make it feel like "MINE", so discarding "it" has as much angst as the road to finishing!!! Which creates the dilemma, keep and complete or discard and be done.
Beth
Cynthia Brunz hosts a quilt orphan adoption each year on her blog Quilting is More Fun than Housework for projects just like this. You post a description of what you're offering and give it to a random commenter who wants it (or some other method of choosing someone). You're not supposed to comment on a UFO unless you intend to actually finish it. You can check out the details on her blog. At least you would know it would go to someone who wants to finish it.
I feel the same struggle but have found peace by sharing my stuff. As I go through my collection of fabrics, patterns books and projects I think about why I have it, how it makes me feel. Does it make me want to finish it, use it, read it etc or does it add weight to my shoulders? Yes I bought it and spent $$ on it but in econimic terms that $$ is now sunk funds I won't get back so what is the cost of keeping it? I gather all the materials for a project - pattern, fabric, specialty ruler and any thing needed to finish it and put it in a jumbo zip loc bag. If I want to finish it I have a plastic storage bin where I line them up. If I am ambivalent about it or can't imagine what I was thinking when I purchased it I put in a bag for sharing. I give them to fellow quilters that love the colors or the project or can no longer afford the hobby. Also our guild has a "garage sale" every year so I can sell things if I want to rent a table. 2 years ago I made $400 and unloaded lots of "what was I thinking" fabric, thread, books and rulers. It is now easier to bring things to thethrift shop or Goodwill because i know someone just starting out or who can't pay the current high prices will love it, finish it, gift it or give it a great new home. As for the project bags - I completed 13 quilts in 2017, 8 in 2018 and 20 items to date in 2019. Having everything together really helps. I have enjoyed sewing more because I have less stuff, less chaos in the sewing space and see teh joy that others have when you freely share your "stuff".
The older I get the easier it gets to donate projects I no longer love. Life is too short. Do what you love FIRST, not LAST.
My oldest UFO is less than a year old. I have probably less than 10 UFO's and they will be finished in the next six months or so. Once I've spent the money on something - pattern, fabric, rulers - it's spent. I'm not going to get it back. I go to quarterly day retreats. There is an orphan table where we bring things we're no longer interested in. It's a great place to swap magazines, scraps, unfinished projects, etc. If I'm no longer interested in it or if I have to stop and wonder if I want to finish it, then the answer is probably "orphan table." Good luck on deciding!
I would make a quick finish of it and make it a small charity quilt. But I understand the decluttering need too! It would be a delightful finish though. Even a few table runners would be great.
I love it!! I have made several charm quilts and it is fun to go through and collect piece by piece of fabric in my room. I have spent hours in the past looking through the 2 quilts that I did this way to make sure I didn't repeat a piece LOL
My oldest UFO right now is about 8 years old maybe - my Love Entwined quilt which is still on the center square applique. Well I ever finish it I don't know.
Why not rip them apart (those already sewn) and put it together like a half-hexagon in rows. It would salvage the great fabrics and give you a finish, for charity or not. It would also be great for hand piecing. Why not sell it on your pop-up shop? Someone would love it!
Would you consider selling it in your Pop-up shop? I would think someone might be tickled to finish it, and you would feel good knowing someone wants it and would use it.
There are too many quilts that I want to make because I love them, so let go of what doesn’t bring you happiness or joy! Maybe some quilter in you guild or a blog reader would love to have and finish this ❤️
Right now I have bags of quilting blocks and even tops I bought at flea markets, thrift stores etc. I went through my stuff and gave away tons of fabrics I didn’t want and sent the boxes to the Indian Reservations in South Dakota. I’m thinking of listing my tops and blocks on eBay. As to your pretty blocks unfinished, I’d sell them on your pop up shop. They are pretty and I’m positive someone would buy them.
Make a few placemats and donate them to Meals on Wheels or other organization. Our guild has given over 700 placemats in the last few years. Lots of the 10”-12” x 14”- 16” mats were made with orphan blocks. It is a win win! Miriam in Texas who is actually in the process of quilting placemats this week.
My regular reading of your blog leads me to think that you enjoy sorting fabrics and old projects, but are perhaps not so keen on giving them new life. So I think you should find a way to share them AND make money. Hexagons are hot right now, so I suggest that you set them aside for a cold winter night (with some good movies or tv)and then produce some "challenge packs" for your shop: include two or three of those 30 units and a random collection of cut half hexagons. Offer them at a low price ($5 or $6) OR include a free pack with a shop purchase. Invite people to use them in an orginal design or plan. They are definitely too good for dog beds or even good will.
Yes, I have that problem, too! My oldest UFO is from the 70s. Your project is very nice and I bet someone in a quilt guild would love to have it if you don't want it.
As I start to purge my quilting stash, I take things to our quilt guild. They have a "freebie" table. Everyone can take whatever they would like. At the end of the meeting the remainder is taken to GoodWill or another organization. It is a win, win.
Our guild holds an annual quilting rummage sale.. for members only. All proceeds go to our two local food pantries... in our villages of 1200, and 250 population. We manage to raise $400 to $600 annually from the 30 or so members by open bidding on odds and ends, UFOS, unfinished tops,and equipment. Sometimes we sell the same white elephants to each other year after year. Afterall, we are just trying to get some needed cash donated to the food pantries and having a lot of fun doing so.
This is in addtion to the 2 local church groups who, together, make 800 quilts to send out for disaster relief. Check ou Norske Needlers zip 54945 if you have something to send to us for the November rummage.
But even better is the wisnicDOTorg
The Wisconsin Nicaragua Partnership. They send everything from used school supplies to fire trucks to their partners in Nicaragua in hopes of helping where it's needed and cementing American goodwill. 50 years plus.
But the good part is they take any sewing supplies.. even old sewing kits from you mom.... for it's going to places where even a needle can make a difference. You don't even to visit their site, just do a google search and read the half-sentences that appear. You'll get the idea. And used sewing machines? Well, they have trained local Nicaraguans in sewing machine repair... as nothing there is thrown away.
So funny Wanda, I just posted about this, getting rid of the excess. Putting my post link here for anyone interested
https://thriftshopcommando.blogspot.com/2019/07/how-to-become-hoarder.html
Now that I am 60 years old my focus has shifted to possessing less things and freeing my money for more fun experiences.
Since I haven't been quilting for that long, my projects are really no older than 5 years. I found a longarmer and my projects have been moving along faster.
My oh my, did you ever get the advise today (^._.^) .
JJM
I made that Inner city with 1/2 hexies by hand--and gifted it.
My oldest project is from the 70's..I didn't like it so I cut a lot of it up and made covers for my handmade books a few years ago..so i still see parts that I liked--I think if it were in your shop it would fly off the shelf...
hugs, Julierose
I think you struck a nerve for a lot of us today! I have two large boxes of books that I plan to donate to the used book sale at our annual Davies quilt show in November. They're from my earliest years when I needed basic instruction OR they're projects I thought I'd make but now know I don't want to/never will. Better to let the proceeds help support the Manor! As far as fabrics and partial projects, I don't take them to Goodwill as I never know what will happen to them. I usually offer them to others locally who might be interested and if they aren't then I save out the pieces I like (if there are any) and discard the rest. Life is too short to store stuff I don't need/use in the studio and feel guilt-ed by it every time I see it. Go ahead and let go of your oldest UFO (which dates to the year we moved to TN - are the pieces such that they would yield 1.5" squares? - if so, I'll take them for my postage stamp quilt)
You already have the infrastructure of your pop-up shop...so it seems that you could always sell it there (at least to cover the cost of postage plus some stash enhancement :))
But please don't call it a UFO...its really a quilt fabric historical archive.
Oldest UFOs? - probably my Hawaiian applique pillow tops dating back to 1978. My Floral Applique (1997) has been sent to a friend to longarm quilt for me - finally.
Inner City - I like the suggestions to make/sell "challenge packs" - and the one to rip them apart and put them together as half-hexagons in rows. I like "unsewing" - so that would be my choice - but you already have the "pop-up" shop set up - so that might be the way to go - ;))
I most definitely have the same problem Wanda!! I have been looking at the four huge boxes of scraps I have here, some going way, way back to the early years of my quilting - I know I will never use them but persisted in hanging on to them - just in case! I'm having a huge sort out at my place, i stress every time I walk past these boxes. The same goes with my stash - my tastes have changed in fabric style, colour and the sorts of quilts I now like to make. I'm going to Guild first week in August with all these, including 50 books! I feel better for making the decision,
On the subjects of the Inner City blocks, I have Jinny Beyer's books and there is a photo of this quilt in one of them.
I made a small hanging - never again.
You have so many beautiful fabrics waiting to be sewn into beautiful quilts - fabrics that make you happy when you are sewing them. I say 'bag up'the unloved project and donate it to a charity for somebody else to work on it. You have so many creative ideas waiting to be explored so don't waste more time on this. That's my opinion anyway. Have a nice weekend deciding - hope it's a good one :)
If you don't want to finish it put it in your next pop-up shop and I'll buy it. I recognize so many of those older fabrics. It would be a great memory piece.
The colors and fabrics are so cute. Anything but dog bed fodder! If you don’t want to make a small finish, and I don’t blame you, then give it to someone who will. It will feel good to move it on but still know it will be finished.
Somewhere, I saw a pattern for this that said 'no Y seams'. I just don't see how that is not possible. :-) I've been meaning to play with half hexies for a while. Perhaps I will figure it out. Or not. haha.
Cheers!
Quite the challenging project with all those Y seams! What if you lay it out on a design wall and sew pieces into triangle "blocks?" Then you could piece the triangles in rows.
My literally oldest UFO is probably a quilt top that my grandma had taken apart from its batting and backing to redo. She didn't get to it so she gave it to me back in the 80s or 90s, but the quilt top itself was probably pieced by her mother. It can sit around until I get to it. ;) I probably have my own UFOs from the 90s, but not too many.
You received some good suggestions. My really "out there" suggestion is to make an Unidentified FLYING Object quilt -- the biggest piece is the mothership, appliqued onto the sky. The smaller pieces could be ships coming down from the mothership, or breaking apart in the sky. (I TOLD you it was "out there.")
But do feel free to get rid of UFOs if they no longer bring you pleasure!
I used to have that problem but a navy blue suit helped me get over it. I spent a lot of time making the suit but I just never liked it and I didn't make anything else for a long time because I kept expecting to "fix" it. One day I just decided I had enough and I threw it away. It was so freeing. Now I do try to find new homes for things but I'm not adverse to the trash can.
I’ve been sitting on this for a while. I follow a blogger who once a year has a “UFO adoption” project where people offer their UFOs for adoption for free to anybody who would like to finish them. You can then pick among those who are willing to take your project; sometimes people say they’d prefer if the finished project be donated to charity or something like that, or there might be no strings attached. But I couldn’t find the right blogger. I would just have to wait until it happens again. I bet somebody would love to finish it, there are all kinds out there.
But just leave it at Goodwill. Don’t keep it. Life is too short and you have too many other great ideas, and quilts to make!
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