Month: April 2026

Finish that Quilt

UFOs. We all have them. Those Un-Finished Objects that we quilters have in great abundance. We start a project, get well into it and then get distracted by something shiny. That poor quilt that was once the sole object of our affection is now on the bottom of the “to do” pile. Who knows when it will get done.

I feel compelled to brag that just last week I finished a project that was 23 years old. That’s right, the big two-three. I can’t tell you how many times I cleaned my sewing space, took it out, looked at it admiringly, only to fold it back up and put it in the “finish you later” pile.

This time, something was different. It just felt like it was time. Oddly, once I got back down to it, it took me less than one hour to finish. This really calls into question my previous posts about what to do with UFOs. Recently, I’ve been a strong advocate of “if you can’t finish it, then repurpose it or give it away…. give the poor thing a chance!”. Finishing a 23-year-old project really makes me think that it’s OK to keep an unfinished project for, well…. at least two decades!

Giddy with this accomplishment, I’ve gone on to finish not one but TWO more unfished projects that are each at least ten years old or more. I guess what this really says is, it’s never too late. Next up, I have some curtains that I started at least six years ago when I moved into my current house. If I can pull that off, then I feel very confident in that dress I was going to make for my son’s graduation in 2007. Fortunately, I have another son’s graduation next year in 2027. I really feel like I have a sporting chance with this one!

The Spectrum of Unfinished Projects

Quilters are notorious for having many unfinished projects, colloquially referred to as UFOs, i.e. Un-Finished Objects. This is not a concept unique to quilters… we are looking at you too, knitters and crocheters! Quilters will be in the middle of one quilt then suddenly get inspired to start another… and the old one? Gently pushed aside for “later.” But why? Here are a few thoughts:

  • OBE – Sometimes quilters get what we used to call in my days of working for the Department of Defense “OBE” – Overcome by Events. They ran out of fabric or thread, they hit a tricky part and lost enthusiasm for the project, or they just got busy with work, kids, holidays or whatever.
  • Perfectionism – To make matters worse, what often times makes good quilters is what makes distracted quilters, and that is the pursuit of perfection. If a block doesn’t come out just right, the perfectionist in us will rip it out or put it in the “time out” closet until it can start behaving properly.
  • Shiney! With so much fabric and pattern shopping available online, it is very easy to get distracted. Add on top of that, QAL’s (quilt-alongs), blogs and YouTube tutorials, that current quilt doesn’t stand a chance.
  • In the Mood – Many quilters require different projects for different moods. Strip piecing or simple blocks are for those days when something mindless and soothing is required. English paper piecing or fussy cutting are for days when the quilter is up for a challenge. A quilter’s WIPs, i.e. Works in Progress, become a kind of reflection of their current mood and level of creative energy.
  • The Final Distraction – Sometimes, a quilt doesn’t get finished because the quilter’s time on earth has sadly come to an end. This, however, doesn’t have to be the end for a beloved project. There is an organization called the Loose Ends Project (https://looseends.org/) that finishes projects in the event of the death or disability of the original creator. They match unfinished projects with appropriately skilled “finishers” so that a cherished project can finally be completed.

No matter the reason for not finishing a project, bear in mind the eternal words of Miss Scarlett, “Tomorrow is another day!”.

A Red by Any Other Name

For me, the hardest part of making a quilt is selecting the colors. The color choices dictate the feel of a quilt. Do you want something calm and soothing, or something fun and vibrant? If the quilt is to be a gift, the tastes or preferences of the intended recipient should also be considered. There are many different color schemes that you can use to select your quilt colors. Some of them are:

  • Monochromatic – Different shades and tints of one color. Various shades of one color can make a soothing baby quilt, either in traditional pinks and blues or more modern takes such as gray or other neutrals.
  • Analogous – Colors that are next to each other on the color wheel, for example: shades of blue, green, and yellow. This is a good scheme for someone who has a well-known favorite color.
  • Complementary – Colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel, for example, red/green or blue/orange. Complementary colors are a good scheme if you are going for a bright, vivid quilt.
  • Triadic – Three colors that are equally spaced on the color wheel. A triadic color scheme is a good way to give your quilt visual balance.
  • Focus Fabric – Not actually a color scheme but rather a technique, select a print fabric that you love as a starting point. Then pull out colors from that print to inform your companion fabrics.

As you are trying out different options, be sure to take a picture of each scheme you consider so that you can later make side-by-side comparisons.

Choosing your colors is probably the single most important decision you can make when starting a new quilt. Although it may seem daunting at first, it can also be a lot of fun!