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!”.

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This blog post was written by Jen Lopez. 

Please join us here every other Wednesday for another fun, fiber-filled installment of By the Yard. You can read more By the Yard® comics at www.bytheyardcomics.com!