Every quilter has them. Some have more then others. I am, of course, referring to the UFO~ otherwise known as an UnFinished Object that sits in our piles/stash/tables/cabinets/closets/or wherever you find a home for them. I am guilty of having several~ some are over a decade old!!! Every summer I always say to myself that "this will be the UFO summer!" and (somehow) I'll manage to complete at least one of them by the time my summer vacation wanes away.
This summer is no exception. As far as I've gotten in the UFO pile is thinking about them. Wondering what exactly to do with them. Since I'm giving them thought~ I should at least pay homage to their status as UFO and share them... maybe someone out there has some insight as to what should become of them?! Let's delve into the pile, shall we?!
1. Exhibit #1: Celestial UFO
Background: This project was started over a decade ago right after I finished college & was hunting for that first job. I had a lot of time on my hands~ I quilted. A. Lot. 90+ degree temps with no AC didn't deter me from turning on the iron & sewing. There was a large, empty wall on the backside of my then-apartment. This quilt was started with the intent of it occupying that space. I am now 6 residences past this apartment wall. The project remains a UFO... however, it is not a long-forgotten UFO... I have an entire cube in my stash devoted to this project & all the celestial fabric I've accumulated through the years to complete it. I probably have enough fabric for 5 king-sized quilts.
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| UFO Exhibit #1... I love this quilt... this is a favorite... |
Yes, this quilt is in the shape of an octagon. Perfect table-topper, right!? Except that my dining room table is & always has been the wrong shape. I'm not sure exactly what to do~ add more borders, square it out... yeah. The possibilities are endless. And yes, that's a Lone Star and yes, I pieced it one parallelogram at a time; none of that strip piecing method here. Somewhere around 5-6 years ago I started paper piecing borders that I was going to add to this... but, as you can see, they aren't attached & I don't have enough of them. :o)
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| Border option, anyone!? Not sure about this one... |
Any which way that you look at it... this quilt is a bonifide UFO... I love space & the stars as well as the color blue. Perhaps I'll figure out a way to expand it to a Queen size bed quilt. Or maybe I'll make it into a wall-hanging. Or ???... your guess is as good as mine. Time to move onto Exhibit #2!
Exhibit #2: My very first quilt.
Background: My second summer home from college, I decided I wanted to learn how to quilt. Not knowing what books/patterns I would like, I went to the library to check out all sorts of "stuff." Little did I know what I was getting into!!! I was 19. Most 19 year olds don't think of far reaching consequences of choices~ fabric acquisition, top of the line sewing machines (and all those FEET that come with them...) Like I said with Exhibit 1, I like space. So naturally, I took to all those star patterns & specifically Alex Anderson's book "Simple Stars." My dad was intregued with this new hobby of mine & he took me to Borders to get this book. [So I can *sorta* pass the buck on.. no.. yeah, I didn't think so either.] I tried out just about every single star in this book before I totally lost my mind on this star:
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| So many pieces, so long to assemble; 6 hrs. to be exact. On one block. |
This pattern is called a Memory Star. It's a 12" block & I chose to sash mine. For many years, I just made block after block out of whatever fabric I had at the time. My aunt (who I visited on college breaks a lot... and is a fantastic seamstress... always had a stash for raiding & a machine for using...) By the time I put the quilt together, each piece had a story behind it's creation. In fact, unlike most college kids who hang photos & posters on their walls... I thumb-tacked my quilt blocks to the wall. Very relaxing & comforting to me. Anyway, the thing's massive. It's an over-sized king. It needs tons more applique in order to make it presentable. But I'm not sure what approach I'll take to the applique... other then it seriously needs to get finished. I'm in my 30's now... this quilt is spanning decades!!!
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| Exhibit #2: A solid labor of love... & full of stories... |
Well, one second thought... maybe not much more applique... perhaps I just need to bite the bullet & have it quilted. It's far too large for me to be able to handle in my little sewing corner. It needs to be long-armed... *someday*... and we're off to Exhibit #3.
Exhibit #3: Starburst by Bits 'n Pieces
Background: Up until last year, I'd never taken a quilting class! Ever. I am totally a self-taught kinda gal. In searching for other places to buy fabric other then JoAnn's, I stumbled across a quilt shop. And not only that, they sell Bernina's (yes!) & offer classes. I took this class & made this quilt top. None of the techniques were new, but boy did I learn some nifty tricks & buy a bunch more rulers & other nifty toys. (the corner trimmer remains my favorite to this day) I had the top finished in June... which my dad admired a lot when he came to visit. So, I figured I'd give it to him for Christmas. It was supposed to be sent off the the long-arm quilter... guess what?! It's still sitting folded up waiting to go. Because it came out so well, I want to have Heirloom Quilting done~ which will cost me some bigger $$$ then if it was quilted in a more simple fashion. I'm getting ready to get it sent off... two Christmas' in a row is rather ridiculous. Here it is:
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| Seeing a pattern?! Me & star quilts?! Yeah... me, too... |
So... on this rainy Sunday afternoon... husby's gone to work & the kiddo's still napping... and I'm contemplating UFO's. I do have a second Maggie May bag to make, but I'm still opposed to starting something else new, when all of these await attention.
I shall have to keep thinking on it.... in the meantime... Happy Quilting!!! :o)
