I'd be curious to hear if you count up your WIPs or not. And, if you'd like to confess your number, I'd be happy to hear about it! Now, I've got some hand binding to do....
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
counting up my WIPs
I don't know about you, but I like to keep tabs on my WIPs. The number fluctuates, obviously, and once in awhile I lose track, but usually only for a few weeks. I like to know where I stand and how frantic I should be. Ha! Last week, after my massive week of finishing, I rewarded myself by counting them up and taking an honest assessment. It had been awhile!
I discovered that I have 25 quilt WIPs and one table runner. It could have been so much worse! Since my count, I've finished a quilt, but I've also added a new one. (More on those later!) I'm glad that it wasn't any higher than 25, because that's my limit. 25 is one step away from panic. :) I'd really like to get that number down to 20....perhaps even before the end of summer! It's good to have goals, right?
I'd be curious to hear if you count up your WIPs or not. And, if you'd like to confess your number, I'd be happy to hear about it! Now, I've got some hand binding to do....
I'd be curious to hear if you count up your WIPs or not. And, if you'd like to confess your number, I'd be happy to hear about it! Now, I've got some hand binding to do....
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I don't have very many WIP at a time. At present I have two. I am making a Catheral Window quilt for my grandson in Scotland who got married in June. Don't know how I'll get it him, it is so heavy. I am nearly finished with it. I am also making a Trees quilt for another grandson who got married last Sept. I knew his quilt would have to be a quilted one because he has always liked my quilts, saying they are so cozy. I want to make your Pineapple Quilt next. I hand quilt my quilts, so I have next winter's work all ready. I will piece it on the sewing machine.
I have been concentrating on getting WIPs into flimsies this summer as well as making sure for each one of those, one of the 'to be quilted' oldies gets it's due finish. I know, emptying one tub to fill the other - doesn't ever end.
You are so good about finishing your WIP. I think I may have too many to count ;-) But I had hoped this year to accomplish the goal of finishing some of those ufo's and start working on diminishing the huge stash. It looks like there will be a lot of pieced backings!
Right this moment 3. One my long term carry project, one a baby quilt I started and made a mistake on and one that I have one 10x10 square to quilt and then bind.
At this stage of my life, I try to only have three WIPs -- one at the sewing machine, one to hand quilt, and one wool applique. Back in my busy years writing books, etc. I would have to keep a spread sheet on about 12 quilts in varying stages of work. I would list (and check off) different aspects of the process; including what I needed to buy yet for each remaining project as I live 1 hour from a quilt store. Don't miss the stress of a deadline, but miss the fun of making all of those quilts and buying all that fabric. Sally
I have decided that's its ok to take a WIP and decide it will never get finished and is no longer considered a WIP. I have come to the conclusion that if I have no desire to finish something then I also don't need it hanging around as something I didn't get finished and should have. I give it away or use it for something else or just discard it and put the fabric back in my stash. This helps keep me sane. Of course once it becomes a full quilt top then I must at some point finish it. I have a bad habit of getting a top within 1 seam of being finished then I decide to start something else and need the design wall space so it comes off the wall and into a pile. Not a good process.
I think I only have 10 -- some are bigger projects, some just little ones. and a whole bunch more in the thinking out process.
Do I have to count the ones floating around in my head????
I try to keep the ones involving fabric to 2 or 3. It keeps the feelings of being overwhelmed to the minimum.
I do keep a list of all my WIPs. I just updated it today and I am down to 21 (from 27 at the beginning of the year). I too am hoping to have it below 20 by the end of the year but I like to start projects :)
1- waiting for the binding to be handstiched.
1- all pieces cut for the top
1- some pieces cut for the top
Really I have three "in progress". I have at least three more with fabric and pattern set aside, but I haven't officially begun cutting fabric.
I am almost afraid to count...
I just counted 20. I try to keep an up to date list on my blog, but there are always one or two that I miss. About half of them are tops waiting to be quilted. The ones that are in the piecing stage are stored in square project boxes. I love those things!
I lose count and then go through and recount. I find it spurs me to finish stuff up.
Looks like you've got lots of pretty things in the works! I am a list maker so I definitely have a list of WIPs. Last year I think there were 18 on that list and I decided to focus on them and lo and behold, I just finished piecing the very last one. I've got 8 at the quilter's and I'm binding one right now. I may be binding for the rest of the year but that list is going to be empty by the end of the year!
Not sure, but no where near 20. Suddenly I feel much better. :0)
I too try to keep track so I don't start too many at once - sometimes when that happens you totally loose interest in some of them and never finish them. Right now I am quilting two - one machine and one by hand, 2 applique that I have lost interest in and hope to finish one day, 1 hand piecing and two waiting in line to quilt - one top ready to finish the piecing and 3 ideas waiting in line.
I used to include those projects where I had pattern and fabric also in my WIP list. I lost track after 25!
I'm not sure if I count pieces that are CUT OUT and waiting for me to sew, or ones I have actually started sewing. I usually don't think of the former as wip's, even though I guess really they are. ??
Of the ones that are IN PROGRESS, I just finished putting the binding on one and have to finish a label and sew it on (tomorrow?), I have one yet to hand stitch the binding, and I have two ready to hand-quilt (one of which I am (or was) working on, and the other, I have yet to begin). That's all I have right now, though I do have one up on my design wall, but not sewn at all.
I just quit machine sewing a couple or so weeks ago, because there are other things around here I really need to get done. I find the sewing thing so addictive. Or consuming. Or something.
Now, if you count the ones I have CUT OUT and are waiting for me (and I don't seem to lose interest in them...yet) -- there are (ahem) a lot more. Like 30 or more. Sigh... I expect that to take some few years (3 to 5, depending on how much I work, I guess. I don't get much more than 10 or 12 done in a year -- at least, so far, I haven't.
How DO people count things that are cut but not sewn AT ALL??
Susan
Oh. I have one of the ones that is cut out a bit hand-sewed -- I was making an EPP star for the inside, and that is a chunk done.
Two, I'm not Eric. :)
Three, I only started quilting a bit over three years ago, and I have now quit buying new fabric, UNLESS it is something like a piece to use for backing or borders or binding -- to finish off something I'm already doing. So I don't expect my number to continue to get bigger and bigger.
Four, MOST of my quilts were sent to a longarm quilter. So the progress is a lot faster than that hand quilted one, which I have been working on, gradually, for years.
And five, I DO keep a paper list -- actually, more than one, but I'm TRYING to keep it to TWO :).
Susan
Yes, need to define WIP's! LOL Does having fabric bundled together with a pattern count? *grin*
I was just thinking about spreading them out and counting them today. I usually don't add them up. I would guess I have about 15 to 20 right now. 10 of those have been languishing for a while. I try to really finish them once I start them now. Maybe I should go back to the old ones and try to finish an old one after I've finished a new one. I just get so distracted! Haha.
Wow I have 6 to 10 quilts to be finished right now and I am planning a huge change !!! As soon as I finish them all I will work on one quilt at a time only !!!!
Um, I know I have 16 just in knitting WIPs because that stares me in the face everytime I am on Ravelry. I am not sure I want to count my sewing and amd embroidery WIPs...
Those are some beautiful wips. Especially the stars. Hope you do manage to get that one finished sooner rather than later. When I began quilting, I made a promise to myself to always finish whatever I've started. I never have more than three wips at a time. And I find it difficult to work on various projects at once. My brain prefers to stay with one at a time, as I have to do a review when I go back to something unfinished.
Congrats on getting through your marathon week of sewing deadlines! Fun post! 25 WIPs sounds like a lot - overwhelming to me. But then again, I probably have 25 ideas brewing in my head or a sketchbook, so there you have it. As far as sewing/quilting, as a result of our recent Gruber's Retreat, I think I have 6 WIPS that are cut and in progress, with another 3-4 projects with a pattern and fabric picked out. So fun!
Without actually going to my sewing room, I think I count 11 projects. That doesn't seem too bad. Happily I finished a quilt this morning - two weeks ahead of schedule! It's a donation for a fundraiser event.
I'd just as soon not know! UGH! I keep thinking I'm going to drag a couple outta the closet and get them finished up just so I can say I did!! :-) Hadn't happened yet, though.
I never have more than 2. One that I'm piecing & one at the quilter. Any more than that & I start to have anxiety. Haha.
I quilt for fun and relaxation so don't care about WIPs. It's a hobby not a marathon!
I have 9 wips which I thought I would have more.... I feel like I should have more.... I have about 6 quilts that I've specifically bought fabric for(backing and everything) and are sitting waiting to be started...but I feel they are wips simply because they sit in my mind constantly...but I need to finish what I've started before I can move onto them...
Once I listed them all. It took several pages--and that was several UFO's ago. I have too many to count--or finish. And I still started the scrap vortex! I'm guessing 50+, but I think you have to figure my oldest UFO was started in 1975, so if you consider it on a per year basis, maybe it isn't so bad?
I had 56 at the beginning of this year. Althogh I have about 25 finishes, I'm hovering around 40 WIP's. I can't stop myself from starting something new. Most of them I have to the quilting stage. And when I find some time to get to that I will. Go crazy mom go!!!
I count my WIPs often. Lately, I can't seem to dip below 12. Double digits stresses me out. However, I've seen several post lately like yours that make me feel better about my double digit WIP list.
I don't keep track but I probably have 7 or 8. I'm so happy to have completed 3 big projects last year.
So interesting to see your WIPs! I always have a list, one for the finished quilt tops (28) and one for the quilt tops in progress (7). It keeps me on track so much better!
Oh yes, I count my WIP’s! There are many that I’ve fallen out of love with but I’m determined to finish them. At the moment I have:
- 3 quilts at the long arm service
- 8 that I need to qullt myself
- 18 that are in progress
and a gazillion others that I want to start...
At the moment two real Quilt WIP's and two Quilt WIP's to be (means I haven't started working on it) ;-)
And one table runner WIP ...
If I had 25 like you I couldn't sleep any longer ;-)
But I'm sure you will manage it!
And I'll be here to take a look :-)
To scatter my WIPs and count them would be scary. I'm not sure if it would motivate me or overwhelm me!
I'm not sure exactly how many WIPs I have but I can see 15, not counting my 2 leader/ender projects.
I have 5 WIPs which is way too many for me. I am comfortable with piecing but not the actually quilting so I out it off in fear of ruining my finished work. Wall hanging I decided to hand bind hS been sitting for months. Hate handwork! But once kids and husband are back in school, I will finish these before staring anything new!
I have somewhere around 40. I should probably count them again, as I know I finished a couple but then added more, so I like to float that number in my head. :D
I also don't count the UFOs I may never finish or am undecided about. Sometimes I discount the stack of fabric I have bundled with specific patterns, if I haven't cut into yet, it's not a project yet - RIGHT? ;D
Based on comments already, you sure struck a chord with this one! My UFO count: 13, named on my blog; 6 tops waiting to be quilted; 3 immediately pending. Those 13 are the most worrisome, as I don't even like most of them anymore. (sigh)
i occasionally will count them and i think last i checked i had about 10-12 all together.....most are ready to go with backing and batting already cut. I dont lack the time to finish these days but i am lacking the motivation. lost my mojo and am having trouble getting it back. But i have a wealth of machines to finish on so i should just get to work right?!
Several years ago I counted and had over 50. I was appalled and overwhelmed, but was determined to get some finishes under my belt. I haven't dared count since then, but I know I got it down quite a bit. I'm hoping I'm currently in the 20s, but I haven't dared count. I think it's time to do so again.
I actually like have a couple of WIPs going at a time so I can work on what inspires me that day. I'll have one in the piecing stage, and one on the longarm frame. I like having something to do by hand to do while watching TV in the evening, like doing the hand whip on the binding. Having three at a time is ideal, but it doesn't always work out that way. It is fun to be able to move the project through the stages while having something to occupy my hands.
I don't know the number of WIPs right now but you have motivated me to get everything out and count them. I will be doing that this weekend and hopefully finishing a few also.
I don't count because I'm afraid to know. I have at least one that is over eight years old. I have a plan for how I'm going to restructure my time once school is back in session and I'm going to put myself on a fairly structured schedule to turn more wips into FOs. School starts on 8/6 so I'm much closer to becoming a finisher. I'm hoping you continue your finish Friday's because they always motivate me to join and and play along.
Don't have toooo many UFOs but I have a ton of PIGs. That is - projects in grocery bags. You know, when you buy the fabric and pattern and put it aside to work on those UFOs. So there is a different between a UFO and a PIG, and PIGs dont' count.
One more than you.......panic mode!
Although mine WIPs are not as organized as yours, I usually uncover them looking for a particular fabric or seasonal project and then finish 2 or 3 of the small ones when I discover 'em.
bluestarof2(at)yahoo(dot)com
I have two WIP unless you count fabric purchases. When I fall in love with a fabric, I have to snatch it up to be used later. Most fall into the category of "for future grandkids".
I worked really hard on reducing my quilting WIP pile. It's down to about 16. That does not include anything that is truly a UFO, yardage with a plan, or anything to do with clothing.
I have an accountant's brain so it would be nuts with 25 WIPs! I do have several things in stages. I have two lap quilts cut out and in bins for the next sew-in. I have two baby quilts at the binding stage for when I go to my mom's surgery next weekend. I have three sewtogether bags cut and ready for assembly the next time I have a block of time. And I have 5 kleenx covers cut and ready for spurts of 5 minute sewing. So technically I do have 12!
I am literally too scared to count.... I thought about making some of these great WIP bags of yours, but I fear they would also become a WIP!!! Eep! I am currently working on a client baby quilt, a Fall quilt, I have my Summer quilt top ready to quilt, and many that are cut or ready to be cut. Then, there is my Farmer's Wife quilt (only 25 of the 111 finished) and the quilt for my bed that I may never finish... Distraction is my enemy. However, I did decide to take one day a week to work on WIPs, so Sundays are my fun day to work on these so hopefully, I will begin to whittle my ever-growing list down a bit soon.
I do take stock periodically but I don't count them. I'd say i have about 10.
Last time I counted I had 18 but I have added a couple to the tub. There are just too many ideas and pretty fabric out there. When I finish my grand daughters quilt I will reevaluate where I am in the UFO department. Debbie
If I have a pattern and the fabric for at least the top, it goes into an ArtBin 12x12 plastic box, gets a label and a spot on wire shelves in my quilt room. They stack easily, have a handle so I can take them to class, and are easily counted. The top stays in there until piecing is complete, when it moves to a Hefty Jumbo zip lock bag with its now-pieced binding and notes on size of batting and backing required. If I have the backing fabric but haven't prepared it yet, that goes in there as well. Because the pieced tops can be folded flat, these bags also stack easily for counting. Once the backing is prepared, it all gets pressed and moved to an over-sized, open-on-one-end, rubberized hanger and hung on a rod inset into my wire shelf unit, ready for quilting. All I do is count the hangers. I think I must be better at the organization than the finishing, because I have 53 quilts in progress. Yikes! I thought having it all in plain sight would keep me motivated, but maybe I should create a list in my phone so it's with me ALL the time, not just when I'm in the quilt room! Love things that push me, so thanks for the reminder blogs!
Thank you for your post about WIP's... have been feeling overwhelmed by how many I seem to have at the moment... too much happening all over my studio. Now, I feel much better! I have a white board that I keep track of projects that are waiting for me to piece, tops that need quilting and other quilt related projects like making a doorprize for the next modern guild meeting. I update my white board at the beginning of each month and the lists never get shorter!
I have three quilts in progress, although I'm about to start another! One of mine is a queen-sized quilt just waiting to be quilted. I really don't want to do it myself, but sending it out to be done is not in the budget right now, either. One of these days I'll get to it!
Emily
I started at 34 for the year and am down to 25. I'd like to get to under 20, but Christmas is on the minds of family members, and my mom just asked for a quilt! My list includes a few UFOs, WIPs, and a number of HSY (fabric pulled, or even just an idea), so I feel pretty good about it.
I have a lot of WIP's only because when my machine was in the shop for a month I cut, cut, and cut so I have all those projects to finish. I have a few in boxes and I have blocks and table runners hanging in the guest bedroom closet waiting to be finished up.
what I cannot get control of is all the many quilts that I want to cut up and make - my head is swimming with them and there just isn't enough time in the day to put it all down on paper. I get so wrapped up in deciding what project to do next that I forget there there must be some time to eat, clean, and sleep.
Sometimes I feel possessed by a quilt monster.
I have a quilt whose large blocks are now all quilted. I just have the borders to quilt. Then I have 4 Blocks of the Month in progress. I need to make two more grandchildren twin sized quilts. Plus I have another twin sized quilt all cut out. There are plans for another 50 plus quilts, but none of them are cut out.
38. 'Nuff said.
Thanks for empowering me to keep going on what I've started, and thank you for the continual scrap inspiration!
Phew! When I saw you already have 63 comments, I almost passed on posting a comment, but then I figured, what the heck. I have 14 WIPs and I thought that was a lot! So you made me feel better! I love the one that's mostly solids with what looks like a dark polka dot right in the front of your pic. Interested in seeing all your quilts, but especially that one when it's done. And have fun!
I try to keep a running tally on a page on my blog... currently I'm at about 47, but I think I need to update... :D And I am 100% okay with that number. To me, there's no difference between fabric in my stash without any purpose, or fabric that's already been cut up, it's all still fabric, and anything is up for grabs if need be. I'd rather work on something I enjoy than push myself to finish something, just for the sake of finishing. But I've been told I'm weird that way. :D
I am terrified to count! I know that I have 10-15 quilt tops of all sizes that are waiting to be quilted. I have a few, no more than a few projects that just need borders or the blocks sewn together. Then there are the four scrap quilts that I am currently working on......I think I need to get off the internet and sew......
No, I don't count. I try to finish old ones when I find them and get very distracted by new quilts I see on the internet. Love scraps. Darlene
This is all so true, everybody can live with so different amounts of WIPs.
I haven't counted them yet, but they are too many for me to feel good. It gets me "confused", unproductive and uncreative. Blocked. So I started with something like a WIP priority list for the Finish Along 2015. This really helped. Now I am trying to find the courage to really list them on a WIP page :)
I stopped counting when I got over a 100 wips...then I called in an organizer who made me donate many many bags of projects that I was not going to finish! Many were class samples that taught a process or method but by themselves, not that pretty! Some were tops that were finished but not quilted and I really didn't love them enough to quilt them. I learned it was okay to get rid of things that you did not love!!!and the crazy cat lady vests....she made me see that they did not work for me!!! but mainly she organized me...everything needs a place and if you don't have one then it contributes to the mess...a clear area and I am much more productive! I love IKEA Billy bookshelves for storing fabric and I use pretty boxes to hold things in groups ie. things I need for binding and labels are in one box, all my sharp scissors and rotary cutters are together, my machine needles are all organized in a box according to size, my threads are group by weight, my pins and hand work needles are grouped together, all my templates are organized in zippered pencil cases with labels!!! my machine feet are in a see thru plastic box with labels! Well worth getting someone in to help you....I only had to pay her my left kidney....seriously!!! LOL :)
If I count the patterns and fabric I have ready to go as WIPs, I'm way over 25. My hanging to-do list only has 12 lines on it, so I never really know just how much I have in the pile at any one time.
Oh, Amanda.... you know how it makes me laugh to even think about counting up my WIPs. :) I WISH mine was ONLY 25, 25 seems like a doable number to me. I'd dare say I have probably 4 times what you have, LOL. I don't count anymore because it only frightens me. :)
Its too scary for me to count! BUT since last Friday. I have made two pairs of baby leggings. And I finished the back for a quilt for my brother. Were having a birthday dinner Sunday. I may have to rethink my quilt design so I can have it done!
I have a list; otherwise, I'd forgot about projects. I think I'm around 20 (maybe it's more).
Well, I do not have an exact count, but many of my UFO's are from classes I took early on in my quilting and each time I learned something from either the teacher or a student next to me. So really, they are just stepping stones getting me to where I am today as a quilter. If I finish them, fine, and if not, I will part with them when I'm READY!
If you are just counting UFO's as quilts to make then I've only got 5. If you are counting flimsies to be quilted aswell then then the number goes up to 20. PLus I'm working on two BOM's
I really should count them all. I know I have 3 quilt topps ready for quilting, 2 quilts in the making, a hand sewing project, an embroidery project and lots more on my to-do list. I really should start finishing up.
KATRIN W.
I used to have a list of all my UFO's and WIP's but I haven't kept up with it. We moved last summer and getting ready to move and not having my space well organized afterward has dampened my enthusiasm. I have just tackled my sewing space again and sorted out what needs to be finished. I have 4 flimsies, 1 king size quilt that I am hand quilting, and 1 baby quilt that I am machine quilting. There are 3 more projects in various stages. So that is 9 total if I don't count the odd block box and the parts department box as WIP's. I guess I should count them somehow as they really are both WIP's.
Thanks for the incentive to take inventory, that is the first step to finishing.
I like to keep track of my WIPs, too... I have 14 quilt WIPs hanging in my closet now - some with backs ready to go, but most without! Argh!! I also have a ton of fabric waiting to be turned into something lovely :) Too many projects, not enough time!
I could give you a number but that would require finding my planner, and I'm not in the mood at the moment. ;-) I wanna say around 15? I recently made a list of my quilty WIPs (ignoring the cross stitch, crochet, etc WIPs). I also made a checklist for each project and have been steadily crossing off items for various projects.
I like it when it says "buy backing fabric" or "buy binding fabric". Not as exciting as fun, new fabric or a bunch of different fabrics for a new quilt top, but it's still buying fabric. And can you blame me if some fun, new fabric slips into my cart while I'm at it?
I spent the last week or two making backings and bindings for the finished tops I have. I need to buy some more batting and have a massive basting session. Then, I can really get to work on some of the other WIPs that haven't been touched in awhile. Plus, half of the finished tops are gifts for other people and I'd like to actually gift them.
I don't usually count, but I think it's less than 10. I try to look at old wips once a year and if I can possibly let a project go to someone who will finish it either for themselves or charity, I let it go. It only ends up being a few each year, if that many. If I were as productive as you are, I might keep more with the intent of finishing them!
Thanks for a good idea to check how many WIP I had. I actually was rather sure it would be more than 25 but there are actually "only" 14. But some of them are UFO's since a LOOOONG time. And well not sure if I should count the gazzillion amount of project ideas I have planned and bought fabric for or have in my head. Those are a lot more than 25. ;) Thanks for sharing and I whish you a nice summer.
86.... But I have a spreadsheet to keep track and whilst some linger I do make an effort to finish things off. Unfortunately I also love starting new projects....
86.... But I have a spreadsheet to keep track and whilst some linger I do make an effort to finish things off. Unfortunately I also love starting new projects....
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