Tuesday, September 20, 2016

WIP--need more coffee

I've been working hard on whittling down my WIP list. It's been very helpful to have some focus and it's good to see progress. My goal is to get below 10 works in progress before I start any new items. I would love to keep my WIPs at about a dozen or so. It's good to dream, right?
I've been working on this one for a few months (or more). I decided to make a larger version of my mini coffee cups quilt, but this time in reds and whites only. I like the limited color scheme a lot! I have 65 blocks done, and 45 blocks to go for a lap size quilt. It's great to be beyond the half-way mark.
I love this plaid mug...so campy and cute! It feels good to be using my stash, too.

How about you? I know I've asked this question before, but how many WIPs do you have? Or, if you'd rather not answer that question, I'd love to hear about a project that you are excited to be working on. Hopefully you have one of those! :)

47 comments:

Verena said...

Your coffee cups look great!
When I started quilting I was very good at starting and finishing one project after the other, but somehow I lost that ;)
Now I have one big project going (for several years by now and will probably be a lot more years to get it finished at my current pace) and then about 2-3 smaller projects I am working on in between.
But I actually like it to be able to switch between different WIPs depending on my mood :)

Gale Bulkley said...

There are 22. I am aiming to get that down to 10 before Christmas this year. It's an unrealistic goal. Sigh.

Nicole said...

I'm at 15ish. I want to start more but I'm being strict with myself. I'm having fun designing in my head though for all the future quilts!

Bernie Kringel said...

I'm in pretty good shape, for the moment anyway. I have one flimsy, one to bind and one that I am piecing. Hopefully I will get the binding done this week and have a finish to share soon.

Tami Von Zalez said...

Well, if you count the quilt tops I have completed but not yet sandwiched - 4. I try to keep my feet to the fire and finish each project as I start it otherwise I am so ADHD, you know - "squirrel" and I'm on to the next craft project.

Nearly finished with my Spooky Steampunk wall hanging for the Eerie Nights blog hop, then back to my brother's retirement lap quilt. I sooo want to use my retro fabric precuts I just acquired but Christmas is looming so I need to continue working on the holiday gift quilts.

Kelly O. said...

hmmm... I had to think about it... I have a commission that needs to be done by January first that I have yet to start but I have 8 I think, however more may be lurking! those cups are darling! are they paper pieced? how big does the cup end up? I am tempted by this pattern to start something fun for my mother in law.

Kate Chiconi said...

I'm clearly a total amateur! I have only 4 machine stitched and 1 hand stitched quilt in progress. One has all the blocks made and quilted and just needs assembling, two have all the blocks made and one is progressing slowly block by block as I have the time. The hand stitched one is here for the long term! I like to work in a linear rather than parallel fashion, so I'm strongly motivated to finish something before I start something new. Of course, that means the idea sketches pile up, but at least that takes up less space than a WIP, right...?

DeniseClaire said...

I can't handle a bunch of projects going at the same time. It's too overwhelming. As it is I am overwhelmed by all the fabric I have...untouched. Wouldn't allow myself to even go to a fabric store for over a year, maybe two.

However, when my husband and I traveled to Iowa this summer and found a quilt store only ONE mile from our son's house, I had to go in. Found the cutest quilt kit for dog lovers and had to buy it, as we had just lost our beloved collie two weeks before. She was my Lassie. The top is nearly done and I can't wait to give it to another son (who was the real owner of our dog) for Christmas.

I have several other personal projects going, like purses and a nearly done quilted jacket.

travelinsewl said...

There is definitely something LOVE-ly about that plaid coffee cup! 65 and 45 to go! wow, that would be overwhelming to me...
As far as counting WIPs, I'm afraid to count! My goal will be to NOT start anything new the remainder of this month of
September. :)

Bernie Kringel said...

Ummm.... I commented above that I had three, but that was not entirely true. As I sit at the machine attaching the binding I thought of two more whose blocks are about half way pieced. That puts me at five. Still manageable but I decided I should be honest!!😂😂😂

Cynthia Brunz Designs said...

Very fun block! I am finally under 20 WIPs and working on getting closer to 15. But it has been so hard to do!

Katie Z. said...

I'm down to about 12, but some of those are things I have no intention of finishing any time soon (skill, supplies, time), so I am pretty happy with my list.

farmhousequilter8 said...

I have about 10 WIP and some I have decided I will never do so I think I will give them away and let someone else finish them. Paula in KY

Little Quiltsong said...

I try not to have too many WIP's as I can easily 'never' get back to them - so I push myself to finish a few before going on - but I know the feeling :)! Right now I am working on a Bear Paw Quilt - a Sew Along hosted by Lorna from Sewfreshquilts. It is coming together nicely.

Heather said...

Just managing to keep it under 10 at the moment - with 9 WIP, and three of those are year long projects (ie, BOM/Mystery quilts) so they don't really count do they?

Vicki W. said...

Love your red and white scheme! I've got that (and blue and white!) on my someday list! As for now, I've got ... Mmm ... Eleven. Two only need binding! And four are completed tops! But, to be fully honest, I've got a couple quilts I started and abandoned permanently, and a couple I cut out, changed my mind, and am waiting for new inspiration! So maybe thirteen, tops? Plus the, oh, thirty more in my head that are waiting for opportunity. Or a weak moment ;)

Ariane said...

This is such a cute quilt. I love how its coming along.

Sally Langston Warren said...

My main projects right now are a chevron quilt that I am not enjoying anymore because I am having trouble matching all those points. Just takes the joy out of it! It's for my son (special request) and he wanted it for his college room. He's been there over a month now. Sigh. My other main project is one I am machine quilting for my sisters 50th bday.....she is 51 now,,,,I did recently finish an hourglass quilt inspired by your Epic quilt! You can see it on my blog. So proud of it! Love your mugs but I would be hesitant to tackle those curved handles. Were they hard? They somehow remind me of little pocketbooks. (Turn them sideways with handle on top and make sides equal. Think of all the different fabrics you could use!)

Liz Bess said...

Beautiful quilt! I have 6 WIP, 1 sandwiched and I am hand quilting, 2 are a year long mystery quilts in different color schemes. 1 quilt I am avoiding due to the fact I was working on it when I got the call my dad had gone into the hospital for the last time, and one I need to figure out how to make a pink breast cancer ribbon and am not sure how to go about it.

beth s said...

A great Name for a FUN quilt! I have only about 4 WIPs. If I had more...I wouldn't know WHERE to begin!

lkhomework said...

This morning I had four active WIPs. Then I decided to pre-cut a project for this weekend's sew-in... then I decided to first do a trial run of the pattern in Halloween fabric, before cutting into the prize fabric... then I decided to cut some Christmas fabric that was in the bin with the Halloween fabric... So now I'm up to seven active WIPs!

KerryQ said...

I just made a Pinterest board to imitate Ravelry's Queue for sewing. I'm pinning WIPs and projects I intend to start next, or have purchased fabric for. I think it might help. Then maybe I will make a "Done" board because who doesn't like crossing off the list?!

Debbie said...

I currently have 4, one of which I keep debating whether I want to even finish. Several more on the horizon tho!!

Walkers Road Quilts said...

I am loving the red and white. I have 20...just 20. I like having the variety and being able to keep busy working on many different projects. When I need a break from one there is always another to move on to. I do have to confess to one of them being around fot a good 10 years. There will be a great celebration when that one is completed.

Walkers Road Quilts said...

I am loving the red and white. I have 20...just 20. I like having the variety and being able to keep busy working on many different projects. When I need a break from one there is always another to move on to. I do have to confess to one of them being around fot a good 10 years. There will be a great celebration when that one is completed.

Charlotte M. said...

I have two small wall hangings that need quilting, but I can't quite figure out how to quilt them yet, a baby quilt top finished, but not quilted, one that needs binding only, and one being pieced that is 1296 one and a half inch squares and I'm not even half way on that one. So right now, 5, but that number changes and goes up and down...a lot. LOVE your red mugs!

Susan said...

I do try to keep my WIPs under control, if only for the sake of good sleep!! Otherwise I would be awake half the night worrying about them!! I have three quilts in various stages of completion and two on-going commitments to bee blocks. Maybe that says I'm not a REAL quilter!

Anne said...

If I count all my sewing, knitting, and embroidery projects (and I do) I have about 10-15 WIPs. I love finishing them! I joined the finish along this year and so far I think I've finished about 10-12 projects. My goal is to be down to about 5 projects by year end. Currently I'm working on a wall hanging quilt I made with my hand dyed fabric. The finish along is very motivating!

Aliceart said...

Ha, ha, I don't know! I made a master list, but managed to lose it in a UFO. I need to make another. I know it's really out of control. I had several years of constant stress from parents' illnesses and deaths, and my coping technique always seemed to be "start something new!" I think it made me feel closer to my quilting friends when I coudn't be with them. I do have hope to make some progress this year. I'm only taking UFO's to work on at retreat next week.

KaHolly said...

Too many WIPs to keep track of! Your quilt is way too cute!

Unknown said...

Adorable!

Sam said...

I only have 3 quilt WIP (autumn leaves and 2 EPP hexies) but I have 5 WIP in tatting, 7 WIP in cross stitch and 12 costumes to design and sew for the H.S. where I am the Costume Designer.

piecefulwendy said...

I've never counted my WIP, but I know I have quite a few. The main reason why is because I am slow in learning FMQ. I'm slowly getting more comfortable with it, so most of those little WIPs will be getting checked off my list. Wendy at piecefulthoughts@gmail.com

Laura said...

Not sure how many WIPs I have. Maybe 8-10?

Granny Maud's Girl said...

I cannot count that high on my fingers. I am not sure my toes will cover it either. Yes, I have too many WIPs. I must focus, but most get finished ... eventually.
I love your red and white colour scheme,

Lisa C said...

I have one baby quilt that's a million HST's. I put them on the floor, numbered everything, and then somehow messed it up. I need to start over. So it's sitting. Otherwise, I have four potholders that need binding. I have one lap sized Christmas quilt that will get sandwiched and quilted this weekend. That's seriously all I have started. I tend to be a one project at a time girl.

Tracybug Creative said...

This is so fun! I've been contemplating my own creative voice, what it is and how it's unique to me! I look at your work and see that it shows you know yourself! I have three tips done waiting to be quilted and two tops in process. Then I have a BOM that I'm way behind on and another BOM I'm almost caught up on! And a thousand ideas in my head!

Unknown said...

About 13 WIPs and about 19 others planned. I've decided that as long as I'm using fabric I've already bought, I will just work on what feels fun at that moment. I still am finishing quilts at a pretty good pace, so I'm happy with that.

Vic in NH said...

Yikes, who can count that high, it gives me a nosebleed! Love your coffee cups so bright and cheery.

Chancy said...

About 13, if my count is right. Higher than I was hoping, but not too bad. Right around a dozen. 👍

Chris said...

I have 5 WIPs. I really try to keep them at a minimum! The coffee cups are darling in the red color scheme.

trudys_person said...

Way too many! Enough that they weigh me down and make me feel guilty ... over a dozen? I'm working on getting that number down ... Love your mugs!

Jasmine said...

While I have a big list of potential projects (mostly from stash), I only have one or two actually in progress.

Annemieke said...

Beatiful project! Fun too. I think I Still Have A Couple Of 10 I work on. I finished a lot the last year or so and combined blocks into one big sampler! Good way to get UFO'S of my list which was too long.
Groetjes
Annemieke

Emily said...

I have four quilt projects in the making. One is a long-term project that I knew would take forever, one I'm not sure I can bring myself to work on ever again, one waiting for quilting, and then one that is sitting on my table (it's my most recent!). I also have a handful of clothing projects (mostly for my kids) cut out and waiting for me to get to them. Luckily the clothes don't take too long! I get tired of working on just one quilt at a time, I have to take breaks!
Love the red mugs!

Unknown said...

Eine wunderschöne Arbeit .
Ich liebe deinen Blog und lese ihn immer gern.
Liebe Grüße aus Deutschland
Karo

Mary Marcotte said...

Normally I have only one or two projects going but somehow I have
four (!) waiting their turn for quilting. Guess I should get on that, huh?