PHD in 2020: mid-Feb Progress Report

/ quiltinggail

I have a finished UFO!!!

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This is my Rag Log Cabin.  It was made with left-overs from a quilt that I made quite a few years ago. fullsizeoutput_c19

Here’s a close up of the quilting. I did a zig-zag down each of the lines on the quilt.  I free-motioned each of the centre blocks.

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Anyhow …  I didn’t want to ruin my washing machine.  SEW, to rag the quilt, I clipped the ends of each seam and used a stiletto to pull the threads.  It was a bit of a job, but my husband started doing some of the blocks and it went much much faster!! (That man does spoil me!!)

Below are 2 pictures of blocks with their glorious raggy-ness!

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My husband has claimed this quilt as HIS.  It’s HIS couch (or lazy-boy) quilt!

 

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Ways to Successfully finish UFOs

Since the beginnin of the year, I’ve discussed several ways / hints / strategies to  help with your UFOs.  And today, I’ll talk about “Focus.”  But first, lets review:

1.  Analysisanalysis

On January 1, I discussed analysing your UFO to discover why it became a UFO in the first place.  Did that help?  You can see the post HERE.

2.  Track your Progress

Screen Shot 2020-01-11 at 11.20.40 AMTracking your progress is a great way to see encourage yourself and to know that you are getting a project done.  Which is our goal, right?  Enter the Link Party to help you track your progress!  Also, using the Excel sheet  PHD-Tally-with-formulas 2020  will also help.

3.  Assistance from other blogs

See the Feb 1st post for information about that!

4.  Beware of Temptations

Raewyn from StitchingFarmGirl told me that when she’s tempted to start a new project she “look(s) at my big list of things to achieve that’s hanging on the wall (in full view) – it’s easy then to sigh and say ‘next time’…!”  Good advice, eh?  Do you have your list hanging in plain sight?

5.  Focus Image result for clipart focus

If you have too many projects going at once, it is hard to focus.  Your mind is scattered and it’s easy to forget exactly what you need to do.  Experts will tell you that working on more than 4 – 5 projects at a time is too distracting.  Not to mention that it can be down-right overwhelming!

When I make my weekly “To Do” List (usually posted on Sundays or Mondays), this is one way for me to on a few things at a time.

Another hint to staying in focus is to ensure all supplies (fabric) for each project are in one place.  There’s nothing worse than working on a project and all of a sudden you have to hunt for the piece of fabric that you know you put somewhere safe.  But, where is that place?  It helps to keep all the fabric for each project in a bin and together.

What do you do to Focus?

Linky Party

Show us your progress (finished or not) on what you’ve been working on for your PHD in 2020!
Make sure that you link your post back to this blog post .  Also, visit others that also working on their PHD in 2020 and leave them an encouraging comment!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

My Progress

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One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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20 thoughts on “PHD in 2020: mid-Feb Progress Report”

  3. I love the centers of these blocks–what a great couch/chair quilt! Glad hubby will keep it since he put some time into it 🙂 Setting mini-goals helps me with focus, though I do sometimes struggle with working on too many projects at once.

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  4. Hi Gail! This quilt is SO DARN COOL!! I love all the raggedy-ness of it. I would say that DH deserves this quilt after all the time he’s devoted to it. How many other quilts has he or will he have a hand in?!! Great job especially on another UFO. ~smile~ Roseanne

    Liked by 1 person

    • Hi Roseanne,
      Thank you! The hardest part was remembering to sew the wrong sides together!
      As to how many quilts has he helped with … He’s ALWAYS offering his opinion and helps to arrange things on my design wall, gives his opinion on thread choice and what quilting design I should use. As well, he’s super good at choosing fabric … it’s dangerous to go into a quilt store with him!
      Happy Quilting! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  5. I think the list being right where you can see it is a great idea! I have my list in my Quilter’s Planner, so am looking forward to coloring in more squares to finish projects and focusing on those rather than writing in too many new projects!

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    • Hi Pamela!
      I, too, thought that having the list in your face was a great idea!
      Having it in your planner – and colouring in squares sounds like fun! And it probably feels rewarding to get the squares coloured in!
      Happy Quilting! 🙂

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  7. Gorgeous raggy quilt – well done on the finish. Hehe I still have that big list there to stop me from being too tempted….! I actually have something to report this month so am linking up. Thanks for the encouragement, Gail 🙂

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  9. All good tips. One thing I am doing to ensure that I get each UFO finished on time is to work on them a little during the month when I have some time so that I will be closer to finishing by the time that month rolls around. I am finding that they aren’t as overwhelming that way. I am also not adding anything to my list that I won’t be able to finish by the end of the year. It keeps things more doable for me that way. I guess we all have to find a way that will work for our brains! LOL

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    • Hi Pamela!
      We all have different ways of handling our UFOs … and your strategy of working on each one, each month is great! For me, I get excited about the possibilty of finishing a UFO and the rest get put on the back burner … that’s why I need to focus!
      Glad to hear that you are making progress!
      Happy Quilting! 🙂

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  10. I love Gords scrappy quilt with free motion stitching in the centers. You are AMAZING Gail. How I’d love to come quilt with you and have a peek into your sewing room! Lots of love K

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    • Oh Kaye! How great if you came for a LONG visit and we quilted! I do have room in my sewing room! And a guest bed! Of course, John would be welcome to come as well. I’m sure he & Gord could find something to do, or to study, or ????
      Love you tons! g

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