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Returning to a UFO Project. Lessons Learned.

My project as a UFO
DWR UFO project

After cleaning up all my mask supplies this morning, I decided to work on a project I put aside over a year ago.

I’m sure there’s a few of you reading this that can relate to having projects you’ve started but put aside and it became a UFO project. That is what happened to my beautiful double wedding ring quilt.

See, I didn’t know how to quilt this double wedding ring.  I wanted to do it myself but I wasn’t sure my free motion quilting skills were good enough and I would have to save up the money to send it off to a long-arm quilter for a custom quilt.

However, this year I was presented with an opportunity to learn how to run a long-arm machine.  Well,  that was until the COVID-19 virus came into play and put everyone’s life on hold.  But, I am getting ready because stay at home restrictions will end eventually and I want to have this top done so I can finally quilt it and have it in my collection.

So what happens when we return to a UFO project we put away for a long time?

Well, in my case, I found out some things I might want to remember to do the next time I pack up a project and put it a side.

  • Make sure to put the pattern, book or directions for the project with the project.  I have no idea where my book went to but fortunately I was able to lay out the blocks out without it.
  • Make some notes about where you left off or what you might need to still do.  After laying my quilt blocks out and sewing rows together, I found a whole row of blocks where I had neglected to sew the arches down to the background fabric.  How frustrating to think I might have to rip these blocks apart so that I can maneuver them under my needle for a zip-zag stitch.
  • Be sure to put any special threads you are using for this project with your project.  Also, if a special stitch is being used be sure to write it down in your notes so that you can set your machine up correctly.  Oh, and if you own more that one sewing machine.  Write down which on you used.
  • Put backing and extra fabric with your project.  Doing this will keep you from using any of your fabric in another project before finishing this one as well as being easier to find so you can pick up where you left off.
Laying out my UFO blocks
Double Wedding Ring Layout

 

Invisible zig-zag stitch
Zig-zag stitch with invisible thread

So I have to get back to sewing my arches down and then sewing the rest of my blocks together into rows.

I am hoping to get all this done in the next couple of days.  I thought I would just share what I learned the hard way so maybe I can make it a little easier for you.  Oh, and as I was writing all this down today, I remember where I put the book.  In case you are wondering where this technique came from or what I used, it’s called Double Wedding Ring by Mary Henderson and Anne Dease.  I believe it’s out of print now.  Do you have a UFO project you would like to pull out and finish?

As always, thanks for stopping by my blog.

Blessings,

Cyndi

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