Lots of Small Steps

When dealing with large projects in my professional life, I learned to break down projects into smaller steps so you can measure progress and so the project scope does not get overwhelming. It works the same way with quilts. You cut and sew units, sew the units into blocks, assemble the blocks and sashing, add borders then sandwich and quilt.  For scrap quilts, you can make a few blocks each day, week or month.

Last year my spreadsheet of works in progress (WIPs) had columns to the right representing months. I marked what steps planned for each month. As the year progressed, some of those tasks began sliding to the right, delayed more and more. That's okay because at least some progress was made.

For 2019, I created a similar plan, although now I decided how many blocks to make each month so eventually the quilt could be finished within the year.  That was an easy decision for Pat Sloan's Out of This World block-of-the-month.  ONE block each month.  For my two RSC projects, I will be making 3 blocks a month for each.  That's a total of 7 blocks a month.  Hey, they both use the same 2" strip size so I can use the same fabrics for the background!  See January's red blocks.

Have you made a quilt with plaids?  I had made test blocks of Moth in the Window and Sugar Bowl (both Bonnie Hunter patterns), plus a Double Pinwheel from an old quilt book. I would like to select at least one plaid each month and make 1-2 blocks for each project, varying the placement of contracting solids. That would add 3 to 6 blocks a month.

Speaking of Bonnie Hunter, I have three WIPs for which I am still making blocks - En Provence, Garden Party and Lady of the Lake. There HAS to be a few of you who are as slow as me!  I am still working on the neutrals and units for the large En P blocks. The other two quilts need LOTS of blocks. If I made 3 or 4 a month for each, that would add 6 to 8 blocks a month for the plan.

Hmmm, this plan means I need to sew 16 to 21 blocks a month for ongoing block collections. I'm not sure about that. For pure sewing fun, I have been working on various other quilts, including Bonnie's Tobacco Road and Double Delight, plus I have seven flimsies waiting with their backing to be quilted.  Now it's getting a bit overwhelming.

This is where priorities come into play. Which projects should I absolutely make time for and which ones can slide?  This is my set of priorities:

Priority one (BOM/RCS) =  7 blocks
Priority two (DD) = Double Delight as leader/ender
Priority three (EP) = En Provence
Priority four = Pick a flimsy to quilt and just do it
Priority five (GP/LOL) = Make progress on Garden Party, Lady of the Lake
Priority six = Make progress on other WIPs in assembly stage
Priority seven = Squirrels (those projects that catch your eye but there isn't enough free time to focus on them, but you really, really, really want to make them)

January progress/plan:
#1 - I finished my RSC blocks in red and the BOM.
#2 - Finished cutting millions of triangles and sewed some units while making the RSC blocks.
#3 - Cut more neutrals for EnP
#4 - Sandwiched my green Irish Star Chain flimsy and will take a mid-arm class on Saturday.
#5 - LOL inventory count was 14 blocks made. If I sew 10 blocks a month, in a year I will have enough blocks to make the quilt. Could I really fit in 10 a month? I can commit to 4, maybe 8 a month. So this project may take a bit longer. I cut fabric for four blocks and found enough already cut for about 12 more blocks.
#6 - Add final borders to Patty Cake and last year's RSC sampler so they can move to #4.
#7 - My current Squirrel is Tobacco Road for which I have cut all the bricks and will be cutting fabric strips for the non-brick units. I'm doing this in patriotic colors. How does "The Road to Freedom" sound for a quilt title?

Notice the plaids are not in play. Most likely the plaids will collect dust just have to wait until 2020.

This kind of planning works for me. I really like working on multiple projects at the same time because I get bored easily. Does that happen to you?  Hopefully my example will help you tackle your own WIP list. Make your plan and set priorities.

On a higher note, last weekend I flew my baby in circles around my home airport for some landing practice. Maybe next time I will bring a passenger to snap photos so you can see picture proof! My goal for 2019 is to fly more, so I plan to participate in the local breakfast club and schedule another flying vacation this summer.