The only thing I've timed are the graduation quilts... each took a year!LOL
Heck, I don't even know what year I started quilting! It's all just a blur, but a terrific blur!!
Florence

Ann, The best advice I can give is keep your machine set up and ready to go. Keep a project close at hand. One in a totebag ready to go, one by the chair at home waiting to do while watching TV., ect. This usually prevents procrastination. For example I HATE IRONING!!! DH knows this so he bought me a small ironing board that is attached to a cutting mat and it fits on a TV tray. So I can watch the news or my show and iron at the same tiime. End procrastination! I also have little thing stashed in the car for trips to Dr offices. like yo yos . I don't know why I am making them yet but what the heck I'll use them someday. Either that or my grandkids will have it confirmed that their gramma really was crazy. By the way HOW IS YOUR LITTLE GRANDBABY? Rachel
PS POST NEW PHOTOS OF HIM

If you make quilts in order to generate income then it's mega-important to keep track of ALL cost. A friend was considering making quilts and then sell them. She added up the cost of all materials, then timed how long the piecing and quilting took her. She multiplied the hours by the national minimum wage, and the result: Her only potential customers would have been Bill Gates and Donald Trump. The plan to earn a living from making quilts was thrown out and she decided to have a child instead. Turned out to be twins, followed by another set of twins. Not a lot of time left for quilting now.

Lorchen

The only quilting I keep track of is my customer quilting. Anything else I happen to work on is supposed to be enjoyable. If it takes me 2 years, then so be it.
Remember, not every quilt has to be finished. I've done some that will never see the light of day again. That's another reason I don't bother with a stopwatch.
JMHO
eileenkny

I kept track of two quilts I made between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve a couple of years ago and only because a guy I work with was convinced that we could combine him photography and my quilting in to a business and make money. I wanted to show him that he might make money but at the prices he was talking about I would not make anything and I wasn't interested. I don't want quilting to be work. Sandy

I was listening to a podcast lately by Nadine Ruggles in which she said "UFOs are the by-product of creativity." Some things just aren't meant to be more than a learning experience. I also don't time myself when I'm doing needlework. That would completely take the joy out of it for me. I've totally freed myself from the guilt of unfinished projects--who cares? I had fun while I was working on them and if I don't finish, so what? One thing I am trying to do is make my projects accessible when I do want to work on one. For instance, I've got my Dear Jane blocks and supplies in one zippered case and my TQS BOM is in another container with it's own supplies. It's easier to sit down for a few minutes when everything is together and you don't have to go looking for scissors, thread, needles, etc. If I don't work on my needlework everyday, I get very testy!!!

I have been working on a hand-quilted white work quilt and decided from the start that it would be fun knowing how much time it took since there was no piecing involved, only quilting. It's 45" x 72 " (2 yards) and so far it's taken me about 30 hours, done in 1 or 2 hour incriments. I have some more marking to do and then probably another 15 hours.

I've never kept track of any other projects.

Nancy in Western NY

I'm with you, Lorchen. Too much pressure if I had to keep track of all that. I already get annoyed with myself for wasting too much time and then think who cares I'll get it done when I get it done. It's a pastime not a job.

Lady Rags I hope it's good for you if it keeps you accountable or on track but I don't think I'd enjoy this.

Does it matter how long it takes? Does it matter how many started projects you have got?

It's only a problem if you let it become one. So Mavis in your quilt group makes a king size bed quilt in one weekend (she says), and Doris always finishes a project before starting a new one. So???? If it makes them happy!

You have to find your own level.

If you really want to know how long it takes to make a quilt: A well-known teacher here in the UK used to do 'Mystery Nights' once a year. You were told what fabrics and equipment to bring, and received instructions when you arrived at 8pm. You then had the whole night to rotary cut and piece one or two tops. Breakfast was at 7am. I always managed to piece one queen size top (and I'm not particularly fast), but I have no idea how long it then took me to quilt the piece.

Lorchen

It is because I am disorganized, I proctastinate and have too many projects going that I wanted to know how long it actually takes me to make a quilt

I always say to myself... I am too tired, I do not have enough time, etc. I TALK MYSELF RIGHT OUT OF DOING WHAT MAKES ME HAPPIEST...

I am determine to stop this trend in myself ... OR I AM GOING TO DIE WIHT THE BIGGEST STASH IN THE WORLD... WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF MADE QUILTS. This is why I have this question on tracking time and doing a TILDE THREAD.... I DO NOT want to find how much time I have lost, but to convince myself it does not take that much time if I just stick too it.






[url]
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/557356579KzwGJh

Pictures of the quilt in progress...


breakdown of my current quilt


Class 4 hours- Learned how to

prepare repeat fabric
cut patches
Sewed some of the blocks 4 hours for class
finished first set at home
Additional repeat fabric- prepared cut and
sewn 4 hours

Cut out 5 in strips then cut setting triangles 1- 1/2 hour
plotted out quilt on EQ 6 to check size one hour
square up four patches to 6-1/2 inch one Hour plus

Sew the side triangle onto the 4 patch block CORRECTLY
PIN EACH , PRESS
Sew into 8 block unit 1- 1/ 2 HOUR
Sew Diagonal set to Setting triangles 4 hours to sew all the blocks
Sewing into Strips One hour per strip
Cut the boarders out One hour with Kay
Layout Quilt blocks - design wall (bed) One hour per strip

JUNE 15 08 … GOT BACK TO THIS QUILT
FOUND OUT I SEWED THE BLOCKS TOGETHER INCORRECTLY Class with Kaye

Cut individual end blocks for 7 rows ( 20 minutes each set)
sew the 7 strips together vertically 6 hours


Total 18 hrs - 12-15-07
6 hours June 15-08

''''''

Total actual sewing time

---

24 hours










.

No, absolutely not. I make quilts as a way to relax and have some fun. Enough of my life depends on punctuality and time-keeping. I don't want that to invade the precious little free time I have.

Lorchen

Oh Rachel, are you making that yummy heart quilt that looks like nine patches? I saw her post the other day that someone else was working on it with her. Be sure and let us know how it turns out. I looked at it and was really thinking about trying to figure it out but I have too many other things going on right now.
Frances in Austin, if I didn't have A/C I wouldn't iron right now either.

I usually figure out how my body feels and then decide what I am able to do that day. For example; If my back is killing me I know I can't sew but I can cut. If it isn't I can sew all day. If I have a headache I usually can iron. So I get a lot of my projects cut all at once then I have time to just set and sew all at once. Right now I have a cathedral windows, a fan ,dresden plate,a log cabin heart and a fan quilt ready to go onto the iron. They are only at this stage though because it is too hot to iron. So don't think I'm a sewing fool I just hate ironing. I am also working on this heart pattern project another TQS member. Rachel

I think you would have to ask if that includes the pressing that you have to do Happy