UFO Trunk Show 2023: Week 1
Welcome!!!
I’m so glad you are here for this month of fun, friends, and tackling those backlogged projects!
Below you will find the prompts for week one along with my responses. The prompts will go live each morning.
If you want to get the prompts early, you can get them the night before by subscribing to my free newsletter The Creative Quilter. Once you sign up the welcome email will give you a link to get the prompts in your inbox, plus have access to exclusive subscriber-only giveaways.
For more details on other platforms and how to share there, check out this year’s main UFO Trunk Show blog post!
Everything is better when we do it together!
If you’re curious how I responded to these prompts, you can find those on Instagram or in our private quilting group The Quilting Quarter. Or you can get on the mailing list and get them in your inbox!
Week 1: Day 1
Today is all about saying hello! Leave a comment or share a blog post and share some things about yourself like:
- What do you look like? (Share a picture)
- Where are you from?
- How long have you been quilting?
- What kinds of quilts to you enjoy most?
- What do you hope to get out of joining in the fun of the UFO Trunk Show?
Of course you don't have to answer ALL the questions -- pick and choose what works for you!
Week 1: Day 2
Before undertaking a new goal, it’s a good idea to take stock, with pictures! Down the road you will want to see how far you’ve come. Today, take a look at all of your UFOs:
- How many do you have?
- How are you storing them?
- How do you feel about them?
- Which projects call your attention?
- Which project do you want to tackle this month?
Pick a goal that feels good to you! You don't have to finish a whole quilt if that feels too big. You could just finish a top, a row, a block, or just some binding. Whatever works!
Week 1: Day 3
UnFinished Objects tend to have a lot of friction—hard to start, hard to get going on again. One way to reduce that friction is to take some small steps to get re-oriented and re-organized. Today, take a look at your pattern:
- Does it appear to have all the parts & pieces?
- Do you remember how the project goes together?
- If it’s missing, can you get another copy?
- If you’re using your own pattern, do you have notes?
- Do you need to double-check your math?
See if you can get your pattern sorted, copied, re-written, double-checked, whatever you need. Then share!
Week 1: Day 4
UnFinished Objects can be confusing—they’re often jumbled and we’ve forgotten where we are at. A good way to get re-oriented is to review the parts you have. Today, take a look at the parts of your project:
- Have you already cut everything out or is it a mix?
- Do you remember how the blocks go together?
- Would it help to make a quick test block?
- Do you have finishing parts like sashing or bindings?
- Do you have all the parts you need?
No need to solve every problem today, but make a list so you know what needs to be figured out. Then share!
Week 1: Day 5
Since old quilting projects by definition have old fabric, there are sometimes challenges if there isn't enough fabric and no way to get more of the same. Today, take a look at the fabric for your project:
- Do you have enough fabric?
- If not could you add from your stash?
- If you don’t want to mix, could you swap from your stash?
- Can you get more from somewhere like Etsy?
- Would you prefer to downsize the project?
Get your fabric sorted today. Confirm you have what you need or make a plan if you don’t. Then share!
Week 1: Day 6
Color is one of the most common reasons a quilt goes UFO. We don’t like how the colors are working and we get stuck. Today, take a look at the color scheme for your project:
- Does it make you happy?
- Does it need to change for you to want to finish?
- Could you add or subtract a color to make it better?
- Could you emphasize or de-emphasize a color?
Decide what you want to do with your color scheme, then share! If you don’t have a color problem, share a project where you did, or a project that you LOVE the color on!
Week 1: Day 7
Today we’re looking at how we’re doing on our UFO Project so far! Take a look at your progress and share things like:
- How far have you gotten on your project?
- What is working?
- What is not working?
- Where do you need help?
Then see below for the giveaway!
Week 1: Giveaway!!
For the first giveaway of the UFO Trunk Show I am giving away this adorable bundle of fat quarters! It's all prints from Christmas Adventure by Beverly McCullough for Riley Blake Designs, SIXTEEN fat quarters in all!
You can enter by and or all of the following:
- Subscribing to the UFO Trunk Show list and writing back to any upcoming UFO Trunk Show email
- Posting your UFO progress on Instagram and using hashtag #uforunkshow
- Posting a response to one of the UFO Trunk Show prompts on Instagram using hashtag #ufotrunkshow
- Posting a picture of your progress in our private Facebook Group, The Quilting Quarter using hashtag #ufotrunkshow
Every time you do one of the things on the above list it gains you and entry!
You can enter as many times as you wish and with any method you wish. You do not have to be a subscriber to be eligible to win this bundle. (A subscriber-only giveaway is coming on Friday!)
NOTE: The entry period for this giveaway will close at 11:59pm Pacific Time on February 13, 2023.
Good luck!
