originally published 11-23-08

With the holidays just around the corner, it looks like a great time to push to get those unfinished projects finished up. Unfortunately, there are tons of distractions and very little time to complete them. Don’t worry. The key to finishing up those last minute projects, or the ones that you have set aside for a while, is time management. Keep in mind that quilting is not a buffet, and you will be a happier quilter with less on your plate.

The best thing you can do is take a good long look at your schedule. Find gaps of time that you aren’t using and take advantage of them. If there’s a show you love to watch on Tuesdays, hit record and use that hour for sewing.  If you usually go to bed around ten, if you can make it happen, stay up an extra hour or so and get some projects done. It’s only for a few days/weeks that you will do this so you won’t be running yourself down too much. If you’re like me, you’ll find that you start to really enjoy that extra time alone being productive, and it’s a great motivator to do it again the next night.  If evenings aren’t your thing, try getting up earlier and use that time to sew. Or you can always save your hours of mall shopping by buying online and do some sewing on the day you would have been out window shopping.

Another thing to remember is this: it’s not the amount of time you spend that is important, it is the intensity of focus. You won’t get nearly as much work done if you’re piddling around in the sewing room, not sure where the start. Go in with a clear idea of what project you’re going to do, and do only that project. Sure you can start by washing some fabrics for your next item, and have them drying while you do the first one, but make sure that you are using your time to the fullest. There isn’t much of it to go around, so keep that focus on one thing at a time and you’ll fly through your projects more quickly than you thought possible.

Finally, and I can’t say this enough, prioritize, prioritize, prioritize! If one task will take you an hour and another will take you three, go ahead and do the quicker of the two and be done with it.  Then you can really get going on the one that will need more attention. I like to make a list of all the projects I think I can reasonably accomplish and then number the items in order from quick to time consuming. This gives you your marching orders and tells you exactly what to start on first. Just remember to keep your eyes on the prize and finish up the projects that are weighing you down. Find the time, focus during the time, and use it wisely. You’re a quilterson, of course you can do it!