I can relate. Right now I have an exciting quilt project that I want to get started on, but have other projects in line before it. There are a Linus 9-to-4 quilt and an Around the World gift quilt are both completely laid out and ready to sew together. I could set them aside for the more "fun" project, but who knows when I would ever get back to them and they would be nagging me until completed. I've had to decide that clearing up the other projects first will let me enjoy the "fun" one even more.

Other than a gift deadline (birthday, wedding, Christmas) that forces me to pull all-nighters to complete a project, I have to constantly set micro-goals along the way.

Press "just" one row, sew "just" one block, cut out "just" one set of border strips, prewash "just" one load of fabric... once I get started it is easier to do a little more.

And I usually set a micro-reward at the end of the task, like having a snack, making a phone call, watching a show or even checking the forum. No reward until the task is done.

It helps to break down the next half-dozen small steps of a project so that I always have something ready to do even if there are only 10 or 15 minutes available to work on the project.

To make a dent in longer projects, I've moved a TV (or computer with DVD player) to where-ever I'm ironing or sewing (but not cutting). I play audio books when sewing so that I don't get totally distracted, and play really really long epic movies when ironing (I recommend Lawrence of Arabia or Doctor Zhivago). It is the only way that I ever get clothing ironed or yardage pressed.

I hope this gives you some strategies and ideas to get working on your project.

I use a project that I really WANT to work on as a "reward" for when I finish the current one. I tell myself to power through so I can get to the other, more compelling project.

I am assuming you NEED to finish this project? If I started something and part way through decided I really hated it, I think I would abandon it. Unless I found myself doing that all the time. In which case I'd have to figure out what the problem was -- was I not considering my projects carefully enough in advance, or am I just the type of person who is always more excited about starting things than finishing them. (I think a lot of creative people ARE like that.) If it's the latter, I use the new project as a reward. If it's the first, I might consider scrapping everything and starting fresh w/ more forethought.

And when it's a quilt for someone else, a deadline is always VERY helpful to me.

I love the first part of a project - choosing the fabric cutting it out even putting it together. Often by the time it's ready to be finished I no longer enjoy or even like it. I try to get one project done before starting another. I have lots of things to work on - quilting, knitting, crocheting, etc. In my quilt group we have a "sew" and tell. I don't always have anything to show, but I try to get something finished to at least show. We meet once a month. All the ladies in my group work circles around me. They inspire me to get things finished.
Carolyn

Ditto what Cathy and Laura said and reward with CHOCOLATE! LOL!!

Sharon C.

Like Carolyn, I love choosing the pattern and the fabric and doing the quilt top.By the time I get to the quilting, it's becoming a chore.However, for that reason,I usually have 2 or 3 projects on the go at once. I don't like machine quilting and hand quilting(which I do like) is time consuming and sometimes you just need to machine quilt to get the thing finished. What keeps me at a project is to set a date that I will get the thing finished so I usually do quilts for birthdays,weddings etc. and it does feel good to say "It's done"!
Geraldine

I'm one of those one project at a time people (although I do have two sets of finished blocks that are considered UFO's). I actually love each stage of the process. The piecing is fun but a few bed size quilts have ended up lap size because I got bored with the piecing. What I really don't like is sewing the blocks into the top. Those long rows have so much margin for error. Nothing worse than having to take apart 84" of pieced blocks because the corners are way off. I also dont' like sewing on borders. Guess that's why I never have done anything but a plain old single border. Even though many people don't like basting and quilting, I look forward to it as the beginning of a new project. Sometimes I take the finished top to my LQS when it's ready to be pin basted. They have nice big tables I can use to spread out on. You get lots of positive reinforcent about how beautiful your quilt is that keeps you going. For the most part, I enjoy machine quilting but have to admit I stick to what I know and avoid things that will get me in trouble.

I'm not sure how this applies to the original question, but I guess my point is, that if I have to finish one project before starting another, it does get done eventually even if I'm not really in love with it.

I have "Crafting ADD". I'm like a bee. I get bored with the current flower & search out something new & different.

IF (& only IF) I have a deadline...do I ever really feel motivated to finish anything. If it's a "just because" item with no deadline, I may or may not finish it. If it turns out too hard or time consuming, I may scrap it early on & find an "easier flower".

Often times, I have to be in the right mood to work on a project. I just took a self exam on my passions/what motivates me & discovered that if I don't feel confident I can do it well, I probably won't even start it...or I'll drag my feet & go do something else...even something that I hate doing (dishes!). Every excuse in the book...

On Friday, I had to pick paint color for the bathroom so my DH could paint. I've known for months that I needed to come up with a color. I love color, but the decision is "monumental" in my brain because you have to either a)live with the color chosen or b)repaint (double work!). BTDT...had to repaint the repainted 2nd bathroom a few months back because of bad color choice. I became paralyzed at the paint color display...

Finally made a choice...DH likes it (Maybe because he painted & doesn't want to have to redo???)...I think it's going to have to grow on me...and I STILL have to find matching towels & decor... Groan...

Deadlines seem to be a big motivator for me. Somehow, I can finish a quilt in time to give it as a gift, but I won't work as hard when it's only for little ol' me. Maybe that's why I have finished and given away a lot more quilts than I have finished for myself.

Of course, in order to finish a quilt for a deadline, I tend to neglect the housework, stop cooking from scratch for a while, and just keep chipping away at it until I'm DONE. Perhaps a temporary sacrifice is better than looking at the same unfinished quilt every day, hanging on the railing of the mezzanine in our house.

Maybe it's time to turn over a new leaf. Besides, we need a warm quilt for snuggling, and winter is a-comin'!

Marti,
I thought of your tonight and this thread LOL....I was working on a quilt I started out on the frame...but took it off the frame to finish it.....after about 3 asprins I finally finished quilting it...tomorrow I will bind it....
I was determined to have it quilted tonight!
Red

I have a problem getting motivated to sew when I have to drag everything out to the kitchen from my bedroom. If I don't have several hours to sew at one time, it doesn't feel worth it to get it all out and then turn around and put it all away. I wish I could just walk into a room and sit down and sew for 15-30 minutes at a time when I am idle throughout the day. So, I pretty much make a date with the sewing machine at the beginning of the week and try to stick to that time for it, otherwise I would never get anything done!

Rebecca

I generally DON'T, unless I have a deadline. LOL However, having TV on while I cut or sew helps. Like Rebecca, I think how nice it would be if I had a room where I could leave things set up between bouts of sewing; instead, I have to use the living room.

I'm very lucky! I have a dedicated sewing space (the garage), so everything can stay "sew ready".

I also got trained to complete projects through my sewing business. I learned early on that the "really ugly needlepoint pillow with the mitered inset, the 3 trims, and the tassels" didn't get anymore done and paid for if I let it sit, LOL.

Still, I have been known to wait until the deadline to complete projects. But mostly, I don't begin a new quilt unless the current one is to the binding stage. Binding only gets done in the evening, so I can sit with the DH and chat or watch a movie.

I've always been a procrastinator! This is a bit different as it is a pattern I think is too advanced for me. It's like the Oriental fan and I just can't get the curve right.

I work on several at a time, switching from one to the other when I get 'bored'. Deadlines help me, also.

Deadlines help me too. I'm struggling with one right now though, that is for me, so there's no deadline. It's sitting half quilted (machine), and I just can't get the ambition going to finish it. I've been off work for over a year, and will be going back within a month, so I really need to finish it. Part of my problem with it,is that it is a double, and I usually do lap quilts. That difference in size intimidates me. I'm trying to get it finished, because there is another one I want to start...but I'm determined to finish this one first!