When is a Quilt Finished? – A quilt is finished when the last stitch in the binding has been sewn.

Or is it?

Most quilters probably have a mental definition of finished, but the reality is often rather less straightforward.

What about projects that are:

• pieced but waiting to be quilted?
• quilted but waiting for binding?
• technically complete but missing a label?
• finished, but still waiting for a photograph?
• complete in every practical sense, but somehow just don’t feel quite right?

I quite often see comments along the lines of, “I’ve finished my quilt — now I’m just going to send it to the longarmer.” And I completely understand what is meant. The quilt top is finished. The piecing is complete. One stage has ended, even though the whole project still has some way to go.

Traditionally, we might define a finished quilt as one where the top has been completed, layered with wadding and backing, quilted, and had its edges finished — perhaps with a label added too.

But does following every step mean the quilt is truly finished? Or does it simply mean that all the jobs on the list have been completed?

The Satisfaction of Ticking Things Off

I often write myself a list: finish the piecing, prepare the backing, layering up, quilt it, make the binding, sew on the binding…

There is something so satisfying about ticking those jobs off.  Particularly the binding.  For many quilters, binding on = finished.  For others, it isn’t finished until the label is attached. Personally, I think a quilt should probably be bound, labelled and photographed before I can truly class it as finished.

Which is slightly awkward, because I hardly ever get round to adding the label.

So, when is a quilt finished?  By my own definition, perhaps only about 5% of my quilts are actually finished!  But I am still happy to call them finished.

I have recently acquired a nice print block that I can use for labels, which should at least speed up that particular part of the process. Whether I actually remember to sew them on is another matter.  (But it’s in my old name, so I have to order a new one!)  All I have to do is write on the quilt name and the date.  I use a Pigma Micron pen.

Print block used to create labels

But What If the Quilt Has Already Done Its Job?

Have you ever considered that perhaps a quilt doesn’t have to become a perfect object in order to be successful?

Log Cabin quilt – pieced, but no intention to finish it. I’ve learnt about colour, random widths strips and so much more

A quilt might have:

• taught you a new technique
• helped you understand colour a little better
• given you confidence with free-motion or walking-foot quilting
• allowed you to experiment
• provided an enjoyable few hours at the sewing machine

Even if you never particularly love the finished quilt, the project itself may still have been worthwhile.

Perhaps the quilt didn’t turn out exactly as planned, but it has already done what it came into your sewing room to do.

I rather like that thought.

When Does Improvement Become Procrastination?

Quilt where the edge finish needs attention

There is always something that could be improved.  One more line of quilting.  A section that could be unpicked and resewn.  A corner that isn’t absolutely perfect.  A decision you might make differently if you were starting again.  (After this quilt came back from the show – where the judges did recognise that the edge finish needed attention – I did try to correct that bulge, but unsuccessfully, so I have left it)

But at what point does improving a quilt become simply delaying its completion?

I’m not suggesting that we should be careless or sloppy — unless, of course, that is entirely your intention. No judgement here!

But sometimes good enough really is good enough.

Sometimes a quilt is finished because you have reached the end of the process.  Not because you are wildly in love with it.  Not because every decision was perfect.

But because:

I’ve done enough. I’ve learned what I needed to learn. And I’m ready to move on.

Do you identify with that?

There is something quite liberating about allowing a project to be complete without endlessly revisiting it.

And What About the Unfinished Quilts?

Of course, not every project needs to be finished at all.  Perhaps life changes.  Your interests change.  Your skills develop and you can suddenly see everything you would now do differently.  Or perhaps you simply fall out of love with the project.

You don’t have to shame yourself into finishing everything.

Some projects can sit quietly for years and then suddenly become interesting again. Others might be repurposed. And some may simply have reached the end of their journey.

Completion isn’t the only measure of a quilt’s value.

Perhaps a quilt was there to teach you something.  Perhaps it gave you the confidence to try another project.  Perhaps it was simply an enjoyable way to spend a few hours.

And perhaps that is enough.

So, when is a quilt finished?

• When the binding is sewn on?
• When the label is attached?
• When the photograph has been taken?
• When every job has been ticked off the list?

Or perhaps a quilt is finished when you decide it is time to stop.

And sometimes, that might be the most important finishing technique of all.

Share with me, when is a quilt finished for you?