Ginnie6's post about her UFOs and WIPs got me thinking. Rather than hijack her post, I figured I'd start a new topic. I've always used those terms kind of interchangeably. I know what the letters stand for, but at what point does a WIP become a UFO? :wink:

well to me a ufo is a top waiting to be quilted and a wip is one still being pieced. I'm a new quilter though so those terms may mean something else to others!

See I always thought a UFO was just a WIP that was just put down and had not yet been finished no matter what stage it was in. and a WIP I always thought was a project that even if very seldom it was still being worked on!

I like to think that I have WIPs it just sounds better to my ego!
and actually right now they are all wips because I have worked on three quilts over the weekend one is getting the binding sewn on right now, another needs the quilting finished and the other needs the back pieced and quilted!! oh yea and that rag quilt for my daughter that I ran out of flannel for (thank goodness I still have easy access to more)

to me a UFO is something that I lost or never really had interest in and probably will never finish.

To me a UFO is a project that is rolled up in a ball and tossed to the back of the closet with absolutely no chance of being finished. WIPS are things I'm working on that have a chance of being finished. Unless they cause problems, get wonky, or I don't like them then they too will become UFOs!

To me it is how long I have had it around. LOL! The other thing is there are extra blocks that majicially appear after a quilt is finished. That one is definantly a UFO. It goes to nothing you are working on.

Well, as you can see from my signature, I don't have UFOs but I have lots of WIPs! :wink:

A UFO is an unfinished object and I take this to mean a project at any stage that has been put away and not worked on for months and will quite possibly never be worked on again and a WIP is a work in progress - this can also be something that has been put away unfinished and not worked on for months but WILL be finished one day! :D

I only have the latter - I WILL finish everything if it kills me, and it probably will!

At my last count I had 22 WIPs and that can be any stage from fabric cut to something in the process of being quilted or even just waiting to be bound. A bundle of fabric with pattern stashed ready with a project in mind is NOT a WIP until you start cutting - I had this 'discussion' recently with my DH - if I had to count those too I'd be up nearer 30! :oops: :lol:

I believe it should all go in tutorial so everyone can refer to them....
...I also didn't know what it was...till now... Thanks.... :oops:

To me, a WIP is a quilt I remember starting, working on. A UFO is a quilt in some part of the process that I've totally forgotten about until I see it again, and even then, sometimes I don't remember it. :oops: But since it is in my house, it must have been done by me.

This is so true, except mine are in a clothes hamper with the lid on it! :oops: :oops:
I also have WIPs that I am still working on, and hope they don't become UFOs :roll: :roll:

your right...these terms could be slightly different from one person to the next,...for me if I call something, an unfinished object, instead of by the name I am giving it...it means I am avoiding it.
I try not to use the term ufo, anymore. I agree with k3n, that it is more motivating to call them all WIP's, and I will get back to it, sooner! :wink:

For me a WIP is something that I am currenty working on, whatever the stage. A UFO is something that has sat, unworked on for more than a month or two. I intend to finish most of my projects, someday. Some just get set aside to work on a more impending project, or two, or three. Some of my UFO's are in rubbermaid tubs. Others are on my extra fancy quilt hanger (the treadmill in the family room) or on the back of the couch in my family room, which also happens to be my sewing room and computer room.

For me, a WIP is something you're actually working on.

A UFO is something you've set aside, unfinished at whatever stage, and are not currently working on.

Say you're working on one thing, and for whatever reason, you start something else. If you continue to work on both, they're both WIPs. But if you work only on the second one, even if you intend to finish the first one just as soon as you're done with the new one, the first one is a UFO until you start working on it again.

Granted, you could assign a minimum amount of time before it becomes a UFO. If you stop to make a one-day or weekend project, then for that couple of days it would be silly to think of the other project as a UFO.

I have a fabric closet where one side has lots and lots of not used fabric. On the other side is quilt tops waiting to be quilted and projects that I started (a lot of times for a class), got home, put away, and don't think of them until I see them - those are my UFOs.

I also have about 5-10 projects out throughout my house at any given time. Since I see those on a regular basis and think about working on them, and eventually get to them - those are my WIPs.

My thought is that everyone has their own personal interpretation of what a UFO constitutes. What I call a UFO someone else may call a WIP. Some may even call a stack of fabrics put together with it's pattern a UFO. Others call it a PIG (project in grocery sack)
You can call yours what you want. There are no quilt or term police around here!!

That is my definition too.

Yes, that's my philosophy! :D

I KNEW those things had a use! :mrgreen:

I LOVE that! :D

To me a UFO is a project that is falling by the wayside while I start, and sometimes even finish something else. A WIP is one that is currently being worked on.

for me a ufo is tops that i have to finish :D ,my poor ufo,s i hope to some day finish them in this life time :D and more please lord let me make more :D

With all of my UFOs, I have full INTENTIONS to finish them....someday. The WIPs are those that are still being actively worked on. Although, at times the WIPs seem to be UFOs because I don't get to the projects as much as I'd like to. In my case, the UFOs are packed in boxes or bags and put away in the closet. The WIPs are still out where I can see them. Isn't that hilarious. If you could see my sewing room, you'd die laughing at this description. :lol: :lol: :lol:

This pretty much fits my definitions :D

to me a UFO is something I have no interest in finishing...I started something a while back & before I finished first square I decided I wasn't going to finish it. Just didn't do anything for me. WIP's are something I want to finish but don't have time right now. I only have 1 or 2 of each....

I agree that UFO's can be WIP's and vice versa...what ever you are comfortable with! PIGS are a project in a grocery sack, and I was told that was not started or it would be a UFO or WIP :wink:

I am sooooo happy to read all your comments! They make me feel so much better! I thought I was really bad with UFO's & WIP's especially but I think some of you have me beat! I used to finish everything until I started quilting. They take so long that I just have to start something else for variety. But I will finish them.

My UFOs are on a shelf or in a bin - - - waiting.
My WIPs are on the table or in close proximity to the sewing table, actively (if not timely) being dealt with. Occasionally, a WIP changes to a UFO and vice versa.

I finished a WIP yesterday so I think it is time to go rummage through the UFO's.. have a great day all!...

What a great feeling that must be!

I'm sorting fabrics, folding, and placing in new storage drawers (from the old bins). It's so great to be able to SEE what I have. AND IF FELT SO GOOD TO BE TOUCHING ALL THAT AWESOME FABRIC!!