Specific explanation, please.
 

Define UFOs for me because I am still confused. Is it when you have found the perfect piece of fabric for a certain pattern and will start it sooner than later? All the fabrics together? Patterns are never an issue with me because I just keep adding them to my stacks....have hundreds available. Quilt I started 5 years ago and now can't find it? We moved to a much smaller place a couple of years ago and some boxes got sent to our warehouse...way up on a loft I can't reach. No cooperation from my son even tho there are several half finished ones and I can only occasionally remember some of my others in progress or how far along they are. He doesn't think I really need them until I finish some the projects scattered about here, especially the ones with pins in them. He's probably right because at my age, I need to hurry a little more. So, my question is simple, which ones should I give up on? Am I just too greedy?

I don't think it's a UFO until you've at least started cutting the fabric. Until then it's just stash.

UFO stands for " unfinished object" so, any project that has been set aside unfinished is a ufo. There are lots of other acronyms used -- wip-- work in progress, is another popular one.

I think everyone has their own definition of UFO. If I have a pattern & pulled the fabric, that's just a pile of fabric. After I've cut the fabric and am actively working on a top, that's a top in progress. If I don't work on a project for a while (after the fabric is cut) it becomes a UFO. The amount of time "A While" is varies by season. When the top is pieced, but not quilted, it's a completed top, not a UFO...
Look over all your in process projects. If you really don't think you are going to finish something, and that bothers you, then by all means donate it. A local guild may have a charity quilt group that could take it & finish it.
I would find the one that is closest to completion and work on that one get it done. That will give you a sense of accomplishment and hopefully encourage you to tackle the next one.

UFO's are quilts in progress. I probably wouldn't consider it a UFO unless there was some sewing done, but I don't know if there's some hard & fast rule about what constitutes a UFO. I have one that has been a UFO for a some years now. It is a Christmas quilt that I bought fat quarter bundles for when a local JAF was closing (to reopen at a larger location). I get maybe 2 blocks done each season before I give up on it.

My personal choice is to try to just have 2 quilts going at once (okay, 3 when you count that holiday UFO thing) because otherwise I get too distracted and will never finish. I have so much energy when I get started on a quilt & then partway through it hits that "I'm not sure I'm going to like this" phase and I just want to give up -- plus, I have all these design ideas in my head that I desperately want to get out in fabric! For me, I've found I do best when I just push through and get the quilt done. I always love them when they're finished.

If you haven't worked on something for 5 years, I guess I'd wonder how likely you really are to want to finish it -- especially since it sounds like you have a lot of new ideas, too. Sometimes guild members will adopt a UFO to finish and donate to charity. I know there was a point in my early quilting career when I wanted to make quilts for charity but didn't have enough money for the fabric. I would have loved to inherit someone's UFO, finish it & find it a loving home. Perhaps that is an option for you -- or a quilter's garage sale. If it's too much to think of parting with all of them, maybe you could pick 5-6 of your absolute favorites that you want to commit to finishing & then donate/sell the rest. Just an idea.

I definitely don't think you're being "greedy". It's just hard to commit to one idea when there are so many beautiful quilts out there in the world just waiting to be made. :cool:

Hi Lynn,

My definition of a UFO is something that is in some state of being started.

Ex. A Block of the Month that is sitting and waiting for me to add a setting to the blocks and maybe some borders. It was started about 5 years ago.

Ex. A Block of the Month that is sitting with only half of the blocks done. I didn't like one of the blocks, so, I just stopped making them. I'm not even sure I have all the fabric anymore. That's about 4 years old.

Oh, and there are plenty of others. I have passed on some practice pieces to charity that were just quilt tops. But, I hang on to others hoping I will live a very long life and eventually finish them. :o

Really, the biggest reason I wanted to comment is, you said you have projects sitting with pins in them. That's really bad for the fabric. And, if the pins come in any contact with moisture, your quilt tops could be ruined.

Is there any way you can hire someone to do the heavy lifting for you. I have on occasion been able to hire one of my son's friend's to do some work for me. My son would do it in a heart beat, but, he works a lot of hours and travels regularly for work. So, this compromise works out well for us.

My 6' son just moved to north Seattle. Do you want me to send him down to help you?

If you need some inspiration to finish the quilts you have in the house, do some reading on the UFO Challenge thread.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/quiltin...h-t273926.html

There's also some chat about what UFOs are.

Or make your son his favorite cookies. I can get The Hubs to do quite a bit for a pan of almond shortbread.

I also figure a UFO is a project that has been started and for whatever reason not completed. I also consider it a UFO until it is completely finished, as in pieced, quilted, and bound. I've been working on my UFOs there were 8 hanging on a rod -- they needed to be quilted and bound. All of them are done. I will get another back from the quilter on Tuesday. I think everyone has their own definition of a UFO. This is what works for me!

Just keep what you love. Sometimes we fall out of love with what we started. Or it just gave us problems. Or ...whatever. The reasons don't matter. If it's dragging you down, get rid of it .

I have a UFO quilt which is waiting for me to work out how to trim the borders to go on the centre section. It has to be 91/2" deep and 49 long. It is an appliqué border and I'm worried I've made the appliqué too deep. I've even done the corner stones. It just needs cutting to size and a backing put on and then shadow stitch round the appliqué. Sooooo easy to say but sooooo difficult to do, so it will remain a UFO.

I think you need to get all of your quilting "stuff" in one place and then you can make some decisions. There is no law that says you must finish everything that you ever started. It really is ok to re-purpose, down size, change or gasp give away things that no longer bring you joy. Sometimes projects seemed like a good idea at the time but now you just have no interest in ever finishing them and do not want to invest any more money or time on them. Gently say good-bye and bundle them up with any remaining fabric and the instructions and give them to your local quilting group and I'm sure someone will finish them and find a home for your "outgrown" treasures.

I agree with zozee. Give some of those UFOs to a thrift store and you will feel a sense of freedom. Then you can see your way clear to moving on. Someone will purchase a "bag of fabric" and will be thrilled with the find.

Anything that has been started, but then left sitting because I got interested in something else.

I don't understand why it is your son's business to decide when you can have your quilting projects. If you want the projects then hire someone to go with you to get them from the warehouse so you can decide which ones you will work on and which ones can go in the donation pile.

What in the world. I must be missing something about the son controlling your projects? I agree about the pins and since you are the quilter you get to decide what you want to work on, I would think.

I agree. I am really bad at getting bored with a quilt and putting it aside. Trying really hard to finish up the quilts for charity since our church group leader saw the need and bought a long arm. Unfortunately, her husband won't let her use it since he is finding quilting way too much fun. Aren't we lucky!

These are PIGS - projects in grocery sacks

Thanks for your help. Your offer sounds good but my own son will be wanting something one of these days so he will do it eventually. Warehouse is quite a ways away. I am just finishing up 2 smaller pieces so I am whittling it down a bit.

He would probably like to but no. He tried to lay down the law about no more shoes, sewing machines or bowls but he doesn't say much and the only thing he does notice is a heavy sewing machine once in a while. My bedroom is all full of stuff and he doesn't like the "clutter". He knows I am overloaded but I can make a deal with him.

I have no place at home that will handle all my stuff. I have to partner with my bedroom these days..no more sewing room and basement. I do give away a lot have never thought of not finishing something I started except for the one I can't find the pattern for and the pieces don't make sense...haha

He got stuck a couple of times with pins and didn't like it much apparently. He always gives in but I'm more careful about leaving pinned things around.

Yours is my favorite answer....constantly get sidetracked with new things.

Sorry, I don't understand how your son has a say about your quilting. I would find someone else to get them for me. What does your age have to do with anything? Keeping busy and active is good for us.

I usually describe it as an unfinished project that you will very likely never go back to! Or at least, will only go back to kicking and screaming! I find that the reason for this is because that project became work instead of fun. This can happen for many reasons, you hit a real design problem, the colors aren't working right, your blocks are not coming together - it just isn't right. We usually quilt because we want to, when we have to work on something or force ourselves to work on it, it isn't worth it. So it goes on a shelf. There are so many projects we still really want to do and time is limited.

I like to think that a WIP is just that ... in progress. :D I have plenty of UFOs.

I think I could have more UFOs than anyone might imagine if I had more time for quilting but it's hard to find enough time so I try really hard not to get distracted and start too many projects at the same time. This forces me to finish what I start. That said I have 3 or 4 projects going at the same time almost always. Right now I have 3 going but one is a project started by someone else and is not my vision. I don't know if I will actually get back to it or not in reality. What keeps me holding on to it is that it is a cool applique project and it's got a good start to it. I keep hoping I'll want to work on it again some day. After I finish the one I started that needs an applique border. My work definitely comes first lol.

well now, wasn't this thread an eye opener!!!!! i really enjoyed all your views on UFOs
i'm really glad you all have cleared this up [clear as mud for me] All along i thought i had enough UFOs and now i find that because they're pieced, {just not quilted!}they're really NOT UFO's!!!
wow, that means i CAN start sewing again!!! woohoo!!!! Life just got sooooo much better --