UFO's, the laugh is on me.
 

Oops, I only thought that I was good about not having UFO's. This morning I went to clean and straighten my sewing room, this time I had a notebook right beside me. As I came across fabric collections, unused purchased patterns, unused special rulers and such, I wrote them down. I have 27 projects to finish, start and organize.:o

Well, at least you have them listed in a note book to help you begin. I think I need to put mine in a list to help get them done.

I have a list, it hasn't helped me, yet.

Uh-oh, if having unused fabric and patterns constitutes a UFO then I'm in trouble. I don't consider it a UFO until I've started cutting it out. Until then the fabric isn't really designated for anything other than stash, and rulers are just tools.

I made a list, more than once. It has not helped me either. And....I just finished another top.

dunster, I like your attitude. The idea of making a list like toverly's really frightens me.

If quilt police truly existed, we'd all be busted!!

I'm with dunster! It is "stash with a plan" until the cutting begins... LOL

Oh dear and you thought you were being good! But not as bad as me. Even though I also don't consider it a UFO until it's cut out as far as having patterns and fabric, I bet I have at least 50 kits that are languishing in plastic totes. Why am I still buying things. I ought to be ashamed!

Uh, oh, lost my list, too.

I'm with you. A stash with a plan! But maybe I should make a list. It might help me focus some...

I agree that it is not considered a UFO until I have started cuttin, however, if I have bought material for a specific project that material is not part of my stash.

YOu are brave. I would be afraid to count my UFO's. If purchased fabric that never made it into a started project counts I am in huge trouble!

You're absolutely right Dunster! It's still very organized "stash" until it's cut!

Oh, my! I'd REALLY be in trouble if I considered my unused stash as UFOs. I have a huge closet floor to ceiling packed (neatly organized) by color that is my "LQS". I don't consider that UFOs, just readily accessible fabric for any need that comes along. I do have many projects lined up that are in bins waiting their turn, and try hard not to have many UFOs, but I do have several WIPs in various stages of completion. WIP sounds so much better than UFO. LOL

Glad to know y'all do it too! The only reason I counted the unused stuff is that I wanted to know, what I had that I could do/use without going to the LQS. I had forgotten so many. They were buried. But when I saw them, I remembered why I bought them. The biggest laugh is that, I thought I definitely need one of those huge rolls of batting next time J's has them 1/2 price with free shipping. LOL

UFO's at my house are ONLY projects that have been started, but not finished. If I counted all the patterns and projects I wanted to start I couldn't do the list in less than a week! UNFINISHED is the key here!

I AGREE. I don't count planned quilts that haven't been started as a UFO because the fabric has NOT been cut. If that was true, I would be so depressed, I would probably STOP QUILTING !!! :(

We are all in good company here. That's why I love this board; I'm more normal than not. LOL

Anything which has not been started - whether it is a pattern I purchased or a length of fabric or something gleaned from the internet - DOES NOT COUNT! those are not UFO's yet - just Potential Future Projects PFP

Only a project which has been at least partially cut and not more than partially bound counts as a UFO by my definition.

In that case, SueSew, I have enough PFPs to keep me from purchasing fabric for awhile! I've decided for the rest of this year I will not purchase any more fabric unless it is needed to finish a UFO. I've got enough PFPs to keep the creative juices flowing for awhile. Whether they are called UFOs or PFPs...I've got to see the potential of things in my stash to help me control myself in fabric stores!!!

Good idea, Toverly, to make a list. I think I need to do the same. I'm trying to really focus on using what I have for awhile. (To make room for more to be added later of course!)

"Lists? We don need no stinkin lists!" ROFL! Nope, not a UFO until I officially start it and get bored enough to put it aside unfinished. Until then it's just stash and ideas floating around in my imagination. A list might make me feel guilty, and I don't need that on top of my other stresses! ;)

I'm with Dunster. Can't be a UFO until it is started.

I'm with those that say "it's not a UFO until it has been started and set aside"

Started means that at least some of the pieces have been cut -

I like lists too. They help me focus. I think I have a little ADD. Last year I made a list of UFO's and I was able to complete 14 quilts. Of course some of the quilts on that list are still on the list for this year. Other projects keep jumping to the top of the list. The ones I have the most trouble finishing are the block of the month quilts. I still have 5 of these to finish. My goal this year is to finish at least 3 of the BOM quilts. I have finished 6 quilts so far this year. None of them are the BOM.

I went through mine the other day and put notes with the fabric for the quilt I bought it for. Why do I keep buying fabric and collecting patterns? Oh, my. Each time I go to WalMart, I have to buy more plastic containers. I'm running out of room.:D

Having a list is a start.

Last year, when I counted my UFOs and almost had a heart attack, I joined the UFO challenge here on the Board. The goal is to complete one UFO per month. I made a list (which initially freaked me out even more!) and put it up on my bulletin board. When I complete a UFO, I take a picture and post it to the UFO challenge and everyone there is so supportive and congratulatory when a UFO is completed. I also put a line through the project on my list, with the month that I completed it. I absolutely LOVE looking at that list with things crossed off! Doing this has helped me in a couple of ways: 1) Positive reinforcement from others; 2) all of my UFOs are now in one place, each with their own container; 3) as I was organizing UFOs, I came across a couple of things that I had started that didn't have any instructions. At that time I either came up with a different idea for using the fabrics, put the fabrics in my scrap bin, or passed the fabrics on to someone else to make something. That also decreased my UFO total. Just know that you are not alone, and since we are all in the same boat, we all get excited when anyone finishes anything!

It's kind of a shock when you count it all up like that. ;). Same thing happened to me. We better get busy sewing, eh?

I made a list of all my UFOs and it has helped me to focus and get them finished. My list was quite long (without counting I think the list was something like 28 items), but I wasn't overly surprised since I knew they were there--just hadn't counted them exactly. I have been diligently working on these items and I am happy to say several of them are complete and three or four more are in various stages of completion. The list was a big help to me and when I can cross off an item, it is motivation to continue! I say do whatever works! And if you don't mind having UFOs, that's okay, too. We should enjoy quilting and if the UFOs don't bother you, they don't bother me. I felt personally that I wanted to finish the projects I had begun because I have more than I want to do and wanted these off my list first.

I have tried that, but then I lose the list, but I'm trying to do better. I just saved a 3-drawer plastic storage unit/container from my DH because he was done with it. The look he gave me when I told him he wasn't going to throw it out was priceless. However, I did get him to help me re-arrange my sewing area a bit and it fit perfectly under my big table, and I have 2 drawers already filled, one with fabric for making bags and the other with projects that I have started, or want to make, and I've put the magazine/pattern together with fabrics and anything else necessary in one of the very large zip lock bags. Now when I want to work on some of my Christmas projects or UFO's, I will know where they are. At least I'm hoping I can continue to keep somewhat organized, especially since I have very little space, one wall in my bedroom, although my fabric totes decorate a wall in the dining room. LOL. It wasn't easy sorting fabrics, deciding which to keep and which to give away when we down sized to a 2-bedroom apt. with separate bedrooms. At first my daughter was shocked, however, since DH and I would be together 24/7 and had already been together for nearly 5 years, plus the fact that the king size bed would not fit in either bedroom, we opted for separate bedrooms. I sew and do crafts in mine and he does whatever on his computer in his bedroom. It works for us, and I might add that we've been married for 45 years, so separate bedrooms at this stage of our lives isn't so bad, and when I need to "get away" for my quiet time, I have a place to go; but I really miss my sewing room.

What is a UFO, a UFO to me is an Unidentified Flying Object, what would one of these be re making a quilt?

I agree with Dunster--my lists are just to help remind me of fabric I have for projects to guide my shopping. And the reason things languish is because other projects "pop up"and need our attention-like a Halloween table topper for my DIL or th e wedding quilt for DD. So I feel absolutely no guilt over the projects "in waiting"!

Fun topic and I have thought about making the list and plan to if I ever get my room organized because I think I would be motivated by being able to cross them off when complete.

I always liked the designation of PIGS - Projects In Grocery Sacks for those that have not made it to the UFO stage. And there is always the current project that is getting worked on WIP which we should come up with some cute quilting related acronym.

Carol - UnFinished Object. quilt addict - I love the PIGS! I have some of those in addition to UFOs. One thing about finishing up projects as soon as you buy the fabric, at least then if you run low you know you can get the fabric! With UFO's, if it's been a few years, you might be out of luck!

I only consider it a UFO if the fabric has been cut or started by making a few blocks. Bought fabric and rulers don't count in my opinion.

I just have a pile.

I guess this doesn't pertain to this subject but I only work on one thing until it's completed BUT I ran out of back ground fabric for current quilt so while waiting on it I've been going crazy so made a couple of fabric books for youngest DGK & today still no back ground fabric in mail so I've pulled out a panel kit I'll start cutting on tomorrow, so when my fabric finally comes in I will put away the panel quilt & it will become my 1st UFO ever! To top it all off we leave for Vacation this Sunday so after tomorrow (Friday) I wont have time for any sewing just packing, shopping & loading up RV. We have company joining us so no room to take my little machine to sew on in the RV :p But everything BETTER be here when we get back or some online stores will be hearing my wrath LOL.

I have quite a few UFO's. Last year and this year I have been trying to finish a lot of them up. It is really bad that I have a wall hanging that only needs a hanging sleeve to be finished. It has been that way for 1 1/2 years. I have tried to follow the rule that I made for myself. I have to finish 2 UFO's before I can start something new. I have been doing OK with this. The UFO pile is getting smaller. Of course sometimes I cheat since I don't allow the quilt police in my house.

Guess we keep collecting fabric even though our cupboards are already full because the designs just keep getting better and better and , past experiences have taught me, if you snooze you lose. You see something you love but, for whatever reason, you decide to wait to get it and then, when you go back, it's.....GONE !...


Hence, another potential UFO..

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