Pam S

I admit, I have a lot of UFOs. Sometimes I abandon a project because I see another pattern I just have to make right now. Or I suddenly need a birthday, Christmas, baby or wedding gift. Or I just get bored with what I'm working on. Anyway, I have a lot and I'm not even counting those I have fabric and plans for but haven't started yet.
In the past 6 months or so I have been asked 3 times to longarm a quilt for the family of a quilter who died and left it unfinished. The first was brought to me by a friend; I didn't know the quilter. She had started to hand quilt it and the family couldn't find anyone to finish it. I tried to save her hand stitching, but it just wasn't working. It wasn't heirloom quality, so I didn't feel too bad about unstitching and starting over. The second had all the pieces cut and the pattern was in the box. Her sister was able to finish it and it turned out beautiful. The third quilter had some of the pieces cut and some blocks done but no pattern. Her sister finally figured out what was going on and kept going until she ran out of fabric. She doesn't know if the finished quilt is what her sister had in mind, but it is done. I don't mind finishing these quilts. For the last 2, it gave me an opportunity to think about these women who I knew and reflect on some good memories of them.
But it got me thinking about all those UFOs I have and will someday leave behind. My daughter is a quilter, but will she be able to figure out what I was doing and finish them? Will she even want to? So, I have resolved to finish 2 UFOs for every new quilt I start and try to pare down that pile. And I am going to have a talk with my daughter and tell her not to feel guilty for not finishing my stuff.

LGJARN52

I try to keep a copy of the pattern with the quilt, usually in a large plastic bag or pillow case that has turned into a UFO. Maybe someday I'll finish it or put it on a garage sale, or pass it along to someone that loves it and wants to finish it.

Quiltwoman44

Ha, ha! You made me think of a UFO in the sky!!
I too have UFO's but, like you, in my sewing room.

Mkotch

I hang my UFOs in the closet of my sewing room, out of sight/out of mind! You have reminded me, once again, that I need to finish a few. You are lucky to have a daughter who's a quilter! I have a son who values quilts but wouldn't know what to do with the UFOs. Despite all my efforts to keep up with UFOs, I do create more than I finish. I should at least tell him what to do before he gets stuck with it all!

illinois

The pattern!! Where's the pattern? What was this? Big help, not just to the person who inherits the UFO but even ourselves.
What was I thinking at that time? If not the pattern itself, at least put the name of it with the UFO.

WMUTeach

A couple of years ago I approached my UFO's is a similar manner; one UFO to one new. It did help to move the UFOs along and off of my list. What a refreshing feeling to have a quilt that was lingering in a bin, a closet or basket finished and folded nicely ready to be gifted or donated. BTW, I still have UFOs to finish. It seems to be my nature to get distracted by a new interesting or challenging pattern and off I go. This year, 2024, I was shooting for one UFO per month. I am about 6 months behind.

I don't want to leave any behind, so I it just might be time to return to one a month for the rest of the year. Stitch on my friends and let's get 'r done. Oh, yes, consider posting here but also on the UFO Adventure thread here on the QB. Seeing finishes is encouraging.

QuiltMom2

I too am helping finish other people's UFO's. During COVID isolation I completed most of mine but I have bins of scraps left from other projects and I'm trying to turn those into something useful.

toogie

I have one UFO and it’s a John Deere rag quilt. My hands hurt to snip all those edges and I refuse to buy a special pair of scissors, just for one project, as I will never make another of these! It has taught me two things, at least. I don’t like making those kind of quilts and from then on, to always finish quilts you start. You may get bored with the process at the time, but I think your chances of finishing a top, are greater if you stick with it now, than putting it in your stash to maybe finish later. I have trudged on in a few I was bored with and didn’t really enjoy the repetitiveness but I liked the finish, in the end.

WMUTeach

Do you have quilty friends who have a pair of the special sheers? Perhaps you could borrow them and return them with a plate of cookies or something yummy. I don't make rag quilts either. Too messy for me. I can make my own mess cutting fabric just fine, thank you very much.

cashs_mom

I, too, am using the system of having to finish one UFO for each new quilt I start. I was doing well, but then got distracted by the 3 gift quilts that I am making for Christmas and one for me. But after the holidays, I plan to get back to it.