I put everything together in a plastic shoe box or large zip lock big, like a kit. Some are just piles of fabric for a future quilt that i haven't even decided what pattern to use. If have the pattern or know which book its in, i include it in the container. I have a big basket that i store the bags in. Then when i want to start a new quilt i just pull out a bag or shoe box and i'm ready to go. I have about 19 ready to roll and in the basket they take up very little space. When i'm actually working on a quilt, i use a plastic shoe box to keep my fabrics together and another for the cut/ stitched pieces. Right now I'm wotking on Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt, so the fabrics are in a shoebox and completed units in another box. Once the quilt is done, the boxes are empty and ready for the next project.

Kay -you've given me a great idea to try. I think I'll organize a pillowcase kit with some coordinating fabrics to sew up for my mindless sewing. Thanks, I needed that!

I put mine in the smallest container I can fit it in and put the name on the outside. I also try to keep the pattern with it. I use alot of the 12 X 12 containers for scrapbook paper for UFO's and they are perfect for storing blocks. A plus to is they are acid free.

I put each UFO+fabric+pattern in a sack made out of one of the leftover fabrics from that quilt. If I don't have that, then I use an old pillowcase. Each bag then goes into the drawers.

~ Cindy

I have some UFO's that are really old, and I'm not sure I want to finish them now. Do you ever get rid of UFOs? Do you throw them out? Break them up?

I use the stackable plastic drawers and bags if needed.

I put the entire thing (fabric, pattern, etc.) in a zip lock bag - gallon, 2 gal. (whatever size I need) and all stays there until the project is done. Sometimes that's years - but that's another topic for another day!

I like this idea! My new sewing area includes a closet. Right now, I keep my UFOs in 1 gallon ziplocs or the small cheap under the mattress zippered storage bags.

I keep mine in the 12x12 plastic bins that I bought when scrapbooking was the craft dujour. I don't worry about the fabric breathing because I peak in them often enough with the intention of working on one.

Some I hang together on a skirt hanger.
Others go in a zippered bag that sheets come in.
Some small ones are inside the magazine that has the pattern, which I then keep in a drawer.
some are in gallon ziplocks.

That is what I do too! Now when I run across a UFO I put it on my 5 project list and finish it. I've been surprised at the number of completed projects I done with this method!

I use the Super Satchel project boxes to keep everything I need, including thread for a project. They stack nicely and come in pretty colors too. When a piece is finished and ready for quilting, it goes on a quilt rack I got off Craigslist for $5 that's in my quilting room. The Annex, we call it. I gotta get crackin' on those finished pieces.....

I have decided to make fabric totes for my shelving. lots of tutorials out there.

I put all my fabrics (and UFO's) that are for certain projects in gallon/2.5gallon
size zip lock bags, and I put the pattern in with the fabrics to keep it all together.

Forgot to mention that I also write on the bag what the project is, and/or
name of pattern.

I put min in those plastic bags you get when you buy sheet sets. they are great many different sizes. I just told them
family if they got any to keep them for me.

UFO Storage
 

I treated my self to this type of rolling container with removable plastic bins. I think it's for scrapbooking but the removable bins are just perfect for up to a 14 inch block. It helps me keep things together.
I got this at Michaels on sale. Better yet, my son's girlfriend had sent me a gift card to boot.

Oh, I really like that. I love that dust can't get into each bin. I'll have to look for it. Do you mind sharing the original price?

I watch for the boxes. I have 6-7 now and use them for project boxes. I have names on the front so I know whose project is in the box along with couple patterns and fabric going to use. One of the pieces of fabric (yardage) I'm using on another project and have a note stating that. May have to go back and get the whole thing. I got the boxes when they were on sale for $3.99 or one sale was 3 for $10.00. Great for so many crafts especially little kids and great to use as light boxes.

I have also hung several of my UFO's in plain sight...in my case it's the old metal bed frame from my son's bunk bed which has a ladder like look. These are the ones that are closest to being finished, they help brighten my sewing room and also serve as reminders for the others that I have stored in plastic project boxes. I have also made a master list of my UFO's that includes notations about the project status and any material requirements.

I put everything for the project in a jumbo zip lock bag, with a note of what still needs to be done. Then the bags go into a plastic tub under my machine cabinet (by my feet) I found if I put them on shelves or in a cabinet they remain UFO's. By storing them in the open tub at my feet I will intermittently pull one out and work on it between working on my current project. Sometimes my note might say "20 blocks needed, 14 done, 6 more needed." Then when the mood strikes I might make 2 more blocks and change the note to say "4 more needed and borders", etc. Sometimes I even work on one because of its color. Maybe I'm tired of working on my current brown project and want to work on something red or yellow that is more cheerful to me that day. Sometimes its just my little self imposed guilt trip so I pull one out and just work on it for an hour. Having them organized and at my feet is what works for me.

Family Dollar
 

I went to the local dollar type store and found different types/sizes of storage containers because not all my P.I.G.S (projects in a grocery sack) contain the same amount of fabric. They had 3 sizes of matching wicker baskets lined with fabric, black storage baskets made of fabric in several sizes and these really small cool softer plastic totes that have handles and holes in them. All of the storage bins would easily stack if needed. Because all the containers were cheaply priced I hit all 6 Family Dollar stores in my area and purchased a lot of them. Fortunately I have a sewing space where my hubby could built me floor to ceiling shelves on one wall. He put the shelves in to match the basket height. I tried plastic bags, plastic boxes and even the hanging sweater bags and nothing ever worked "just right" until now. Good luck on your project!

Yep ziplock here too with a printed picture of the project glued to the outside of the bag. I do have some small stackable plastic bins as weel and I glue picture on those too so I know exactly what I have. I cannot stand not knowing what is what. :)

Projects go in ziplocks & they go in a bin marked kits/bundles. Also have a bin labeled 'tops' that I did not have backing for.

I put all the parts and a copy of the complete instructions into a 2 gallon Ziploc and store them upright in beer boxes from the liquor store. I only keep out 3 projects max or they never get done.

I use bags, made by myself which will fit the projects in and extra fabric. These I can hang on hooks or lie flat.

I just replaced 10 curtain panels so those plastic zip bags will be put to good use for my Row by Row "kits". I, too, have found it much easier to have UFO kits bagged up and ready to go! Make a list of UFOs too.

Sandy

Holy hideaways, batman! I just realized I recently bought a TV entertainment shelf with two little cubby baskets in it and I have no idea what to put in them.....Especially since I'm single, who says my sewing stuff has to be confined to the sewing room? Huh? Who's brave enough to fess up?! LOL!!

Most definitely-YES. I have enough past items to clutter 2 houses (and there must be room for DH-why he needs space, I just can't fathom). Three of my favorites; 1. Throw a fund raiser at the quilt guild-a raffle of all UFO's- you just have to be strong and not put any tickets in the raffle boxes; 2. warm the house in the winter-cut up like kindling and use for fuel in the wood burning fireplace; 3. Make into dog bed stuffing-cut into itty bitty pieces and give to the SPCA.

Just thought of another; play the pink flamingo game. Tie a great big flashy bow around the whole UFO. Add a note: "when you find this, give $5 to the Guild. Then you can contribute it to your UFO's or pass it on to the next lucky winner." If the recipient catches you planting your UFO, you contribute $5 to the guild and try to pass it off again.

Now, how do I store UFO's. First it depends upon what stage they're in.
1. Finished tops and finished tops with the backing are hung on hangers in the closet.
2. Languishing UFO's are made into a bundle with all the necessary pieces/fabric/notions tucked into the center and as flat of a rectangle as possible. Then I tie them up with selvage strips, squeezing out all excess air, amazing how much I can shrink them. Then toss them into a large drawer to be ready when I want an old project. Maybe I need to purge that drawer to make room for the new UFO's
3. Then there's design walls full of UFO's I have not quite gotten to the point of admitting it'll be a long time before I work on it again. Sometimes denial puts off making a decision. Maybe I should eliminate some options to get closer to a finished project. Maybe tomorrow.

Ohhhhh, petthefabric, my heart shuddered at the thought of your poor UFOs becoming fire fodder or puppy pillows. Please offer them up for sale here on the board, as I'm sure many would be happy to take them off your hands. Failing the desire to get money for them, then how about a pay it forward here on the board also. Offer them up for postage.
So many here are on severely restricted budgets. I'm sure they would be delighted to take those unloved UFOs off your hands.

I realize from other posts I have read that not everyone is a fan of the pay it forward concept, but I must shamelessly confess to be a huge supporter. I know the joys of being on the receiving end as well as on the giving end. Either way it lifts the heart and brightens the day!

AngelaNR, what a great, practical idea. Wouldn't you think we could come up with that idea on our own?
I sure didn't think of it. Thank you much!

Fast forward two years later and I've learned from my mistakes. I have been preparing the backing and the binding as soon as I finish the top. Then it it stored with the flimsy, scraps and all. Scraps are stored in a large ziploc bag placed with a bin of UFO scraps,and flimsy and backing are hung on pant hangers. The binding is folded fan style and stored in a basket which will be placed at my feet to feed the binding as I stitch it to the quilt.The QB members have been my inspiration in doing better with organization. Still have a long way to go.

Everything for a project HAS to stay together! Plastic bags work as long as you don't leave the project untouched for a couple of years :(. I also have a collection of wannabees, with pattern and materials segregated from my stash.

I have designated one cabinet just for projects and/or UFO's. It has 4 shelves so enough for at least 8 projects/UFOs. As I decide what fabrics to use for each project I add it to the pile on that shelf. If its a bolt of fabric I pin a note to the bolt telling me for which project/UFO it goes to and place it on top of the shelf unit. If I have 2 projects on top of each other I make sure the fabrics are so different from each other I'll know which goes to which plus I add the pattern to the top of the project to separate them from each other. Right now I have 14 projects in the shelf unit. Waiting to quilt the last UFO quilt top before I get to start on this year's projects. Told myself I couldn't start a new one till I had all the others done.

I use a variety of things and spaces to store UFOs:

1. those scrapbooker's plastic expanding envelopes that hold 12" x 12" sheets of paper. They're clear, so you can see inside them, they close with a flap that is held shut with a string tie. Since they have a flap closure, they keep out dust but still allow air to get inside. I use them for orphan quilt blocks, tops that are pieced but not quilted, etc. They stand up in a cardboard box that holds a dozen or so at a time. The box sits under my quilting table out of sight but easy to get to.

2. for really small projects, or projects where I've cut out the pieces but haven't pieced them yet I use those plastic deli food boxes with the snap on lids, they're free and the lids are clear so I can see what's there. These boxes sit on top of the unit where I keep batting.

3. cardboard boot boxes hold UFOs that are smaller than quilt tops, but bigger than will fit in the deli boxes or that have specialty threads or other materials that I need to remember not to use. These boxes often have more than one UFO, in which case, each UFO is folded and then rolled around the loose materials that go with it. The boxes are labelled using painters tape and a sharpie marker. These also sit on top of the area where I keep batting, interfacing, etc.

4. UFOs that I'm actively working on at the moment stay out and are draped over every possible surface in my sewing studio/guest bedroom. Other UFOS that are in various stages of either being cut out, squared up, sandwiched or in the case of wall hangings are in the process of being mounted on foam board and stretchers are kept in my larger studio space (the room next to the guest bedroom) where I have a large table and huge cutting mat as well as my power tools for making stretcher frames.

Rob

i use the rectangular scrap totes and put pattern in with it they stack nice and dont use as much room

I like the colored project boxes from Costco for most projects. I also store my large fabric squares (they work up to1 about 2 1/2.)

I put everything that goes to one quilt in a little stack then tie it (like a gift) with discarded long end strips of fabric I have trimmed. It keeps them all together and I can see what is there easily. I also do this when going thru my stash and finding different pieces of fabric I think would make a nice "someday" quilt.

If its a quilt I am working on, I put it in a plastic container. If its a set of completed blocks they go in a jumbo plastic zip lock bag.

I keep projects in Rubbermaid or other similar plastic tubs/boxes with lids. The pattern goes in the box with the fabric that has been selected for that project. That way everything for that particular project is together when I am ready to begin cutting/sewing. This works for me.