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.