By Diane Harris, HQ Stitch Brand Ambassador

UFO is quilt-speak for UnFinished Object. A UFO is a project you started but didn’t complete, and most quilters have some. Occasionally I meet someone who can’t bear the thought of anything unfinished, but that’s the exception.

This UFO is a machine appliqued block that never went any further.

I have my share of UFOs. I don’t worry about them and I don’t feel guilty about them. But I have run into a problem: I can’t seem to part with them.

I have a friend and guildmate who runs a longarm business and gives classes and trunk shows to quilt groups. Her name is Sandi and she has a Facebook group which she hosts in a friendly, conversational way. Even though I don’t often post, I frequently find myself thinking about her prompts and projects.

These blocks were made as a color option when my quilt design was published by a magazine.

That’s what led me to tear into my studio this week: Sandi has been talking about UFOs. She thinks it’s the perfect time of year to get them sorted, listed and ultimately tackled.

In recent months, my studio has felt more full packed crammed with stuff. I have piles on the floor. I have heaps on the table and the desk. Areas that used to be nicely enhanced with quilty decor are now full of fabric, books and magazines. It’s full on ridiculous.

Again, a quilt made as a color option for my design published in a magazine.

With this mess on my mind, Sandi’s idea of getting a grip on our UFOs hit home with me. I opened a cupboard to start, and that’s when the trouble arose.

Problem #1

Many of my UFOs are in plastic grocery sacks. This means I can’t see what’s inside and they don’t stack nicely in a cupboard. A popular quilter’s acronym calls them PIGS: Projects in Grocery Sacks.

Solution #1

Buy inexpensive plastic storage bins for each UFO. I realize this is just moving them—not really dealing with them. But I think I can deal with them more effectively if they’re organized.

Am I fooling myself?

These daisy blocks are about 15 years old. I like them but I didn’t finish them.

Problem #2

Many of the UFOs no longer light my fire. They don’t spark my interest and I can’t get excited about working on them.

Solution #2

Get rid of them.

This is where I stumble. I resist. I balk.

I’ve spent money, time and effort to get the project this far. Even though I know logically that it’s over, I can’t bring myself to move it along. My head says “let go” but my heart says “hold on.” (Cue music from Frozen: 🎶🎶🎶Let it go, let it go 🎶🎶🎶)

I have a pile of different blocks in different colors that I didn’t make. I don’t even remember where they came from.

Problem #3

There are just too many projects. The volume is overwhelming and it’s zapping my creativity—and not in a good way. I take full responsibility here. I’m the one who bought the stuff, all the while burying my head in the sand about what I could realistically accomplish.

Solution #3

I hate to say it but I don’t have a solution for this one. I still want to do it all.

A baby quilt top I designed for a magazine. It was published as a free pattern but I never finished it.

I’m hoping that if I corral the PIGS into stacking bins, one project per bin, there will be enough physical space and mental breathing room to get the ball rolling on the UFOs I’m still excited about.

Do you have thoughts or ideas about UFOs? What is your UFO status? I’d like to hear in the comments.

Quilt on,

Diane

Find Sandi’s Facebook group here!