Now many of you are thinking, “What in the world does a UFO have to do with crafting?”
Let me tell you.
In the crafting world, especially among quilters, there is a term used to describe the many unfinished projects that are left behind or forgotten. These projects are known as “UFO’s” and the acronym stands for unfinished objects or projects. If you’re a crafter you probably have many UFO’s lying around your home or craft space!
Life happens. Priorities come up and those creative projects get to sit on the back burner. It happens to all of us! I’m a pro at piling up the UFO’s. My biggest reason for letting them pile up is because I get too excited to start a new project without waiting to finish my current one. I have a problem. I cannot even count all of my UFO’s! Let’s talk about the different kinds of unfinished projects that are common.
Examples of UFO’s might include:
- quilt tops without backings and bindings
- supplies you sorted to make a pretty piece of jewelry that is still lying around in a baggie
- half-painted art on a canvas that is hidden in the back of the room
- a scrapbook that has a few layouts created and a container of photos lying next to it
- printables lying around that you’ve been meaning to frame or display
- a pile of yarn projects as high as your new balls of yarn
- and many other examples are out there! (feel free to share yours in comments below!)
Why do we hold onto projects that we haven’t looked at for months, years, or even decades?
Reasons crafters hold on to their UFO’s:
- the supplies were expensive (“How can I get rid of that?”)
- was excited about project in the beginning, but no longer have the same style or taste.
- was making it as a gift, but birthday/wedding/event passed
- thinks project wasn’t good, but will fix it someday now that I’m more skilled.
- told someone I would make this for them, but can’t get the motivation to finish it.
- plans to finish it someday when I have more time (this is the most popular excuse and my personal favorite!)
How to Organize or Let Go of Your UFO’s
So…what do we do with all of these projects? Some of them might cause us actual anxiety when we look at them. We might get upset with all the space they take up or even feel hopelessness at every finishing them because they’ve been around for so long. I promise you that you’ll feel better and be more inspired to create what you love when you let go of some of those UFO’s – even though it might be difficult or out of your comfort zone.
Keep It or Let It Go?
Ask yourself these 3 questions.
- Do you love this project and are you excited to work on it again?
- Does this project hold true sentimental value to me?
- Do you see yourself working on or finishing the project this year?
If you answered yes to any of the above question – KEEP it.
If you answered no to questions #1 or #3 LET IT GO. Give it away, sell it, or in some cases trash it. You can do it. It will free up space in your life and will inspire you to create. You got this!
Unfinished to Finished!
The good news? After you’ve asked yourself the above questions and you have decided which projects have made the “KEEP IT” test, you can turn those unfinished projects into finished projects with a plan!
Print this sheet out today. Make a list of any supplies needed or steps to take to finish your project. Decide on a completion date. Stick to it!
Do you have some tips and tricks or any advice to share about your unfinished projects? Please share below in the comments!
POST BY: Kari Sweeten
Interested in making a Creative Bucket List? Check this out…
Quilt Lovers this is for you…
My sister-in-law has a UFO Sit and Sew day at her quilt shop every Thursday. Her friends / customers can bring their UFOs to work on while they chat and sip on coffee or a soda in her classroom – and of course, they can purchase any supplies needed to complete the project!
This is the best idea!! Finish those UFO’s with other crafters! Great motivation. Thanks for sharing Denise!
Kari –
Sometimes I start projects to learn a new technique and the new technique eats my lunch before I finish. I hang on to those if it’s something I want to learn. After a break, I can finish some of them like I’ve done them all my life, while for others I need additional information, supplies, lessons, or just some encouragement to finish them.
And by far, the number one reason for my stash of UFOs is excitement about a new project before I finish what I’m doing. My grandma used to tell me I had “too many irons in the fire.” She was right, and I still do.
One UFO that comes to mind is the four squares of a Victorian crazy quilt I’ve started. Too many scraps of brocade, satin, velvet, lace, ruffles, trim, buttons and bows to choose from, not to mention deciding which embroidery stitches to use to tack it all together. I think that’s why it’s a UFO. I got distracted by some pretty thing in my scrap stash and went off in another direction.
I’ve recently started trying to take inventory of all my active projects and see what I can do about finishing some of them. I’ve printed your project sheet. Maybe that will help me get some of this under control.
I love the idea of a UFO sit and sew day. I’ve thought of organizing a similar activity. Encouragement from someone else can jump start my motivation to finish a project, or if not, someone else might be so excited about it I’ll be happy to pass it along and get it off of my list of things to do. But that’s only a good thing as long as I don’t end up falling in love with one of her projects and bringing it home with me!
Jan
Jan, I have too many irons in the fire, too! Your Victorian crazy quilt sounds awesome. I literally have 5 unfinished embroidery projects, a big pile of wooden crafts waiting to be painted (for some reason I love buying wooden cut-outs, monograms, etc.!), a few quilt tops, and countless other random UFO’s! It’s comforting to chat with ladies like you who understand the excitement of creating and moving onto other projects because you can’t wait to try them while putting the other ones on the shelf for awhile. I’m excited to tackle these unfinished crafts in 2018! Thanks for your comment!
For a while I only did quick projects to get that instant gratification. Now I’m crocheting a large blanket for my daughter and I want to do some little projects. I feel guilty to abandon her blanket to do something else. Also, Little sister wants a blanket too!
Your three questions are great. Why do I have unfinished baby booties for a child that is now in Kindergarten?!
Also, I’d like to start sewing but would need to invest in a sewing machine. I’m worried that, because I don’t have a place where I can leave it out all the time, it won’t get used. And I haven’t used one since home economics class in 8th grade. What do you think?
Sheri, If you’d like to start sewing I say do it! Maybe you can find a place in a closet with easy access – I find if things are tucked away in a storage place then I rarely use them, but if they’re easy to get to I use them often! I bet you’d be surprised how fast you’ll pick sewing up again even if it’s been since the 8th grade. Watch a few refresher tutorials on YouTube and you’ll be sewing in no time. I’m a firm believer in learning new things, getting outside of comfort zones, and following passions! You can do it. Thanks for stopping by!!
Don’t be afraid to start sewing again. I didn’t like sewing in high school for many reasons. Twenty years later I started working with a woman who sews all the time and she talked me into taking a weekend class with her. I did not have a machine so we shared hers. I had so much fun that I went out an bought a used sewing machine the next week. I have been sewing ever since. That was also 20 years ago. My sewing room has been in many areas of my homes over the years — living room, converted garage to family room, spare bedroom, and converted shop. Now I am lucky enough to have a dedicated room for my sewing and crafting thanks to my husband. You Tube is a great place to get help plus there are classes on Craftsy that are taught by excellent teachers. Just sign up for their newsletter and watch for sales on classes. My piles of UFOs has really grown over the years but I am working on them this year. Good luck and happy sewing!
Thanks for sharing these tips Linda!
Most of my UFO’s are garments where I’m too blooming tired of trying to get them the way I want or need to learn how to make a perfectly pointed collar, etc. So those are fairly easy to store on hangers and shove to the side in my closet. (where I continue to stick my tongue out if not mutter unmentionables whenever I see them.)
I spent years doing either needlecrafts or quilts where that wouldn’t be as easy and got in the habit of using big, sometimes massive, Ziploc bags and, if I had room, using a skirt hanger to clip them on and again put in the closet or if it was too small, a special bin/box.
After years of doing that, I made a deal with myself when I once again got back into sewing that there would be no UFO’s. Period. I’ve done fairly well with that self-promise except for the two I referred to above. One was technique and the other is part technique and part I had a feeling that the wrap skirt is going to be huge on me, so rather than keep going, I set it aside. Who knows? I may want to use that vast swath of fabric for something else rather than continue working on it and end up being disappointed by having it be large enough for a circus tent.
Your Printable will help a lot because my closet is big and the dreaded projects tend to get lost. (Read: shoved as far out of sight as possible!) Also, I can use it for tailoring and repairs. The other day I went to put on a long skirt and found that it was missing vital buttons. I cheated and used a couple of baby pins, but need to fix it before I put it back in the closet ready to be worn again. Thank you!
Thanks for your comment Gwen! I admire those who can do garment sewing – I tend to stick to home decor sewing and quilting – sewing garments intimidates me for some reason. I really like your idea of using the ziploc bags and clips to store! Good luck on your UFO journey!
I have many projects to finish… Mine are wreaths (2) homemade whimsical chandeliers, wind chimes and wood refinishing/painting projects. And glass etching projects…I have found that using the large but short vegetable or fruit stacking boxes are an excellent way to sort supplies and store these projects. Cantelopes, and grapes are often sold to stores in these boxes. Often they have handles and there are little tabs on the bottom to keep the boxes lined up neatly… I will also pare down my ufo’s by setting a limit for the amount of unfinished projects I am allowed to have to 5. (after summer) So I have 5 boxes all the same size. Although some of my project pieces will not fit in the boxes… I keep all the needed tools and supplies for the project in the boxes. I am planning to Mac tac or paint the boxes to help them look more attractive. My reason for the ufo’s is a newer diagnosis of Arthritis in my hands. Have put off the projects until summer when my hands will hopefully be better. If not completed by next winter… I will donate my projects… and not continue crafting… Almost , in my pain… gave up already… Hoping summer will bring new found hope for my crafting fun… ??
Health issues are no fun, especially when we can’t do the hobbies we love to do! My grandmother has had to hold back on knitting because of her eye sight and it breaks my heart. I hope you get some relief from your pain and are able to continue your crafts!
I was motivated to reduce my UFO pile after several sewers downsized and I realized yardage was taken but UFOs ended up in the trash. I sorted everything into the approximate time to finish. I had way too many I could finish in an evening or less, so those are ALL done. Now working on longer projects and clothing yardage, I decided to work on most expensive first as I might as well enjoy my splurges.
Great idea to sort UFO’s be approximate time to finish! Thanks for sharing!
I try to alternate Ufo’s with new projects, just doing the “old” ufo’s gets tiresome. I also participate in my sewing guild’s UFO group which meets once each month so I have friends around to chat with and get encouragement and or help with while I whittle down my stack of UfOs, its more fun than doing it alone.
Love that you have UFO groups to motivate each other!
I made a list of all open craft project earlier this summer. I am almost finished a cross stitch project that has languished for over a decade (it’s a teddy bear tree skirt). I have finished up all the projects that just needed a little more to finish. I’m trying to clear out all UFOs (or at least the big ones) before starting a project that I estimate that I have a year to finish. I was just tired of all the open projects
Brenda,
You’ve inspired me to make a current list. Thank you for your comment!
Happily discovered your site. Have decided to bag up and place one current project in a small basket along with one simple briefly ignored UFO (along with all of the threads, instructions, etc) in another bag in the same basket. In a way, they will be ‘peeking at me regularly’ when I am in the room and gently reminding me that I could set aside a bit of time during the day to work on them or carry them anywhere I am going. The HARD part is to decide which UFOs to select for my little basket…
Thanks again for your wonderful suggestions and gentle nudging…
Marlene
Great idea Marlene! I agree. Sometimes the hardest part is picking which UFO to finish!