UFOs are visiting sewing rooms around the world!

“The definitive resolution of the UFO enigma will not come about unless and until the problem is subjected to open and extensive scientific study by the normal procedures of established science and administrators in universities.”

– Peter A. Sturrock

Professor Sturrock, as a quilter, I cannot agree more with you.  Oh, wait!  I believe he was speaking of flying saucers.  Well, I am not sure that flying saucers really do exist, but I do know that UFOs DO exist in the quilting world.  Last week, I explained what Unfinished Objects (UFOs) and Works In Progress (WIPs) are, and spoke of the many ideas of when a WIP becomes a UFO.   I also admitted that I have finally come to a place where I have 2 or 3 UFOs myself.  Some of my friends and family have 20-30 UFOs!  I do not know how you feel about your UFOs, but I simply despise the idea of these things just hanging around and taking up space (both physically and mentally). These are my 3 UFOs:

This pattern is “Stepping Stones,” designed by Donna Robertson of Fabric Café. It is a UFO because I am going to apply applique blocks in the larger squares. It also needs backing fabric, quilted, and bound.

This pattern is “Christmas Star Treeskirt,” designed by Karen Comstock of Quiltricks. This in UFO stage as I need to purchase backing fabric for it. It also still needs the center cut out, the skirt to be opened on one side, quilted, and bound.

This is “On Ringo Lake,” designed by Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville. It is still a UFO after almost 2 years because I got a bit frustrated with the zillion parts. It is the first one that I am pulling out of UFO stage and putting back into WIP stage. I really want to finish this beauty!

So, what do we do about that?  Work through them!  For the next few weeks, I will share my thoughts, inspirations, and method of getting through those UFOs. Although there are many good ways to get those UFOs to FOs (finished objects), this is what works for me.  I would love to hear your methods.  You can share them on our FaceBook page or below in the comment section of this blog.  The first step to getting our UFOs to their proper destination is to dig them out of their current places and list them down on a piece of paper.  I have created a UFO tracking sheet that will guide us through our thought process and help us to complete them.  You can find a copy of it here. I have also placed a copy in the “List of Inspirations” tab on this website.

While you are holding that UFO in your hands, ask yourself these questions:

“Am I still in love with this project or do I even still like it?” 

“Am I just dreading on working on it?”

“Is this project just really terrible?  There is no way this project can be rescued or fixed.”

Whatever you decide for that project, sort the projects in those 4 different piles (love, like, dread, or no rescue/fix) and mark it on the tracking sheet.  It is important to go through each of your UFOs this way.  Hold them, feel them, think about them, and sort them in their appropriate pile.  Easy enough, right? No, this really can be a difficult step.  As Marie Kondo has brought many people to realize, we can be emotionally attached to items for various reasons and not all of those reasons are healthy.  I have not read any of her books, but like many of us, I have heard how it has had a positive impact on people.

One of the things that I hear people say is that they are not in love with the project, or even like it, anymore.  However, they just cannot bring it to themselves to get rid of it.  They say that even though they hate it, they believe they have to finish it “one day.”  My quilting friends, when is that “one day?”  More than that, if you do not even like it and just find yourself dreading the idea of working on it, I am giving you permission not to finish it!  Yes, I said it.  It is really o.k. not to finish it.  The idea is that we find joy or peace in our quilting.  Therefore, if you completely despise the idea of working on it, let it go.  For now, mark it on the sheet and place it in the “Dread pile.”

You may be asking what it means that you cannot rescue or fix the project.  You may have used a fabric that you have discovered that it will bleed badly enough that you will not be able to get out the bleeds out.  Or maybe a gigantic hole has been created, and you don’t know how to fix it or any desire to learn how.  Or maybe you are wondering what really terrible means.  I do have to be honest, I cannot see a project being soooo terrible that I couldn’t do something with it.  But, some people have strong emotions about the workmanship and cannot see even allowing a dog to use it.  There is a “Sewlebrity” that has cut up other projects she doesn’t like and used them for a new one. I personally have not done this, but as we cut up fabric and sew it back together, this makes sense to be able to do just that.  If you are not willing to donate it, fix it, cut it up, find someone that is willing to try and rescue it, give it to an animal to use, or use it as a practice topper for Free Motion Quilting, throw it out!  It is that simple!  Again, this is easier to write than to do, but truly, it is just taking up space and maybe taking away your joy in quilting. 

As far as those UFOs that you just dread working on or know that you will never finish yourself (but are in good shape and can be finished), there are several ways to rid of them and stop them from taking up your space or throwing them out.  Believe it or not, there are people that take in orphan blocks, toppers that need to be quilted, or unfinished toppers.  I did a simple google search and found more than 15 individuals/organizations that will take them and turn them into beautiful finished projects.  Another place you may find someone willing to take your “dreads” is in a FaceBook quilting group.  You can also contact your local guild.  Some guilds will take in all of those items and will finish it to donate them to a charity. Lastly, if it is just in need to be quilted and you are a Free Motion Quilter (or even just wanting to learn), I would highly encourage you to use this as a practice quilt!  As there are hundreds of motifs to learn or practice, this seriously could be the perfect practice quilt.  Once quilted, it can be used to spread joy within a charity, a family member, or a friend.

I wish you all happy sorting!  Next week, we will discuss the love/like projects and what to do with those.

Until next time, may you continue to be inspired, productive, and joyful!  And never stop making your dreams in quilting come true!

-Angel 

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