All Quilter’s know that UFO’s have nothing to do with outer space aliens.  In a Quilter’s world, UFO stands for UnFinished Object.  We also have PIGs (Projects in Grocery Sacks) and my personal favorite, PHDs (Projects Half Done.)  So much nicer to be able to say, “I’m working on my PHD” when we head to the sewing room, don’t you think?

So today I’m sharing a few of my UFOs, PIGs and PHDs.  Mind you, this is definitely not an all-inclusive list!  Every time I clean and organize my sewing room I find new treasures that have been hiding and it’s like Christmas all over again.  And I’ve only been quilting for 12 years.  Remember how I told you that quilting takes over your home and your life?  This is just one example of how that works.

This UFO is nearly finished.  It could affectionately be called a “finished object” at this point because it is a finished quilt top.  You can rationalize with various degrees of finished when you are a Quilter.  (We are all about rationalizing as much as possible in the quilting world.)  It still, however, needs to be quilted and bound before it could be called a finished quilt.  And some would say it isn’t finished until the label is on – but that’s a whole ‘nother story, right Judy R?  For those who might be interested, this pattern came from a book called Scrap Basket Surprises, which, at the shop where I work, we affectionately call The Book.  That’s because we have sold about a gazillion copies of it, more than any other in the history of the shop!  It has many really cool patterns in it.  I wish I’d written that book!

This little UFO is just a preprinted panel to which I added some borders for last July’s Christmas in July at the shop.  Yes, that’s July 2009.  I know, I know…. it’s almost time for Christmas in July 2010!   (That would be July 19-24 at Quilter’s Dream in Colleyville, Texas.  Come on by if you’re in the area!  Free patterns, refreshments and a nice sale too!)  Anyway, this little quilt also needs only quilting and binding to be called done.

This little treasure is a UFO that may be a UFO for many years to come.  I’m piecing these little diamonds all by hand and originally was just going to make a small wall piece.  But I love the pattern so much that I want it to get bigger.  I’m using a technique called Inklingo to do this and if you don’t know about it, you need to go the Linda Franz’ website and check it out!  It is a really cool technique that works for hand OR machine piecing and if you try it, you’re going to want to use it for everything you make!  It’s really cool.  Check it out!  You won’t be disappointed. 

This project was started back in 19xx.  It only needs borders to be a finished top.  Of course then it needs quilting and binding and a label.  But you get the picture by now.

Aren’t these stars cute?  I love this pattern.  I believe it came from an old Fons & Porter book.

This is a cute little table runner that only needs quilting and binding.  I think last year I used it on the table on top of another quilt so you couldn’t tell without looking closely that it wasn’t finished.  We Quilters are very creative that way.  And I’m sure you’re seeing the pattern here without further explanation needed.

This project could most certainly be called a PIGs and not really a PHD (see above.)  It almost isn’t even that as there is nothing in a sack for this one.  I’m just pulling leftover black and white and bright fabrics as I find them in my stash.  I’m sure it will require more purchases in the future.  It was started in a class with Ami Simms (that’s her pattern) in January (I think) at my guild.  I enjoyed the construction of these blocks and definitely want to make a whole quilt with the pattern one day.  Just as soon as I finish the 999 other things I’ve already started……sigh…..

But look!  Look at what a teeny, tiny, little pile those 7 projects make on the end of the ironing board!  Oh, but not to forget Janna’s T-shirt quilt (#8) on the design wall in the background.  She’s probably going to want that one finished before the year 2020.  And if I looked through some drawers and pulled out more UFOs, I’d have enough to keep me busy until 2025 at least.  But who’s counting?  It’s the life of a Quilter.  It’s just what we do.  At least most of us do.  I actually have some friends who finish one thing before they start another.  Horrors!  How can they work that way?  Sounds very boring to me.  There’s always at least one rebel in every group, right?

And don’t even ask about this pile…… again all UFO’s that need to be finished.  But at least these are really, really close.

And the piles live on…….

Hugs,
Barb