Taming Your Quilting UFOs: Tips to Finally Finish Those Unfinished Objects

Taming Your Quilting UFOs: Tips to Finally Finish Those Unfinished Objects

For every quilter who has a stack of "someday" projects hiding in their sewing room…

We've all been there. You start a quilt with the best of intentions — the fabric is gorgeous, the pattern is exciting, and you're absolutely certain this one will be different. Fast forward six months (or six years), and that project is tucked in a bin, quietly judging you from the corner of your sewing room. Welcome to the world of Quilting UFOs — Unfinished Objects — and you are definitely not alone.

What Exactly Is a UFO?

In the quilting world, a UFO is any project that's been started but not completed. It could be a stack of cut fabric waiting to be sewn, a quilt top that needs backing and quilting, or a half-assembled block set that lost its momentum. UFOs are a universal quilter experience — even the most prolific quilters have them!

Why Do UFOs Happen?

UFOs are born for all kinds of reasons:

  • A new fabric collection arrives and steals your attention (we completely understand this one 😉)
  • The pattern turns out to be more complex than expected
  • Life gets busy and the project gets set aside "just for now"
  • You fall out of love with the colour palette mid-project
  • You're waiting for the perfect backing fabric

Strategies to Tackle Your UFO Pile

1. Take Inventory

Pull everything out and make a list. Knowing exactly what you have — and what stage each project is at — is the first step. You might be surprised to find some are closer to done than you thought!

2. Sort by Effort

Categorize your UFOs by how much work is left: quick finishes (just needs binding), medium effort (needs quilting), and long-haul projects (still in the cutting stage). Start with a quick finish for an instant confidence boost.

3. Set a UFO Challenge

Many quilters love a structured UFO challenge — commit to finishing one UFO per month, or join an online group for accountability. There's something motivating about a deadline and a community cheering you on.

4. Give It a Fresh Perspective

Sometimes a UFO stalls because you've lost the vision. Pull it out, press the pieces, and look at it with fresh eyes. A new backing fabric or a different quilting design might be all it needs to spark your excitement again.

5. Give Yourself Permission to Let Go

Not every UFO deserves to be finished. If a project truly no longer brings you joy, it's okay to repurpose the fabric into something new — or donate it to a local quilting guild. Freeing up that mental (and physical) space can be incredibly liberating.

Make UFO Season a Ritual

Consider dedicating a season each year — many quilters love January or the slower summer months — to UFO finishing. Set up your sewing space, brew a big pot of tea, and give those forgotten projects the love they deserve.

Shop the Fabrics That Started It All

Sometimes a UFO just needs the right finishing touch — a coordinating backing, a fresh binding fabric, or a new sashing to tie it all together. Browse our latest collections at Sew Obsessed and find exactly what your project has been waiting for.

Do you have a UFO pile? We'd love to hear about it — drop a comment below or tag us on Instagram! Every finished quilt started as someone's UFO.

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