For me, if the UFO’s are more or less corralled then I feel as if I am keeping the forces of chaos away from my door.
Deciding what constitutes a UFO instead of a “project on hiatus” what you store with it, and where that all goes can be a complex process, different for each stitcher.
Here’s how I do it and along the way you might find some tips to help you organize.
I would love to be one of those organized people who keep things neat and only work on a project or so at once. But I’m not and never will be, so this at least keeps me somewhat in control.
Triage
Deciding what kind of UFO a project is makes a HUGE first step to getting organized. When you go to the emergency room they call this triage, we can apply the same idea of quick classification to our needlepoint.
There are three kinds of UFO’s:
- Projects currently being worked on
- UFO’s you’ll get to soon
- UFO’s you’ll egt to “someday,” or projects on hiatus
I’ll talk about each one in turn and how I store them.
Current Rotation
I am never without several projects going on at the same time. And my current projects range from models for classes, new projects for the needlepoint clubs, projects that will be used on the blog, gifts, stitch guide projects, new designs, and Sunday stitching (stitching for me).
Each of these projects lives in a project bag and sits somewhere around the house. I know when there are too many of these and I need to clean up when my DH complains about needlepoint being “everywhere.”
As soon as something is done, it goes to my office with the threads, gets taken off the stretcher bars and the project bag gets used for the next thing. Sometimes I have used a basket to keep these together but at the moment they are just piled around.
I like having these in bags, then I just pick one up to go someplace. I’m happiest if there are only five of these floating around. Right now I think I have six, so I need to get one done and none are very close.
UFO’s
These are projects that aren’t currently in the rotation but will be as soon as a space opens up. I used to keep them in piles in the office, but now I have them put in a tote I’m not using next to my desk.
These pieces are on stretcher bars and in project bags. To start work on them I just need to add needles and scissors and go.
Projects on Hiatus
A project on hiatus is one I intend to finish but has no deadline or compelling reason to be completed. If I have taken a class and learned what I needed to from it, I’ll take it out of hiatus and donate it or give it away. So every project here is one I plan to do. This is one of those parts of my stash I go through about every six months to be sure I haven’t changed my mind about any of these projects.
These live in the same dresser drawer as the large unstitched canvases. Mostly they are in plastic bags although some are in project bags. Usually, but not always, if something goes into this pile, I take it off the stretcher bars.
In theory if I take something from my UFO bag, I take one of these projects and put it in. But usually, I’m afraid, a new UFO has intervened.
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
Joyce Shannon says
I’m using a large suitcase to hold those on hiatus projects. Now my suitcases are actually being put to use.
Janet Perry says
I like this idea. My suitcases are nothing more than cat scratching posts.
Keep Stitching,
Janet
Marlene says
Hi Jqnet,
Like you and every other avid needleworker, I have my own stash of WIs, UFOs and projects or kits that are waiting to be started.
I have reduced a bit of my stash by donating unstarted kits and canvases to a local senior center for their fundraiser. Was tickled when a friend showed me two canvases she bought at the sale. They were previously mine!!! Had I known she was interested in needlepointing, I would have set them aside for her.
What can we do with partly finished needlepoint projects complete with the yarn/threads, instructions and needles that no longer appeal to us? The only destinations I could think of might possibly be a nursing home, a charity or thrift shop or a homeless shelter. Also thought of offering a kit free for pickup on Craig’s list. If I belonged to a needlework club, I could possibly see a “old clothes day” in which each member brings in 1-2 unfinished, no longer loved projects and sees whether they might appeal to other members. Any thoughts?
Happy stitching.
Marlene
Janet Perry says
I’ll do a blog post about what to do on Tuesday.
Great suggestion!
Keep Stitching,
Janet