Tips for finishing UFO’s

It’s a new year and a great time to start tackling some UFO’s (unfinished projects). They accumulate for many of us because we can’t resist a new project, which leaves our current project abandoned and unfinished. That definitely describes me; I get distracted by shiny new projects all the time!

UFO’s are like clutter; they can weigh you down and make you feel stressed, guilty, and anxious without even realizing it. So not only do they take up physical space, they gobble up mental space as well.

Today, I’m sharing tips for finishing UFO’s and other ways to get rid of them. I also have a printable UFO list that you can start using right away!

What qualifies as a UFO?

Any project that you’ve started without completely finishing to the last detail can be considered a UFO. It could be a quilt top that needs quilting and binding. Or perhaps you cut out all the fabric but that’s as far as you got. Maybe you just need to add a label or hanging sleeve to a quilt. They all require something to be completed before a final finish is declared.

But what about ongoing projects? These WIP’s (works in progress) such as a class project or a current BOM (block of the month) can turn into a UFO. In my mind, these aren’t considered UFO’s until the finish date has passed. Then they become a thorn that festers.

A few years ago, I added organizing my sewing room to my UFO list. I’m not always good about cleaning up as I go, and this was something I’d been putting off for too long. Once I wrote it down, it became an item to check off the list.

What about projects that you haven’t started yet? Did you purchase a kit that is now collecting dust? Maybe you have a pattern and collected all the material, but haven’t started it yet. These un-started projects could qualify as a UFO when they take up space and become another thing you have to complete “someday”.

Make a list

The first thing is to know what you’re up against. Bring all of your UFO’s out of the closet or box or wherever you’ve been hiding them. Write each one down and make a list. Don’t worry about the order of things at this point. For larger projects, you might want to break it up into several parts. Each part becomes its own task such as assembling the blocks and adding borders, then quilting could be another task, followed by binding. This might make it more manageable, especially if you have a busy schedule.

Making a list is a lot like brainstorming. You’ll find things long forgotten about and make discoveries of unfinished treasures you’re excited to finish. Write them all down!

Edit the list

Just because it’s a UFO doesn’t mean it has to be completed by you. Be honest and ruthless here! If you’ve lost interest or you don’t love the project then it’s time to get rid of it. Put it in a donation pile and let it find a home somewhere else.

Local quilt guilds often accept these types of donations as part of their philanthropy mission. You can also check out this blog post of charities for quilt and fabric donations from Amy at Diary of A Quilter or Ten fantastic places to donate quilting fabric from Feel Good Fibers for more options.

Make a plan

• Be realistic. A long list of UFO’s can be overwhelming. Don’t set yourself up for failure by thinking you can get all (#) projects finished (but hooray for you if you can). Respect your own rhythm and timeline. If you know this is going to be a crazy year in your life, then pick 2-4 projects to work on. The goal is progress, not perfection.
• Schedule time. Set aside a day each week or month to work on UFO’s only. Perhaps a weekend every month dedicated to finishing projects would work for you. You’re more likely to succeed by putting it on the calendar and scheduling time for UFO’s.
• Hold yourself accountable. I find that being held accountable helps me complete a task. With that in mind, you could get together with some quilting friends and encourage each other to complete a UFO every month, quarter, etc. You could even swap tasks with each other. Maybe someone loves to attach bindings and someone else has a longarm and could finish the quilting for you. Be creative and have fun with it as a group!
• Join a UFO Challenge. My original plan was to host a monthly UFO challenge which would definitely keep me accountable. However, there are already several challenges going on, so I’m going to take the easier route and join one of those. Challenges can be a great way to stay on track and keep you inspired. Below is a list of UFO challenges that are currently taking place.

2026 Unfinished Quilt Project Challenge

I’ll be following along with Connie at Free Motion by the River for her 2026 Unfinished Quilt Project Challenge. Connie lists 12 UFO’s and numbers them 1-12. Then each month she picks a number (randomly) and that’s the project she works on for that month. I think that adds a little mystery and excitement to an otherwise dull task each month. There will be a linky party each month with prizes to keep you motivated.

UFO Challenge 2026

Quilting Board Forum is hosting a UFO Challenge for 2026. “Our primary purpose is to encourage each other to complete our pile of UFOs that are taking up space and not creating any more UFOs.” This forum is open to all, but I believe it requires a sign up (free). It’s a great resource for all things quilting, too.

2026 UFO Challenge – A year of finishes

If you use Instagram, you might have seen this year’s UFO challenge hosted by Jandi Dean. This one has a commitment of one project per quarter which may sound more doable to many quilters. You can sign up to follow along and if you share your finishes, you’ll be eligible for prizes.

Other resources

• Check out these tips for completing quilts from the UFO Club at Quilting Daily.
• Tips for Finishing Up Those UFO’s (video) at Fons & Porter’s Love of Quilting.
• Stop stalling, finish your UFO’s now (video) at Just Get It Done Quilts.
• Quilting 101: tackling UFO’s at Threadbare Creations

I hope you’re feeling motivated and inspired to deal with your UFO’s this year. If you start by making a list of all your UFO projects, you will have taken a giant first step! Keep the momentum going and try some of these tips for finishing UFO’s. What do you have to lose?

I’ll be working on item #10 from my list. This is a wall hanging that was meant to be a Christmas gift for my son and his girlfriend. The top is done and I’m ready to quilt and bind it. I’d like to send it to them by the end of this month. I’ll keep you posted!

Thanks for reading, and hears to getting our UFO’s under control!