How Many UFOs and WIPs Do I Really Have Going On?
With 2026 just around the corner, I always find myself reflecting on the projects (UFOs and WIPs) scattered throughout my sewing room. This time of year naturally brings a mix of excitement and honesty. I started 2025 strong, making great progress during the first half of the year… and then the second half? Not so much. Life got busy, creativity shifted, and a few projects quietly waited their turn.
So now feels like the perfect time to pause, take stock, and get organized — not in a stressful way, but in a way that feels encouraging and realistic.
To help bring some clarity (and motivation), I like to sort my projects into four simple categories. You might find this helpful for your own sewing space too.
1. Projects That Need Bindings and Labels
These quilts are so close to being finished! The quilting is already complete, and all that remains is adding the binding and a label—the final touches that truly transform a quilt into something ready to be loved. This stage is often quicker than we expect, yet incredibly satisfying. There’s something special about taking a nearly finished project and turning it into a completed quilt you can fold, gift, or proudly display.
These projects are wonderful confidence boosters, especially when motivation feels low. Finishing even one quilt from this pile can spark momentum and remind us just how much we’ve already accomplished. Sometimes, the smallest steps create the biggest sense of progress.
I have three quilts that need bindings, so it’s officially time to finish them up! I didn’t peek yet—but I’m really hoping I was smart enough to tuck the binding fabric in with each one.
2. Projects That Need to Be Quilted
These quilt tops are complete and patiently waiting for their next step—whether that’s longarm quilting, hand quilting, or simply deciding how they’ll be finished. The piecing is done, the design is set, and now the focus shifts from construction to creative decision-making.
Sometimes, the hardest part isn’t the sewing at all—it’s choosing how to quilt them. The right quilting can enhance the design, add texture, and bring the entire piece to life, but making that choice can feel surprisingly overwhelming. These projects often pause here not because they’re neglected, but because they deserve careful, thoughtful attention.
Giving yourself permission to revisit these UFOs and WIPs at your own pace can be incredibly freeing. Even small steps—auditioning thread colors, sketching quilting ideas, or testing a motif—can move them forward and bring them closer to becoming finished quilts ready to be enjoyed.
At the moment, I have ten quilts waiting their turn on the machine, with one currently loaded and ready to be finished. One stitch at a time, progress is happening. I won’t let myself get overwhelmed with the number that needs to be quilted.
3. Projects Where the Quilt Top Still Needs to Be Finished
These are the true works in progress—blocks in various stages of completion, layouts being auditioned, and ideas still taking shape. This is the stage where experimentation thrives and possibilities feel endless. Some blocks may be nearly finished, while others exist only as a vision of fabric and pattern in your mind. It can feel a little messy or chaotic at times, but that’s all part of the creative process.
This is your opportunity to stray from the original pattern and make the quilt truly your own. I often change direction partway through a project—sometimes the pattern just isn’t speaking to me, and I decide to do my own thing. And that’s okay. You need to do you. Mix up colors, adjust the layout, try new techniques, or even improvise blocks. No one is going to call you out for changing the design. Let your creativity shine—every stitch, block, and choice adds your personal style and brings the quilt closer to being uniquely yours.
I currently have six UFOs and WIPs, one of which is the new Block of the Month. I’ll admit it’s very easy for me to start projects, and I really have to stay focused to finish them—but recognizing that is half the battle. One project, one step, one finish at a time.
4. Projects with Materials and Patterns Set Aside
These are the future projects — fabrics pulled, patterns chosen, and ideas waiting patiently for the right moment. Even if they haven’t been started yet, the intention is there, and that counts for a lot. I’ve learned the hard way to keep the pattern with the fabrics. Even when I think I’ll remember which design goes with which fabric, more often than not, I don’t! Keeping everything together not only saves time later, but also keeps the excitement alive when it’s finally time to start sewing.
This stage is full of possibility and anticipation. It’s where your creativity is still free to roam — you can imagine different layouts, try out color combinations in your mind, and dream about how each quilt will come together. Even if the project sits on the shelf for a while, having your fabrics and patterns ready means it’s always just a step away from becoming your next finished quilt.
I have two projects all set aside. The fabrics and directions are bundled together, waiting for the moment I start them!
Categories for the UFOs and WIPs
None of these categories is “good” or “bad.” They’re simply different phases of the creative process. Some projects move quickly, while others need time — and that’s okay. Creativity doesn’t run on a schedule. I find it easier to categorize my UFOs and WIPs – breaking them down into manageable parts. I focus only on the category rather than the whole project.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or inspired to reset for the new year, try sorting your own projects this way. You might be surprised by how much progress you’ve already made.
Looking for Something to Do?
If you are a prolific quilter or one who only works on one project at a time, and you don’t have a project to work on, check out these pages: 2026 Block of the Month or Scrappy Quilt Patterns.
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Until next time.
