I’ve been thinking lately about the above listed terms.
WIP = work in progress, usually something you are currently working on.
UFO = unfinished object, a project you have started, but are not actively working on.
Stash = well, we all know what this is…. but then again….
Sometimes, I think of my precut stash as more UFO than stash. For example, I received this lovely FQ bundle from Daughter #1 for Christmas last year. Since the moment I saw it, I knew I wanted to make something with big blocks from this bundle. Perhaps a Swoon quilt or something like that. In my mind, I had this ear marked for such a project. So it has felt like a UFO.
I recently decided on a block pattern (not Swoon) and cut my pieces out. This kit is now all ready to sew. So, is it a WIP now?
Here’s another example: I listed these layer cakes on my UFO parade, along with this QCR, for the year even though I had not even removed the ribbon. 
Feels like a UFO to me!
I have some great stash and while I am not on a fabric buying diet, I want to intentionally use what I have instead of just collecting it. So I recently created a board on Pinterest of quilts that I want to make soon. I looked through all of my pins, keeping my stash in mind and chose several projects that I wanted to make with fabric I already have on hand. I plan to remove these pins when I finish actually making the quilt. It is a working board rather than an idea board, if you will.
And then I started cutting. These 30s repro prints were cut up to make an hour glass quilt I had pinned.
I cut up the Dear Betty FQ bundle I showed earlier in this post for another traditional pattern I liked. I cut scraps into rectangles that I showed in my Scraptastic Tuesday post. The quilt I showed for Design Wall Monday got cut out at the same time. I had a quilt pinned that I wanted to make and the fabric I wanted to use fit. Now it is in the done column instead of in the someday column.
I think UFOs can weigh us down and having a huge fabric stash apparently does the same for many people. I mean, it is a waste if we never use it! There has been a proliferation of the hashtag #thegreatfabricdestash over on Instagram. I honestly do not feel a need to sell off the fabric I have purchased. Even the old stuff finds a home eventually. But the great joy in owning fabric, is in finding the perfect project for it, not collecting it. At least, not for me. So I am picking out patterns that I have wanted to make and matching these up with fabric that I have. I am taking note if there is something I need to purchase so I don’t go crazy when I do go shopping.
I bought this layer cake at Missouri Star. I picked out a quilt I had pinned that will work well. It is laying on top of a solid Kona from my stash. For the pattern I chose, I want one more solid, maybe a steel blue. I’m adding that to a wishlist I keep on my phone.
I have more matchups to make. I know I want to make a pixel quilt with this bundle of blues. I have to find the right picture to use for it, but when I do, the fabric is ready and earmarked for it.
I bought this bundle in Paducah a few years ago, still looking for the perfect pattern, but even that is progress. I just looked at it and petted it for the last few years!
Same with this Kaffe bundle. Looks like it would make a great wedding quilt, and I will be needing a few of those in the not too distant future.
Charm packs. I love them as much as the next quilter. Such joy in having one of every print in a fabric line! No plans for most of these yet.
A CD tower (remember CDs?) is great for storing charm squares and FQs.
And don’t get me started on layer cakes!
I’m getting over my fear of opening those pretty bundles. There really will always be more. Having projects kitted up and ready to sew really helps me to be productive.
I’m off to sew before work! Have a great day playing in your stash :).
Linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts
