One UFO of mine didn't quite languish for ever, and finally had a VIP outing, It was a dress I made for my own (reg office) wedding - something I'd seen in a Brides magazine. Long sleeves, square neck, Empire line, really pretty print (this was the 70s).
Once I'd virtually finished it, I showed it to my mother, who said it looked like an old fashioned nightie!!!
Of course that put me right off it, so I bought something else - admittedly more flattering, given that I was only about a size 8 then.
Went with dh to live/work in the Middle East - at the time there were hardly any shops and it was often hard to get even basics.
One day someone I didn't know very well came round to ask whether I please had anything she could possibly borrow to wear, since she and her dh were invited to a VVIP do with HM the Sultan and other such bods. She needed long, with long sleeves, and hadn't anything suitable.
I dug out that dress - finished except for the lace (which I had) around the square neck and said she was welcome if it was any use.
She took it, stitched the lace on, and wore it.
I later wore it to a fairly formal evening do (same country) when around 6 months pregnant, so it wasn't entirely wasted.