OK, let’s hear about your ‘best’ UFO - (unfinished object).

I started a Nat****y sampler in 1990, just after my daughter was born. Finally completed it in 2005.

Did finish a crochet octopus in lockdown, which I had started in 2014.

BlueBell - like you, I have an unfinished project that’s not craft related. Back in 2011 when we were fitting our boat out to turn it from an empty steel tube into a floating country cottage, one of my jobs was to paint the bedroom. Still not done. Still on the To Do list ?

Just thinking about those lovely part-finished projects getting thrown away. My aunt gave me an unfinished summer dress when she’d got tangled up with the pleats. By then she knew she wouldn’t finish it, or wear it, but I really liked it when I’d completed it and wore it all summer. Maybe charity shops could have a section for ufos so that other people could pick fabric or wool up cheaply, or finish a project? My own ufo is a piece of deep pink silk with a blouse pattern bought at least 30 years ago and still not started! Probably not enough fabric now.

A patchwork blanket. I started it when I was a teenager and didn't finish it. Then I resurrected it when I was pregnant and though I'd make a smaller one for my baby's bed. Easy to finish. Nope. So, it stayed in a bag and followed me around through my many moves. THEN 30 (yes, really) years later, I found it and thought I'd turn it into a blanket for my GRANDCHILD'S bed.

But then I looked at it again, was honest with myself, I was never going to finish it, and threw it away. A 35 year unfinished project.

The Thomas The Tank Engine sweater I was knitting for my young son remains unfinished. He will be 40 next birthday.

Oh so many! The oldest being a large tapestry I bought on honeymoon in 1978. I completed about 3/4 of it and put it aside for whatever reason and it has been 'aside' ever since. I don't even know where it is now. The intention was to make it into a padded headboard.

Then there's the dolls house, partially made then packed away for a house move 14 years ago, and hasn't seen the light of day since. I even made a bespoke fitted kitchen for it, very on trend at the time probably vintage now!

Youngest GD asked me to finish a Unicorn soft toy that she had started while staying with us. I had a go but the instructions are dreadful and didn't make sense. I gave up. Luckily she's forgotten about it.

When mum died in 1985 she left an unfinished toddler sweater. There isn't any wool to finish the sleeve so I've just kept it.

I think I have a passion for knitting and sewing books as they look so beautiful but often get round to making to very little even though I am a quite capable knitter and can crochet and sew!
Mind you I also like looking at cookery and gardening books....

Witzend

Mine was the long black jacket I was knitting for a sister in the US, after she’d looked for similar while here, and had failed to find what she wanted.

I knitted the whole wretched thing - except for the ‘pick up and knit’ band all up one side, round the neck, and down the other.

Tried and tried, just could not manage it - even worse with black yarn, so hard to see the stitches.
Eventually gave up.
Luckily it was relatively cheap acrylic yarn - had to be easily washable since DSis puts just about everything in the tumble drier.

Easiest thing to do is knit the band separately then sew it on.

Tapestry cushion cover, started around 20 years ago. Lovely design (William Morris) and I enjoyed working on it. This post has inspired me to get on with it!

Witzend

The ‘N’ thing is one of these, in case anyone would like to know - pic from my tattered pattern book.
Not at all difficult but obviously very time consuming so if anyone would like to make one, best to start now!
There’s also a donkey in a separate booklet.

I stand in awe!!

I am someone who hates unfinished things so tend not to abandon things. I do have a variety of craft stuff and kits stashed away to start and fully intend to do them! Pre covid I used to go to a local craft group, so that was always good motivation to continue with projects and finish them.
The only as yet unfinished project I have is a large piece of cross stitch awaiting the back stitching to be finished (something I'm not keen on), but I will return to it one day....
However, following on from the suggestion of charity shops having a section for unfinished symphonies, earlier this year I 'rescued' from a charity shop an unfinished piece of Honiton lace on a lace pillow, complete with all the necessary bobbins. I do make various types of lace and am thoroughly enjoying working this piece, a depiction of a Viking ship. I would like to think the originator of the work would be pleased to know it will be finished. I'd also like to think that once I've departed the face of the earth, that others will enjoy doing anything I've run out of time to complete!

Bought the (expensive) wool to make this cushion over a year ago because I fancied the novel idea that you knit with your fingers - it's in the cupboard still unopened.

Silverbridge:
Give it a hot wash (and possibly tumble dry it) to shrink it then make it into a cushion cover.
Any bits left over could be used to make small items - wrist warmers perhaps?

My daughter asked me to make my baby grandson a jumper. I bought the wool that she had chosen and set to but it all went wrong and I lost heart. To save wasting the wool I undid it and knitted him a hat instead - this thread has reminded me that there is lots of the wool left so I will knit him a bigger hat for this winter
Thanks Witzend!!
BTW I would love to have a go at making that loopy cushion elless

I’d forgotten the stashbuster blanket I started many months ago - different length squares/oblongs in strips, to be joined together.
I’d done one and a half long strips before realising that joining all those different random colours was going to be a very messy PITA.

Couldn’t bring myself to bin it all, though, and didn’t think of unravelling to use again. Instead posted it off to the charity the blanket would have been for. They do ask for donations of yarn, so maybe someone else would be happy to unravel and use it. ?

StephLP

Witzend

Mine was the long black jacket I was knitting for a sister in the US, after she’d looked for similar while here, and had failed to find what she wanted.

I knitted the whole wretched thing - except for the ‘pick up and knit’ band all up one side, round the neck, and down the other.

Tried and tried, just could not manage it - even worse with black yarn, so hard to see the stitches.
Eventually gave up.
Luckily it was relatively cheap acrylic yarn - had to be easily washable since DSis puts just about everything in the tumble drier.

Easiest thing to do is knit the band separately then sew it on.

I did think of that, but thought it might look messy. Trying would have been better than binning it though!

I have a few one of which was a Glorafilia needlepoint kit finished 39 years ago. Finally last summer I mitred strips to surround it, attached it to a backing material, and was just waiting to get a cushion pad to fill it. But shops seemed to say shut a long time last summer and I think it went to a charity shop, hopefully for someone else to finish. I think, but not certain, so had another look last night but not found. Also one unfinished pair of socks, and a yellow koala bear. That was knitted up one night with poundshop aran wool. Like the first grey and white koala it may be some time!! It could be a rare breed.
I also once started a hexagonal patchwork quilt in the 80s, pretty Laura Ashley and other fabrics, with the paper linings, but about ten years ago when it finally went to charity shop.

My sister had a photograph of my parents' home transferred to a tapestry and our mother nearly finished it, but for the last 2 years of her life she didn't have the energy. Or maybe her eyesight wasn't up to it.

Eventually we had to throw it out, unfinished. Often it's the making that counts, not the finished work.

I might be able to beat all of you. I started a white lawn pintucked and embroidered christening gown, underslip, bib and bonnet for my pregnant friend 62 years ago.
I still have it half finished and WILL finish it!

Mine is a cardigan I started to knit for DGD 3 to wear on the seaside holiday we’d booked for May 2020! Which, of course, didn’t happen. Then DS (not so D at the moment) and D-I-L decided it would be best to send DGD to live with her mother….after spending 2 years in family courts so DS could get residency. I can’t go into details, sorry. They’ve now cut off all contact and we haven’t seen, nor heard from, DGD since. I just haven’t the heart to finish off the cardi.

leeds22

I’ve got a large box of fabric I’m going to make into dresses and skirts. This post has decided that I better give them to a charity shop. Off to clear out the box now.

If the charity shop aren’t keen, see if there’s a group near you who make clothes for overseas charities. When we lost my aunt, an avid sewer one bedroom room was stocked with fabric. I like sewing but I’d never have used it all. We sold some, but then I noticed a poster inviting people to join a sewing group for an overseas charity. I offered them any fabrics that could be used, and had the added benefit of making new friends.

I started a cat tapestry cushion over 25 years ago. It remains, unfinished, in a cupboard somewhere!

Year 1 high school stated making a blouse, size 28A
Year 3, cut out the pattern and put two darts in the front, now size 32B ???
I can just about sew a button on

My Mum promised to knit me an arran sweater when I was 15. I finaly got it when I was in my late 20's. I tried it, it was to big. Gave it to my brother in law.

Late 2019, I bought some modeling clay, it's never been opened. I also bought some calligraphy pens paper and instruction book Still not opened.

I was quite ill last year and never had the energy or interest for anything. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.