Sometimes I even go so far as to yell at St. Jude for help (saint of impossible situations). Dh and I also have said a million times, while we are ploting some adventure, "Oh, that noise! God is laughing at our making plans again!"

I have been in your situation many, many times. Now I try (not always successfully) to put fabrics, pattern, or magazine together in a jumbo zip-lock bag, so when I get back to a project, everything should be there. That went out the window when we moved from a house to an apt., but I'm slowly getting things organized, so I'm definitely doing my best to keep projects together in those bags. Of course, once you find or buy another piece of fabric, the original binding will show up. Murphy's Law.

You are correct - as soon as you buy a new one, the old one will appear. Happens to me a lot.

When I made my First Communion (many moons ago) on the inside cover of the prayer book was a poem I've never forgotten. I use it a lot for lost things now. "If by chance this book should stray, into other hands some day, dear St. Anthony I pray, bring it back without delay.

I bought a few yards of background fabric for a quilt a few months ago. When I wanted to use it, it was nowhere to be found. St. Anthony was no help either! I had to buy more. And I still have not seen that stuff. At least it is a neutral that can be used anywhere when I do find it.

I keep my fabric bought for specific projects and patterns together in a cabinet. The same goes for UFO's; if I have already cut material, made blocks etc, I keep it with the pattern or a note of the name of the pattern in a plastic bag. What I am concerned about is our cross-country move this summer. It is a military move so we have a company come pack and move us. I will have to stay in my sewing room when they pack all that fabric up. I can see those guys taking stuff out of plastic bags because they only need a bit of fabric to fill some corners in a box or separating my stacks of coordinating fabrics :shock:

Seriously, you started the UFO in 1885???? I do believe you have the oldest UFO on the board. FYI: I am looking for a pair of missing seam rippers, both bought new, who ran away together on the same day. Perhaps they are with your quilt top.

When you find it, you'll have the binding all ready for another quilt. I roll up odd bindings and throw them in a drawer/bag. It's like an odd sock, eventually the match shows up.

My problem with UFOs is that I have used some of the fabric for something else. Yes, I should store the whole thing together, but I don't. GRRRR

Been there and done that unfortunately. Got my quilt all cut out and put it away. Then somehow my borders got separated from the pieced top. Hobbled together some fabric odds and end that I had from the original fabric and finished the top. I was pleased but not as happy with it had I had the original borders. Lo and behold, the quilt comes back from the LAQ and as I go to put it up in the closet for binding...there are the borders! Could have split a gasket. Arrgh! Actually, I laughed!