Would you believe that when I began blogging (August 2012), I didn’t know what FMQ stood for-and I had to ask another blogger? How’s that for embarrassing! Just last week I learned what LAQ stands for–Long Arm Quilting. In order to prevent any more embarrassing situations for any of us…I propose we make ONE list…I’ll make a tab for it in my sidebar…
Today, on Open Line Friday…quilting, sewing, and blogging abbreviations and acronyms...
Or if you’d rather talk about embarrassing situations…I think we’re all friends here and up for a LOL!
TTFN,(TaTa For Now)
LCK (any guesses what “C” stands for?)
PS (PostScript)–All tutorials, images and information found here are the property of Lori Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to pin and re-blog with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt. For all other uses, please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com! THX!
126 comments
Chris
Over Christmas one of my sons slept in my workroom and on one of my shelves was a sign with my ufo’s on, he spent along time trying to work out what UFO was knowing I hate sci-fi really made me laugh x
Siz
how about CRAFT,(can’t remember a freaking thing) Will never forget the time someone asked me if I had craft disease. It was one of my employees, I lmho, (laugh my head off). This has been a fun discussion
Lori Kennedy
I am an Expert CRAFTSman–it’s scary at times!
lilquilter
Loved reading everyone’s acronyms – I knew a lot of them already, but some are new to me and hilarious! As to LOL and ROFL, there’s also ROFLMAO (ends with “my a$$ off”). I’ve always referred to my projects languishing in bins (stacks of fabrics with notes for what I plan to do with them) as USOs (UnStarted Objects), before I learned of their real name (HSY), but that reminds me of “hissy-fit” which is what I do when I screw up my FMQ. Which maybe I’ll stop doing after I start practicing Lori’s tutorials! Thanks, Lori! TTYL…
Lori Kennedy
I love USOs–the abbreviation that is. I have a bit of a guilt-complex over how many I have! (USOGC)
Mary Huey
Oh my goodness, Lori — you really hit everyone’s hot button with this one — what a hoot!!
Lori Kennedy
Hilarious–and creative! I guess I was not alone in my misunderstanding of all the abbreviations!
bobbiesews
such a fun read-thanks Lori and all the comment-ers- I’ll be jotting a complete list. It’s just what I needed. Yesterday was spent trying to find a “wonderful” care facility for my Mom.
Lori Kennedy
I thought everyone’s responses were so creative and funny! Who knew there were so many!? Hope you find a nice place for your Mom?
Pamela
Didn’t see BOM listed. I just finished a Block of the Month for a quilt.
Lori Kennedy
Great one! Thanks for adding BOM–one I actually knew!
Kris Jacobson
Fugly
Not exactly an acronym but one of my favorites
Lori Kennedy
We all have a few of those!
julie714Julie Beard
Hi Lori, What “C” stands for can only be Catherine!!!! Your blog makes me smile and laugh. I love it thanks Lori.
Lori Kennedy
Julie, thanks for your guess…
Marta
Another guess… Cassandra…are you going to smile or cringe when someone guesses? Hey Teri, did she swear you to secrecy?
Sara
There’s LMK (let me know), BTDT (been there, done that), and, no offense intended- PITA ( pain in the a_ _).
Lori Kennedy
Those are great!
Kathleen
This is going to be one long list! I think the C stands for Cathleen. Of course that’s not how I spell it 😉
Lori Kennedy
It is a long list…no wonder we’re all a bit confused! Thanks for the guess…
LJ
First time I ever got a lol in an email, I thought it was Lots of Love. Seemed to fit in nicely but so did Lots of Laughs!!! How about Catherine?
Lori Kennedy
Good guess…I’ll tell you on Monday…
quiddityrox
c if for caroline…like in caroline kennedy??
Lori Kennedy
That does sound good…thanks for the guess…wait and see…
Val Jones-Hughes
What a great read. Re Mary Z’s post I have SABLE but continue to FART. I have so many PhDs I must be a genius. At least one of them is in WOMBAT. The UFOs are whizzing over this Welsh coast town as I write.
Lori Kennedy
HILARIOUS! Thanks for sharing! More than a few UFOs flying around Minnesota as well!
Mary Z.
This has been fun! Cannot wait to see the completed list – – a whole new language for our families to learn!
Teri
I just read them all again and LOL again. Read them to my husband and son who also LOL. Since my knitting did not work out, I am happy that I always bring more than one, usually 3 or4, road trip projects on vacation. Maybe that should have an acronym. RTP’s?
Lori Kennedy
Love your new abbreviations, Teri! ( I usually pack my RTPs before I pack my clothes!)
Barb E., highlands Ranch, CO
C = Corina??
Lori Kennedy
Nice guess…the big reveal is on Monday!
Barb E., highlands Ranch, CO
OBW—One Block Wonder
Lori Kennedy
Great! sorta like a One Hit Wonder?
Deonn @ Quiltscapes
I was going to suggest the same link Jean posted. Instead, I’ll tell a little story:
It started out as a WHIMM (Work Hidden In My Mind).
After a FART (Fabric Acquisition Road Trip) and
some SEX (Stash Enhancing eXcursions),
it became a PIG (Project In a Grocery sack).
The PIG became a HSY (pronounced hissy….means Haven’t Started Yet).
Once I had a HSY fit and began work, it became a WIP (Work In Progress).
The WIP became a UFO (Unfulfilled Opportunity? …I like that better than
“Unfinished Object” which sounds so negative!) as soon as some other project grabbed and held my attention more than the WIP I was just working on (QADD = Quilter’s Attention Deficit Disorder).
Is it a disease? Yes.
Is there a cure? Yes. Quilting with friends!
Patti
your project is now a FIFI ..find it , finish it
Deonn @ Quiltscapes
a FIFI? LOL!
Lori Kennedy
Love FIFI! and the finding part is no small achievement–my sewing room’s a mess these days!
Lori Kennedy
QWFF (Quilting with friends forever!) LOOOVE your list!
caitriona
Caroline?
Loving these. The only one I haven’t seen is UFO. Unfinished Object.
Lori Kennedy
Nice guess…and LCK has ###UFOs
Jean Garces
Here you go Lori– a list already done for you. I’m sure QuiltE would not mind you posting it here!
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/quilters-dictionary-acronyms-consolidation-previous-posts-t178507.html
Lori Kennedy
Thank you Jean!
Teri
I am laughing. You are all so funny. I am Lori’s sister. One of our ther sisters knits like Lori quilts. She started me on an “easy” knitting pattern I could take in vacation. Uses 4 skeins of yarn at once so to keep them from rolling around the cabin, I have had them in a paper grocery bag which I now know is a PIGS. I almost finished and can now see that my slipper would only fit a round foot. LOL. It is now a TOAD, trashed object in discust another abbreviation I had not heard until today. With all these funny abbreviations I can laugh about my failed “slipper”. I am going back to the hand quilting project I brought, English paper piecing. Thanks for the laughs.
Ness
HI TERI!!! we are glad to meet you too!! LOL…these replies are hysterical!
Helen
Has to be Catherine.
Lori Kennedy
maybe? maybe not?
Kay Curl
Our local quilting bee takes frequent road trips, since we like to check out new quilt shops. We refer to these outings as (giggle) FARTS: Fabric Acquisition Road Trips!
Lori Kennedy
Hysterical!
Jan
LCK in texting means luck. It also stands for lock as in lock (lck) stitch. OK, I’m not that smart…I googled it 🙂
Lori Kennedy
Sounds like something you’d find in a fortune cookie! LCK
Laura M
I don’t have any more to add, but am also sitting here giggling away! Our quilt guild used the SEX ones on buttons at our last craft show, they went like hotcakes!
IMHO -in my humble opinion-, there thought of one. I work at a hospital and we are also notorious for acronyms, the ones we use in the lab are different than the ones the nurses use so it can get quite confusing. I also volunteer in the prison system and have learned a few choice ones there LOL.
I’m thinking the C is for Catherine.
Pat
Very funny and enlightening!! Here in the hospital, the computer on wheels naturally had the acronym of COW…that is until a visitor overhead a staff member asking “where is the COW?” and the visitor was highly offended… 🙂
Lori Kennedy
Yikes…so much for customer service! Did she believe you when you told her?
bobbiesews
so funny, I’m loving these-most all new to me
Lori Kennedy
I am surprised at how few I knew, too!
Sheila
My guess is Catherine.
Lori Kennedy
Maybe?
Janet O.
NESY–not started yet
OBW–one block wonder
SEX–stash enhancement expedition
VIP–very important project
WIWMI–wish it would make itself
WWIT–what was I thinking
WISP–work in slow progress
Saw these on another blog a while back.
Can’t wait to see the master list here!
Lori Kennedy
Great list!
Mindy Johnston
I have s feeling most of my STASH is SABLE! NETTQ ( not enough time to quilt)!
Lori Kennedy
We could create an entire language that no one else would understand…never mind…no one seems to understand us anyway!
Darlene
Great idea! Going to add all these to the front of my Quilt Notebook.
Lori Kennedy
Great idea! I will have to borrow that one!
Ness
I am guessing Catherine…
In the mean time I’m rolling laughing at these…hysterical! Is as good as that commercial with the two older actors saying outloud teenager texts. So funny! Totes ma goats…cray cray! LOL!
Lori Kennedy
Those are my daughter’s three favorites!
Brenda
and then there is the blog lingo like QAL(quilt along) which is even more confusing when paired with other acronyms like QAYG to make QAYGQAL.
Suzanna
My guess is that Lori’s C is for Cindy or Catherine.
And Marta, you’re thinking of a BSR – Bernina Stitch Regulator. They’re $500 attachments for pre-equipped Bernina sewing machines and they’re supposed to make your stitches an even length when you FMQ. Not everyone’s a fan.
Lori Kennedy
Thanks, Suzanna for explaining BSR…
Nice guesses…see Monday’s post (4/7)
Marta
Yes, that is it…Some fellow guild members have them on their non-Bernina machines….added later. Uniform stitch length is problem I have.. …mine look like a buttonhole stitch..LOL…There is no regulator made for my Viking Emerald. 🙁 So more practice is goal. Thanks…
Lori Kennedy
Marta, Don’t fret…many of us with Berninas don’t use them anyway…you can do it without!
Marta
thanks… will press on…:)
Mary C.
A list of quilty acronyms would be a great reference tool.
My older brother was in the army in the 70’s…he sent my mom a letter asking her to send some things he needed ASAP. She gathered the items, packed the box and went to the post office and asked how much it would cost to send to him ASAP. She thought it was a postal rate. I believe she was quite embarrassed, and we did tease her for some time, but Mom’s a good sport 🙂
Lori Kennedy
Sounds like something I would do! Then pay the man the extra shipping to overnight it!
Hazel
I left out something earlier on my post re initials that left the story incomplete. In the Army the papers asked for first name, which was H.D. The Army listed that as H only D only, therefore his buddies called him Honly Donly.
Lori Kennedy
That is hilarious!
rosemarazzle
HaHa. I know military folks are a fun bunch. We used to live further east in Virginia in a neighborhood called Lake Ridge Virginia. It was75% military. Some of the best years we had living there.
Lori
One of my favorites, and fairly new, is SOB — Slap On Borders. So, if your quilt isn’t quite as big as you’d like it to be, just S.O.B.!!! ha ha ha
Lori Kennedy
Ugh! too funny!
rosemarazzle
I like that one! Slap on borders, yeah
Pat Meinecke
Marta, I think BSR is Bernina Stitch Regulator. Just figured it out–for what its worth.
Marta
I had been wondering since January… thank you..
rosemarazzle
Rosemary B here:
Barb M has some good ones!
I live in Northern Virgina (35 Miles west of the cesspool) and hubbs and our youngest daughter and her newly married to hubby, work for the US Govt. They use acromyns
all day and when they are here, it is DISA this and POA&M, DIA that, OSD, on and on. I never ask what they mean. Many I already know, of course. Haha
I am learning all of the new acronyms for sewing and I really enjoy the technical ones.
I have been sharing my terminology with any one that will listen, daughters and my 90 year old mom, who has done every kind of sewing and hand work except quilting.
I tell her this is probably much easier than making lace, or hours and hours of needlework making actual size copies of paintings by Rembrandt.
The most recent ones I learned are HST and QST
have a lovely Friday and week-end
rosemarazzle
Oh, and the C stands for Christine?
Carol Stearnsc
I’m retired AF and in military speak, whenever you write a letter to someone or a report, etc. you first spell out the name, and then use the acronym after that. Example. I love free motion quilting (FMQ) and could spend all day doing it. Then from now on, I just refer to FMQ and everyone understands. Of course, you have to do this everytime you write a note, letter, memo, or report. Its just military rules but people aren’t wondering about what it is.
Doreen
On my blog that is the general rule I follow…the first time I write the acronym I explain in parenthesis after that, well…………… It’s courtesy to those who have taken the time to read my writings.
Lori Kennedy
Sounds like good advice. I definitely need to be more careful!
Mary Z.
FQ Fat Quarter
MAQ Mid arm quilter
UFO Unfinished object
WIP Work in progress
SID Stitch in ditch
PP Paper piecing
QAYG Quilt as you go
SABLE Stash Accumulated Beyond Life Expectancy!
DSM Domestic Sewing Machine
WOMBAT Waste of Money, Batting and Time
FART Fabric Acquisition Road Trip
PhD Projects half done
Not sure all of these are true acronyms, but I saw them in a column on someone’s blog one day and got a kick out of them! Love opening my email everyday to see what you have on the agenda for the day.
Lori Kennedy
Great list, Mary! Thanks for taking the time to type it! Love SABLE–sad, but true!
Vivian
I’d add:
HSY (pronounced “Hussy”): Haven’t started Yet
PIGS: Project in a Grocery Sack
WHIMMS: Works Hidden In My Mind (you know those great projects yet to see the light of day or have a designated stash)
With due thanks to Nancy Goldsworthy author of the “Quilter’s Guide To UFOs” for those!
Lori Kennedy
Those a great, Vivian. Thanks for sharing!
Ann
Hahahaha….love SABLE. Hadn’t heard that one.
Gail Mullan
I’m new, what is FMQ?
Karen Holt
Maybe it’s BSR, Bernina Stitch Regulator
Lori Kennedy
Thanks, Karen!
Marta
Hmmm… how about Lori Cora….:) …..seriously, Cecelia? ( I had a great aunt named Cora,)
Lori Kennedy
Lori Cora is a bit of a “mouthful”…but good guess…
Marta
That’s it! Thank you!…
Gail Mullan
Never mind, just realized it’s free motion quilting. I feel stupid!
Marta
Not stupid… just a newbie..:) . like me too! There is one used on the Jaunt, I still can’t figure out…. BRM or something like that. People ask Lori if she uses one and she says nope..
Barb M
C? Don’t have a clue!
COWS-cream on white
BOB Black on Black, or beige on beige
TOT tone on tone
WOW Whit on white
Wombat Waste of money, batting ,time
TOAD Trashed object abandoned in disgust
401F Fabric for retirement
401P Patterns for reitrement
401B Books for retirement
STASH Special treasures all secretly hidden
PHD Project half done
TGIF Thank Goodness its finished!
😉
PT in SC
Thank goodness my 401’s are fully funded and I’m ready for quilting retirement. But before that, I’ve got to purge some TOADs. Thanks for making my day!
Lori Kennedy
Very funny–BTW, my 401s are fully funded as well, but I like to keep saving…how ’bout you?
Deonn @ Quiltscapes
Haha, these are great, Barb! (I can’t quite make myself do the LOL thing yet)
Lori Kennedy
My daughters now just say “lols”..like it’s a one syllable word!
Vivian
On Nancy’s blog (Blogging Near Philadelphia) she always uses the term COW to mean “Cranky Old Woman” which is what I am when a project is not going well!
Lori Kennedy
Harsh! I’ve been there more than a few times…including the time I stitched through my finger–I was definitely a COW-and then I stitched through my hoof!
Hazel
Southerners sometimes use initials for first names. This particular Private’s name was H.D. His buddies called him Honely Donely! Thanks for clarifying BFF.,, I was wondering.
Teri powers
I thought LOL was lots of love for the longest time until my kids corrected me! Took me a while to figure out LQS was local quilt shop.
Judy Johnson
In my day, LOL was in fact, Lots of Love. I guess it changed through the years. My kids also corrected me. (while LOL I might add) : )
Lori Kennedy
Those youngsters think they’ve invented everything! LOL!
sillyandrea
DD, DS, DH are dear daughter, dear son and dear husband. Or Darn husband, depending.
NSFW is not safe for work
ROFL is rolling on the floor laughing, when a LOL is not enough.
BFF – best friend forever
Lori Kennedy
I love those! ROFL is MY new favorite!
sillyandrea
Some other internet ones:
TIL – today I learned
AFAIC – as far as I’m concerned
WYSIWIG – what you see if what you get
TL;DR – too long; didn’t read (usually used sarcastically, to tell someone they are droning on and on)
ISWYDT – I see what you did there
TWSS – that’s what she said (from The Office)
BRB – be right back (often used in chats)
YMMV – your mileage may vary (when giving out advice)
Lori Kennedy
Hilarious! Love TL;DR–I try to be mindful here…YMMV, too!
Will definitely add these to the list!
Judy
Lori….I discovered your blog about a month ago so I do not feel like I am one of “the family” yet….but I have to tell you that your posts on FMQ are delightful, thorough, intricate and SDH (so damn helpful). I am so happy for you regarding your new venture with American Quilter….MY LINE WITH LORI KENNEDY….How cool is that?! Congrats and WTG (way to go)
Lori Kennedy
Judy, You’ve always been family…you just didn’t know you’re way home! Glad you finally caught up with us! Thanks for your kind words…and chime in anytime–the more the merrier is my motto!
Inge C.
Cherie?
A new to me abbreviation I just saw: PIG = Project In Grocery bag 🙂
Have a nice Friday everyone
duff
WOF-width of fabric
RST- right-sides together
HST- half-square triangles
QST -quarter-square triangles
Your middle initial C–hmmm….Colleen?
Liz Blois
What could the C stand for….creative wizard, challenge giver, collector of fabric, cushion maker, caring blogger!!! Obviously its not really any of these unless your parents were very prophetic. My son is in the Army and his life is full of abreviations, they even have an abreviation for them, TLAs (three letter abreviations). I think one of the funniest quilting abreviations I’ve seen is PIGS (projects in grocery sacks) for all those half done quilts that we bundle away under beds and in the back of cupboards.
Lori Kennedy
You’re so kind! Would you consider being my agent? Love PIGS–new to me!
Betsy
C for Celeste?
As far as abbreviations go, I spent a long time trying to find out what CCs were . . .
Lori Kennedy
Nice guess…even worse than cc is bcc!
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