Do you have alot of unfinished craft projects?
By PearlGrace
@PearlGrace (3171)
United States
November 21, 2008 8:41pm CST
I knit and I've recently decided to try to finish all unfinished projects. First, I had to organize all my knitting supplies and yarns. Then, I had to gather all the projects I've started, they were in separated plastic bags. Finally, I had to select a project and finish it! I couldn't believe how quickly I could finish a project once I put my mind to it. Two days ago, I actually finished 3 projects in one day!
I want to finish all unfinished projects because there are some new patterns out that I'd really like to knit. But I've vowed not to start one more project until I, at least, finish what I've started. The only thing is that I've also purchased alot of extra yarns that I need to find patterns for and "use up."
Do you have alot of unfinished craft projects? How do you handle them? If you don't, share your tips on finishing what you've started.
4 people like this
11 responses
@udischas84 (330)
• United States
22 Nov 08
i do have alot of unfinished craft projects. I work full time and go to school at night so it's hard for me to do alot of crafts due to lack of free time. i recently did a craft show and while i did a good job, i felt like i wanted to put more variety out there. i had some unfinished ceramics and woodwork along with some earrings that i wanted to put out but didn't have enough to make it look like it was part of my show. I vow to work on my stuff more and with school this semester coming to an end, it will give me more time to work on my crafts. I hope it works out for you and hopefully, between my crazy schedule...i'll hit u up and see how things are going with you. :)
3 people like this
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
22 Nov 08
Hi udischas84. Your life sounds very busy. And school and work are certainly higher priorities than crafting, that's for sure. Still, it's great to have hobbies, they really bring peace and serenity to our lives, don't they? Your craft show sounds like it was quite the project! Hope your next one goes even better. Take care and thanks for your comments.
2 people like this
@thebeaddoodler (4262)
• Lubbock, Texas
22 Nov 08
I have so many projects started it's impossible to count them because my craft room is so piles up with unfinished projects. I thought I'd get in there and straighten up some things the other day. I worked about 4 hours all told, and you can't even tell I touched anything.
My problem is that I make hand beaded jewelry and when I get a design in my head, I run grab some beads and start beading it up before I forget it, but I don't finish it because I've got another idea burning a hole in my brain, or it's boring once I get it started and I need a challenge. I guess I should make finishing them the challenge. 
If I could sketch them out it would be better, but I have a hard time working from my sketches.
If I could sketch them out it would be better, but I have a hard time working from my sketches.2 people like this
@thebeaddoodler (4262)
• Lubbock, Texas
22 Nov 08
grrr can't type either. piled up not piles up.
2 people like this
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
23 Nov 08
I like what you are saying that the challenge is to actually finish your craft projects, one at a time. I can't tell you how great it feels. The other day, I finished 3 projects in one day! Just to devote a little time to each is all I needed to do. I was amazed.
I basically had each unfinished project in it's own, separate bag. As I finished one project, I'd go grab another bag and work on that project. I swear, some of them took only 15 or 20 minutes more!
You sound like a very creative person who can sketch and make up beading designs. That is wonderful. I wish you luck. Hope you get caught up on your projects. It's a great feeling, plus, I have plenty of gifts to give for Christmas! Take care.
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
22 Nov 08
I do have a couple that aren't finished.....A snowman that I intend on finishing in the next couple of days as it's for outside....and I just learned how to paint a grapevine on an old window but want to polish my painting skills before I continue with that. So I do have a few that need finishing....but in reality I always have several works in progress.
2 people like this
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
23 Nov 08
Well, 2 or 3 unfinished projects is not bad at all! And those projects sound pretty involved.
My goal is to not have more than 2 incomplete projects going at a time. The beautiful yarns they have these days are just so tempting that it's hard not to buy them! However, for me, it's not a good idea to buy up a bunch of yarn when I don't know what I'm going to do with it. I'm going to try to use up most of what I've got before buying more.
1 person likes this
@ellie333 (21016)
•
22 Nov 08
Hi PearlGrace, I only have two unfinished ones and one is to sew all the squares of crochet together to make into a blanket and the other is to finish making some draught excluders but it will probably be summer by the time I get round to it. I know where it all is as I have a special basket for these jobs but never grab the basket out. As it is getting chillier in the evenings now though I might just dig it out and finish as the blanket will keep my legs warm whilst I am finishing it and once the excluders are finished there won't be so many draughts eh! Huggles. Ellie :D
2 people like this
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
23 Nov 08
It's great that you crochet. I am just now beginning to develop an interest in crochet. I had a fairly large knit project that had several pieces that had to be crocheted around the edge. By the end of completing all that, I realized that I really like crocheting!
Your blanket sounds like it will be quite warm. Hope you get the draft excluders done also. Thanks for responding.
1 person likes this
@dozhou (326)
• United States
23 Nov 08
I don't have any unfinished craft project, but my wife does. She has several projects, but never finish any one of them. I don't know why. She continues to purchase knitting supplies and yarns. I have reminded her several times. She does not care. Maybe in the near future, if we don't have enough space for that, she will consider finish one of them.
2 people like this
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
23 Nov 08
Sorry to hear your wife does not finish her knitting projects. There are many other crafters who do the same thing. For me, I tend to stop working on projects I get tired of, bored with, or don't like the final stages of putting it all together. Even so, I have vowed to knit up all the yarns I have and not to buy yarn for more than 2 projects at a time, once I get "caught up." Hope your wife decides to finish her projects. Take care, dozhou.
1 person likes this
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
23 Nov 08
Hello Couch08. I have decided I will try to knit up all the yarns I have now to make space for a few newer yarns I'd like to try. My goal is to not have more than 2 projects that are unfinished at a time. That way, I won't accumulate an overflow of supplies and forget what I'm supposed to be making with the supplies I got.
1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
4 Dec 08
I do have alot of unfinished craft projects but somehow always find my way back to finish them. It might be a year or more before I get around to it. I knitted an afghan once and wrote down the year I started it and the year I ended it. It took me 10 years but I got it done! It was so long that it would cover half a house but I just kept knitting away. I can only do the basic knitting and make afghans. The last one I finished was all knitted. I thought it looked alot better than knit and purl. Made it for our new grandbaby and our daughter said it was so warm. I primarily do plastic canvas projects. Love to tackle something new and different.
1 person likes this
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
13 Dec 08
Wow, carolbee, that sounds like quite an afghan! I don't take on really big projects anymore. I just don't trust myself to finish them. But I've knitted 3 or 4 afghans in my day. Who knows, I may see the "right" pattern, and start an afghan next week? But I doubt it. Thanks for sharing.
@wondericequeen (7876)
• Hong Kong
26 Nov 08
No not really. Usually when I start a project, I seem to be in a hurry to complete it within a short period of time, because I know if I put it down for more than 1 day, then it will never get completed *laughs*. So, I usually give myself a really short time and ask myself to complete on schedule.
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
26 Nov 08
Good for you. That sounds like a wonderful way to complete all your craft projects right away--set a goal to do it. You sound like an incredibly organized person. That's great. Thanks and take care.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
24 Nov 08
Right now my wrist and finger have side-lined me some. I have two hats and a weaving started. But there are many, many recycling projects I would like to do. One using plastic computer discs 3 1/2. Trying to save my hands for Thanksgiving and resumes for a job. My wrist and finger are starting to hurt now, so this is all I can do for tonight. Signing off. Take care.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
25 Nov 08
I'm mylotting with my left hand today and reading or watching TV. I keep looking at all I have to do and it drives me crazy. Plus only left hand on computer, slower than slow! Better get off before I cream my left hand.
1 person likes this
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
24 Nov 08
Hey writersedge. Sorry to hear your wrist and finger are still hurting you. I hate that. If you're like me, you are busy most of the time and it's hard to just sit and do nothing. Hope that gets better fast. Take care of yourself. And don't forget to pace yourself when you are working on projects. Thanks.
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
24 Nov 08
I have a couple of scarf/hats sets that are close to completion. I also have a couple of trays of polymer clay in various stages... one tray has been painted and now needs to be clear-coated with a glaze, and the other needs images appliqued and then glazed.
I have a few sea glass creations in progress. Some need additional pieces drilled,and the others are waiting for headpins to arrive (seems I either didn't calculate correctly or the package is missing in my large un-organized piles of supplies.
I hoping to finish the polymer pieces this week before Thanksgiving and since we have a 2 hour drive for Turkey-Day dinner, I'm hoping to finish a scarf (maybe even both scarves *she says hopefully*)
1 person likes this
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
25 Nov 08
Hello creationsbyrobin. It sounds like you are doing a good job finishing up on your projects. It's nice that you do more than 1 kind of "crafting," that way , you can switch back and forth between them. Hope you get your scarves done on Turkey Day. Thanks for your response.
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
23 Nov 08
I have a few sitting around. I did fairly well however finishing up most of them a couple weeks ago prior to my craft fair.
I have a quilt to be backed an quilted.
A quilt to finish piecing together
a scarf to knit
a baby blanket to complete knitting (i was working on it watching hockey playoffs but once my team was out i stopped watching therefore stopped knitting it...next year if they make it i'll finish it.)
I think there might be half a pair of slippers to finish.
I finished recently 2 table runners, a baby blanket, several dishs cloths and scarves, a baby quilt and a few other things.
1 person likes this
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
24 Nov 08
Hi saundyl.
It sounds like you have been one industrious crafter! Good for you, finishing all those projects recently. And it doesn't sound like you have too many unfinished ones, just four or five. Thanks for joining in this discussion. Take care.
