It’s hard making time to make.
Often, it seems like our pile of WIPs (Works in Progress) far outweighs our Finished Objects. Unfinished projects linger in closets, project bags, and bins. But taming the beast is possible! Here are our 7 tips to help you finish those knitting WIPs:
7 Tips to Finish Your WIPs
1- List all your projects.
Every. last. one. Go through every closet, shelf and drawer. Pull out every WIP at any stage, even if it’s just a couple of skeins that you have a vague plan for. Use your Knitter’s Planner Project-at-a-Glance pages to list them out one-by-one. This is quite the reality check, but it gives you a very clear picture of what you have already in the works, and helps you to prioritize and plan.
2- Edit out what you’re no longer in love with.
Maybe the yarn color feels dated. Or the intended recipient has changed their style. Perhaps you’ve simply just fallen out of love. You might be surprised with how many projects that you decide aren’t worth more of your precious time. Either frog them to reuse the yarn, or find a friend or local charity that will take them off your hands.
3- Prioritize WIPs.
You can choose whatever criteria works for you to prioritize your WIPs. Maybe you want to get oldest projects done first. Are there any projects that are almost finished- could you have some quick wins by finishing those? Or you could prioritize by the intended recipients… who has a birthday coming up? It’s really up to you. Just to remember that not everything matters equally. Your time is finite, and you should be spending that time on the things that are most important to YOU.
4- Limit new projects.
This one is so hard! I love shiny new things and starting projects is one of my very favorite things to do. I get it! But now that you have a handle on what you want to complete, it’s a good idea to look at your Projects-at-a-Glance page before starting something new.
5- Join a UFO or WIPS completion group.
Many local shops will have groups you can join that help keep you accountable to finishing a specific list of WIPs that you’ve chosen. Sometimes, there’s prizes to be won! If you don’t have a local group, there are several online ones. You can join The Knitter’s Planner Facebook group to connect with like-minded makers who will encourage you along.
6- Make the time to finish things.
There is simply no way around it- if you want to finish projects, you have to set aside time to work on them. Here are some ways to do that:
- Block out 20 or 30 minutes a day
- Set aside an entire day to knit once or twice a month.
- Look into registering for a social knitting event at your local yarn shop if you want to socialize while you sew.
- Put knitting time in your Knitter's Planner calendar or add a reminder to your phone.
- The 10 Minute Rule- When you have a long task ahead of you, make a deal with yourself. You only have to do it for 10 minutes. Once you start and see your progress, you usually just want to work on it a little bit longer.
Once you get a little momentum going, you’ll be surprised at how addicting it can be to advance your projects just one step further. And once you complete a project and get to cross that WIP off your ‘to do’ list, you’ll definitely be looking forward to your next Finished Object!
7- Celebrate your Wins!
Keeping a record of the projects you’ve completed (of course, the Projects-at-a-Glance page is our favorite way!), and looking through it periodically is a really nice way to keep your motivation up. Looking through the projects you’ve already completed gives you HOPE that yes, someday the WIP that’s lingering will be completed. There is light at the end of the creative tunnel. You've got this.
Now let’s all finish some beautiful stuff!
To connect with an amazing group of fellow quilters who love The Knitter’s Planner, join our Facebook group!
Leave a Reply