Finally Finishing Your WIPs: A Crocheter’s Guide to Project Completion
Introduction
Yep….. lets talk about WIPs. We all have them. Many times, we don’t finish them. So lets turn that around this year and get to work.
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WIP Definition
A WIP is a “work in progress”. WIPs often pile up; it’s just part of the crafting and DIY territory. There is always a work in progress for me because I’ll see something else and get completely distracted by it. #IYKYK.
Why This Happens
When we start something new, we are usually optimistic, excited, or happy to try something we have never done before. The sense of excitement can feel like a dopamine rush. (I know that sounds weird to pair that with crochet, but everyone’s levels of excitement are different and that’s OK!) We may not have all of the details ironed out for our project but typically we’ve thought about:
- Do I actually want to do this project?
- How long will this take to complete?
- What supplies do I need to do this?
Unfortunately, during this process we tend to underestimate the amount of time it will take to complete the project, and overestimate how motivated we will feel while working through the project. While working on the project, at some point, the novelty will wear off and it ends up feeling more like boring and repetitive work.
When you’re in the middle of a project, it is not unusual to experience multiple feelings (both positive and negative). You can see how far you’ve come since starting and you can also feel discouraged with how much more you have to do to reach completion. We are hardwired to discover things, but we often get distracted. So these feelings of boredom or frustration when you reach the midpoint of a project are completely normal. When we see something new that we want, it’s hard to refocus on the things that we already have. When you factor in motivation, enthusiasm, etc, starting a project takes less effort than finishing.
So let’s see if we can now turn this around for ourselves! It’s going to take a little bit of effort, but it’s NOT impossible!
The WIP Audit
If you are looking to get your WIPs under control, let’s first take stock of what you currently have in progress.
- Do an HONEST audit! If you have to, pull everything out and lay it on the floor or work surface so you can see what you are working with.
- Decide what projects you are going to keep, which you will donate, and which you will “frog” (to completely pull apart or unravel) and make into something else.
- Think about a more realistic WIP limit for your life. If you are incredibly busy, keeping your limit to 1 or 2 WIPs is perfectly reasonable. If you have more time, instead of starting a new project, work on one you already have going.
I like to track my WIPs in a project planner. You can get one just like this or make your own!
Making Time Work for You
After you have assessed what you have from the WIP Audit, now we need to think about time. Realistically think about how much time you have to work on your projects and WIPs. Is it easier for you to do long periods of work or “micro” sessions? Personally, I like doing long sessions when I am listening to an audiobook, and short sessions any other time. The shorter sessions keep each project “fresh” for me where I get a little excited to work on it again. The longer sessions are usually for when I want to zone out. Other tips that can help with time management around crochet projects (WIPs or otherwise) include:
- Keep the project portable (project bags, stitch markers, progress tracking, etc all help)
- Smaller crochet sessions of 5-10 minute chunks can also help by mixing things up a little
- What times are you most productive in a day?
- See where you can multitask. Can you crochet while watching TV? What about when you are parked and just waiting in the school pickup line? While on public transportation commuting (good for small projects) into work?
Motivation
This is a subject that I think a lot of people struggle with, especially when they lose their excitement in a task. Think about ways to push yourself through the work without making it a torturous experience. Some people like to track the progress of their projects to remind themselves of how much they have done and to see an “end” in sight, literally. You could try a reward system for yourself (just make sure the reward is a positive option for you and not something that will hinder you).
Fatigue can also go along with lack of motivation. Sometimes stepping away from a project is what you really need to do, and that’s OK. You can determine how long you’d like to step away for and if you need more time away from it, then do what is best for you!
No matter what, if you are close to finishing a project, try to do whatever you can to push through. Remind yourself of how much you have already done. Remembering the number of hours you have already spent working in it can help give you the push you need to keep going. If it’s a gift, think about how much the receiver will love this handmade item from you!
RELATED: Crochet As Self Care
Practical Options
Here are some ideas that I have mentioned before but would like to reiterate here that can keep your WIPs going:
- Think about rotating your projects using smaller crafting sessions
- Dedicate time for seasonal projects you enjoy
- Restart an abandoned project by gently assessing what is left and if you truly want to finish it or not. (Be kind to yourself during this process)
- Set realistic and reasonable deadlines for yourself
Summary
No matter how you look at it, WIPs are annoying! It’s like a constant reminder of the things you haven’t finished and having them all over the place can really be discouraging. If you enjoy working on multiple projects at a time, pair these projects up with activities that happen during your day (watching TV, listening to an audio book, etc).
When you do finish a WIP, celebrate yourself and your project! Share it on social media to others who “get it” (online crochet communities etc) or to friends and family who support you in your work/hobby.
Lastly, think about habits that you can adopt to prevent your WIPs from getting out of hand in the future.
How many WIPs do you currently have? How many do you think is reasonable to have going at one time? What strategies work best for you? Let us know in the comments!
Such a helpful post! I like how you broke down the idea of long vs. short sessions—it really makes me think about what fits my own routine best. The tip about crocheting in the pickup line made me smile, that’s such a smart use of time!
Thank you so much for reading! Obviously we can’t crochet and drive but if we’re just sitting there waiting, we can easily work on a granny square or something small 🙂
This is a really helpful post! I love to crochet, but it does get overwhelming when you have a lot of projects on the go. Saving this for later so I can continuously reference it! Thanks for sharing.
You’re very welcome, I’m glad you found it helpful! Thank you for reading 🙂
I’m this way with videos and pictures. I need them for something, but then it gets forgotten.
Don’t feel bad, it happens to the best of us!
Great tips and tricks, I would definitely like to give this a try and teach my kids how to do it.
Thank you for reading my post 🙂 I hope it works well for your kids!
This post is exactly what I needed! I have so many half-finished crochet projects tucked away, and your tips make finishing them feel a lot less overwhelming. I’m inspired to pick one back up and finally see it through. Thanks for the motivation.
You’re very welcome, thanks for reading!