How many old projects have you started, but then they ended up forgotten in a box, your stash, your closet, or under your bed? If you were to ask me, I probably have in the ballpark of around 10 unfinished knitting or crochet projects. That is not counting any of my sewing projects, or the projects that may or may not still be in storage back at my parents’ house back in Minnesota. This is also not counting the projects that I have scrapped altogether because I knew I had lost interest in them and knew that I would never finish them so I repurposed the yarn to something that I WOULD finish (even if I, uh, haven’t… actually… finished them yet).
There are only a couple of projects I am actively working on right now. Some I have stopped working on because I ran out of that color yarn and haven’t found more of it yet (a couple of them I’ve looked for more yarn, but have thus far been unsuccessful).
Why am I bringing this up? Honestly, I have a couple reasons behind it. First off, I would like to free up some knitting needles for new projects (I love starting new projects!). Secondly, I know that this is a common issue for not just knitters and crocheters, but also people who sew, do woodworking, or basically anyone who does anything DIY.
The first thing that is helping me find the motivation to finish my old projects is simply by remembering they exist. I haven’t thought of that one afghan I started ten years ago, but now that I’m thinking of it, it really wouldn’t be that hard to finish it up and show it off. It may be a little smaller that I planned on it being when I started the project, but that’s okay. It’ll be a lot more finished than if I continue to let it sit in storage.
That hat I ran out of yarn on? There may not have been that color in the store last time I went, but looking around online could probably help me find it.
That project that I stopped working on because the gauge was off and wasn’t fitting right? It’s okay. It’s okay to start over and make some adjustments. Lost interest in what that project was supposed to be? Use that fantastic yarn for something that you will find more fantastic. It’s okay.
Don’t let a bunch of old, unfinished projects get you feeling bogged down. If you want to finish it, just do it! If not, it’s okay. You don’t have to finish something if you don’t want to. Just don’t tell yourself that you’ll finish it when you know you won’t. You can use that yarn for something else, free up those needles for another project. It’s okay.
You know that awesome feeling you get when you finish a project? Just think, you are already half way there to that feeling, several times over! You can do it!