Sunday, October 3, 2010

October: my Month of Finished Projects

I am the Queen of Unfinished Projects. This is true in every aspect of my life, but it's starting to become a particular problem with crochet. I get an idea, or find a project I'm really excited about, I buy the supplies and dive in, swept up by the possibilities and the rush that comes from feeling your inspiration solidify into something real.

Then, three-quarters of the way through, I get bored. The exciting part is over, and there's a brand-new idea to tantalize me. The pattern can repeat endlessly if I let it.

Obviously, this is not my best quality, so it's something I'm trying to work on. To that end, I've declared October my Month of Finished Projects.

There are two rules: I am not allowed to start anything new. I am not allowed to buy any yarn, hooks, fabric, or other supplies. (I already have plenty for the projects I need to finish.) (These second rule has the added bonus of saving me money, something else I need to work on.)

The projects:
  1.  A pair of cacti for a former co-worker. One is 3/4 done; the other I haven't started. I really should have finished them three weeks ago.
  2. The purple sweater I started in March. All I have left to do is finish the second sleeve and sew it all together.
  3. The silvery-gray shrug I started in the early summer. It just needs a couple more rows and the edging.
  4. The hat I started for my fiance last winter. All it needs are ear flaps and edging.
  5. The striped pillow I started a few weeks ago to coordinate with (and use up leftover yarn from) my granny square afghan.
  6. The ivory triangle scarf I'm currently working on. It's between one-third and one-half of the way done, so of all these projects it will probably take the longest to finish. (I'm using crochet thread, so progress is painfully slow.)
If by some miracle I blow through all of the above before the month is out, there are plenty more unfinished projects I can take on. The rules will apply until 12:01 AM, November 1st.

We'll see how it goes! There's a whole different kind of satisfaction and excitement that comes from seeing a project through to completion (and from finally getting some things out of the Work in Progress basket).