or rather, on being monogam-ish with making stuff.
A short while ago, I was really excited about the results of religiously practicing project monogamy–working on just one thing at a time–with this blanket. And I even made similar headway with that red and white blanket-in-progress until the sewing machine recaptured my heart and I decided to devote my time to those 28 bee blocks and that simple quilt.
The past few weeks are the perfect illustration of my usual easily-distractable crafty nature. Once deep into a big project, shiny new ideas or just any other project will lure me away. Lacking discipline in this arena leads to the embarrassingly large number of works-in-progress on my list.
Folks, there is a ton of yarn and fabric in the house and even more on the way here. So it’s time to buckle down and get some stuff finished! I shall allow myself to work on two things at a time and only start new things if they have immediate deadlines. This is monogam-ish because it’s not just one project on deck, but should show greater output than when my attention is divided between more than thirty things at once.
What’s in the current rotation?
This blanket is close to almost being close to done. Heh. Just 22 or so more blocks and a nice kinda fancy border to go.
This quilt top got the monogam-ish treatment last week and now just needs the binding handsewn to the back.
Many of my works-in-progress are at least half-done and it’s always a shock to see how little is left to do. Let’s see what can be achieved with just a little discipline. Shall we?
at first i thought i was pretty monogamish with my projects but i’ve got 3 blankets, 1 pair of socks, a mini quilt, to finish and a few things waiting in the wings to get started. so yeah i get it now.
Damn – I should take a lesson….it really isn’t helpful to have so many things going at once. Yes, let us see what we can achieve with some discipline……Here’s to Monday!! ;)
Good luck! That’s the way I do it too. Too many WIP’s make me nervous.
discipline. I don’t even know that word. unfortunately. yeah, always easy to jump into another fun project when you hit the slow going on your current one. I have several quilts done that just need to be bound. sigh. not nearly as much fun as starting anew.
Do you think our minds wander to new projects because this process, the making of things, is our meditation? I know that when I’m working on something I get a lot of ideas for the next great project and it’s not because I’m bored with what I’m working on at all.
Looking forward to seeing the finished projects, especially that quilt top. I have stalled again on mine, I need to cut blocks. I too can be distracted by finding new projects, I usually don’t get around to starting them… sometimes just buying materials for them is enough of a fix for me. So I guess that’s good. One day I hope to have the space to organize enough to really have a project system. Until then it will just have to be part of the chaotic crafty clutter..
Happy Monday
Anna
http://www.akginspiration.com
Schmiscipline! But I know what you mean. Feels good to get stuff done.
I’m with you! I am desperate to cast on my June sock (and actually have to before the month is up per KAL rules), but must soldier on with the May sock that never seems to end.
So close! I find I tend to abandon projects when there is just a bit left also – I think (for me) it’s in order to avoid the inevitable finality of the project, I don’t want it to be done! I have a sweater that needs shoulders sewn up, a shawl with 8 rows left, a skirt that just needs hemming…….
Trust me, I know a lot can be achieved with just a little discipline. Goooo Cauchy!!
I know exactly what you are talking about right about now. Drives me crazy! Why do we do this to ourselves? :)
I have been working on this too. I have one knitting project going and am working on sewing projects one at a time until they are finished. I have some custom projects thrown in that have to interrupt the flow at times but it seems to be working fairly well. I just haven’t had much time the last few weeks to work on anything.
Hello summer break!!!
Yup, monogamish-ism is totally the way to go. I try to limit myself to one project per craft at a time (knitting and sewing, in my case), and I rotate between the two. Sometimes I feel silly imposing any kind of strict structure on what I do for fun, but it really does help me Get Stuff Done.
ps: that quilt top? Dude! Holy freaking crap.
I have been feeling this way, too. I try to make a weekend list of priorities, so that I can keep my focus on what needs to be finished. Of course, then, it doesn’t always keep me on track (like this weekend, when I made new market bags instead of finishing a quilt top). Monogam-ish sounds like a great approach!
Trying to do the same at my place. It’s not ever been my forte, but with a comfort shawl in desperate need, perhaps I can focus a bit? (I so love that crocheted blanket of yours! and the quilt – sigh…lovely!)
I will never be a one-project woman. Never. In fact I’m at a kind of a loss right now because I only have two knitting projects on needles at the moment (and one I just started but am thinking of ripping out and restarting) it’s like I’m in the knitting doldrums and that is NO PLACE TO BE. Project bigamy ensues against this.
Great idea. I need to do it too!
Good luck.
Oh, how I know this routine. All the best intentions to start, work and finish! It is a hard road to travel… so many evil temptations along the way. Going through my knit stash this weekend, I discovered so many favorite projects that have been stranded along the way. My response? I dropped my current project and picked up an old one in an attempt to finish. Is that therapy or just more of the same?
I never thought of it as being monogramous. I love it! I guess I am a fabric/yarn slut! do they make t-shirts?
Good luck to you! I am in the same situation, but when I sat down to sew yesterday, all I could think of was “What’s new?” Hey, when you ignore your WIP list for long enough, the projects seem new when you come back to them… sometimes. Your blanket and quilt both look lovely!
That quilt is beautiful!! As per this post, I must be “easy” in the crafty sense cause there ain’t no crafty monogamy happening at my house.
I love both of these, I can’t wait to see them finished. I need some discipline as well. My hope valley string quilt binding is 1/2 done, but I’ve lost the motivation.
Doubt it will make you feel any better, but sadly, my WIP list is longer. I’ve been trying to be more monogamous with my projects, too, but it is so HARD! Of course, if I would stop joining bees and things and stop brining embarrassingly large stacks of new fabric in the house it would be a bit easier. I’m struggling against the siren call of a new project right now! Can I hold fast? No promises!
Please take comfort in the fact that I haven’t finished my stripey cardigan yet. the granny square blanket is still lying around AND I went and started a hexagon blanket to boot too! I also have gathered a large collection of men’s checked shirts that I want to cut up and make into a quilt at some point too. I’m so a craft slut!!! ;)
I am guilty of being a dandylion. you know, when it gets fluffy white and the wind blows and i am scattered in many different directions. I now have a line up which contains up to 4 projects so I can work on different things but not get tooo distracted. This seems to be working.
I love your two monogamy projects. I’m sure the quilt is sitting because it is so damned boring sewing back a binding. can you tell that’s my least favorite part of quilting?? good luck with your projects
I like the approach. if I am being “monogamish” with more than 3 projects, you never feel the forward motion. At least not at the rate I make things !
Hope that works for you. Despite what you say you seem to accomplish a lot! My problem right now is I have lots of WIP’s and I don’t seem to have any motivation to do them or even start anything new…I am on a reading jag right now…another way of avoiding getting things done!
I’ve been trying to practice project monogamy myself. I’m committed to finishing a top I’ve had to partially rip out before I either pick back up or start something new. I know it won’t last long but I riding the wave while I can.
Bah, I think we all have made the “monogamy” wish, but I along with many others failed. I have discovered I am a cheater and I have come to terms with it. Your blankets look as beautiful as ever. :)
Monogamy can be defined by the crafter.
Thank you for putting a word to it! Monogam-ish is definitely how I’m feeling these days too. I have a sweater to finish by the end of the month, but oh, my new socks are so pretty. I’m having to set schedules for which days I can work on which.
I practice monagam-ish as well. For me, the perfect balance is 1 large project and 1 small project. That way I see progress (small project) and appreciate scope (large, obviously). Lately I’ve been a wreck with doing 1 large secret project, 1 large ongoing quilt, plus a current blog quilt. I need small projects!