1 Rule to Prevent Tons of WIPs and UFOs
By Rachel Choi – 11 CommentsIf you’re like me, WIPs (works in progress) and UFOs (unfinished objects) drive you insane. I remember when I was working on opening my crochet pattern store, I had so many WIPs that many just became UFOs. Totally not productive! There’s only so many things a person can crochet at a time, before you start putting stuff in the “I’ll finish it later, but I’m not really going to” pile. So here is the one and only rule that I’ve been using myself to prevent having WIPs and UFOs:
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#1 Rule: One At a Time Honestly, I’m surprised that I was able to follow this one rule, because I have such a short attention span. I’m like one of those people who get bored very fast and always want something new to do. But it seems to all work out well since I’m able to get things done faster and move on to crochet even more things! |
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If I can do it, so can you!
Do you have a tip for preventing WIPs and UFOs?
For me the secret is smaller projects. The quicker the project is the less chance of me not finishing it. I’ll never be an afghan crocheter, but a scarf I can manage. =)
The problem is that I work better if I have several WIPs… which doesn’t prevent some of them from falling off the radar. Organizing the UFOs & WIPs is the key for me! Then I know that the blasted things are all in the same place when I go back to rummage around.
I am the same way. Too many WIP everywhere. I open a drawer and I will find two or three. I also have a short attention span but I’m going to try and take your advice. I have organized my WIP’s in those gift bags that are sitting around. Too cheap to throw them out and I never actually use them for gifts. So now I have all my WIP’s in one spot and I so far have picked up the one I want to work on take it with me and then put it back when I’m done working on it for the day. Right now, I have a set of pillows I’m working on. I’m going to finish it and then go to the next project.
I don’t think it will work but it is worth a try.
Thanks for this post! I hope I’ll be able to stick with doing this….after I’ve finished all my current items. I think I’m up to 7 (maybe more) WIPs that hopefully won’t become UFOs.
I totally agree on one at a time! The only time I may break that rule is if I’m working on an afghan and I’m so sick of looking at it I need a break, so I’ll put it away and do something else that is short and sweet. Once I have that “accomplished” feeling I can continue on with the monster project. Having too many WIPs drives me to distraction, I like to make something and see it completed before going on to something new.
The ladies on the Yarncraft podcast call this “project monogamy” — I just love that term! Unfortunately, I can’t stick to the idea, but I do love the term!
I have a HUGE ripple afghan that I’ve been working on for about a year and a half now. It’s not a difficult pattern, but because it’s the same thing over and over and over, I do get bored with it and end up trying other things out that I see in the many craft newsletters I get. It’s also very difficult to bring the HUGE ripple with me when I’m going somewhere, so I tend to start smaller projects that are easier to pack and bring along. I don’t even want to think about the number of projects I have currently in progress. :p
I finally finished the lap blanket (turned double-bed-sized afghan) I started for my mom over 2 years ago! But I still have at least a few WIPs from just the last few months, and heaven only knows how many from the last few years. Probably 6 or 8 WIPs/UFOs that I haven’t touched in at least a year!
Wow. I could never be so disciplined as to work on one item at a time. Matter of fact, I suggest to others who are knee deep in a soon-to-be-boring-never-ending WIP to start something else to stave off the boredom, and preferably, something that works up quickly so they get that “voila I’m done” feeling. I generally have a few UFOs sitting around waiting for a finishing touch (sew a button, seam or snap, ect.) but I cannot imagine having all of them done and concentrating solely on my current WIP. Kudos to you for being able to do that. 🙂 Crochet hugs, Donna
One year a friend and I organized a ‘Christmas Group’. We met once a week for a couple hours had coffee and cookies and finished projects.
She worked on a quilt (Grandma’s flower garden) and finished a lot of the smaller crochet projects that had piled up.
We challenged each other to get things done. And have a social outlet was good too.
I’m working on this on right now. I pretty much have to. I’m making a blanket for a womans grandson and I’m trying not to take TO long to finish it. I’d say I’m almost halfway there now. When I finish this blanket I’ll work on another blanket for my friend that she couldn’t finish herself. Then I’ll probably work on ANOTHER blanket for a friend and a blanket my Momma started for me but never finished. And then I’ll work on all of my other projects that I won’t name because theres like five or six of them.
Oh and Valorie, its a good idea to get together with friends and finish those “I’ll finish it later” projects. I’ll have to do that the next time me and my crochet club friends get together.