As I watch floss tubes, I’m amazed, and sometimes frustrated at the number of WIPS some stitchers have. Of course, it’s none of my business how many they have but it makes me frustrated just to think how I would feel if I had 100 WIPS. I have six or seven now and I’m sure many of you would be frustrated if you had that many.
This morning, as I was stitching, I was thinking . . what difference does it make how many WIPS we have? Some of us are just wired that more than one is too many, while others don’t care how many they have. And, it’s no one else’s business but I just want your opinion.
What’s the difference in having this:
vs. this?
The first is a kit, which to me means that the floss, the fabric, the chart is in one package and at any time, I could grab it and start stitching.
The second is a WIP. I’ve started it. The fabric is on the frame. The chart and floss are in a bag when not in use but I leave the WIP on the frame.
If I have 40 projects kitted, is that really any different from having 40 WIPS? I’m not going to use the floss or the fabric for any other project once it’s dedicated to a particular chart.
I find that it’s easier to pick up a WIP and work on it than it is to start a new project – find where I want to start, stitch a few grid lines to help me get started on the right path.
I can see saying “Finish one thing before starting something else” (not that I would listen to that advice!) if I had to order floss, fabric and a chart for a new project but when everything is here already, does it matter if it’s a kit or a WIP?
An analogy for quilters: If you have a kit for a quilt and you know you’re never going to borrow from that kit, is it any different having it as a kit on the shelf or having a few blocks made, everything put back together and back in the container on the shelf? It is a kit til a bit of stitching is done and then it’s a WIP . . I’m thinking there’s really no difference.
Again, if having 40 WIPS sends you over the edge but having 2 WIPS and 40 kits doesn’t bother you, that’s one thing.
Right now, this is my feeling and we all know it could change tomorrow. I have four frames for the Rolaframe stands and I have two K’s Creations lap stands. So, in theory, I can have six projects on frames . . 7 if you count the 8″ Q-snap.
I don’t see me ever taking fabric on and off the roller bars so once a project is on the frame, it’s likely staying there til it’s finished. So, unless I buy more frames, which I doubt happens because . . you know who will be here with his eagle eye watching what comes in. I think I’m good with 7 WIPS. I could have something small in the Q-Snap and 6 larger projects on the frames.
Did I just have a light bulb moment or, am I justifying bad behavior?
The benefit I see to finishing more and starting less is that if tomorrow I stopped stitching (death, lack of desire, injury, illness, etc.) it would be better to have more finished projects and less WIPS but I also look at all of my hobbies this way: I’m doing this for pleasure, not necessarily finished projects. Yes, I love finished projects but with the quilts and knitted things, I’m happy with the finished projects but the WIPS don’t bother me, even if they’re never finished. I do love the process of choosing fabric, yarn, floss, and watching the creation grow. Sometimes finishing is a bit of a letdown, especially for projects I’ve loved working on.
I guess truly this is a matter of personal preference and what’s great for one isn’t great for the other but it was an interesting morning with my thoughts.
Ruth says
I’ve found that as I come near to finishing an “unplanned” quilt, I will often discover myself thinking about a certain person who would really like to have the quilt. So then I think about that person as I complete it and find more pleasure in mailing it off to them.
Donna Williams says
I’m team Judy with this. If the process gives me joy, then it’s mine to manage. I have roughly the same as you and am happy as a pig in mud. In the end, that is what matters to me.
Teri says
No good ways and no bad ways…it what you like best….I must have multiple things going at a time because I get bored with just one….
Therese says
…and there is always that pile of hoops to call into service, just in case a new project MUST slip in before frame is free, right?
Dottie Newkirk says
Over the years, I’ve been “obsessed” with different needlework projects (hand embroidery, counted cross stitch, needlepoint, knitting, sewing, quilting, etc.) and then I’ll get “tired” of whatever the current project is and go back and work on something or other that was left unfinished.
As far as how many is too many, I can’t really address that because it is (for me) how comfortable you are with projects to be done. I do wish I didn’t have so many to do, but, it is what it is. They do all give me pleasure at various times. That being said, I am trying to FINISH projects (fortunately, they are bagged up) in a more timely fashion
Shauna says
I say live and let live. If you want 30 wips then go for it. That would probably make my head explode, but as long as you don’t force me to do things your way, I won’t force you do to things my way. But I do tend to be like you 5-6 working projects that I rotate so I don’t get bored. Lots of patterns, fabric and floss bought so I can start a new one whenever I need to do so. My problem is flosstube gets me in trouble because it shows me things I want to do.
Tee says
I recently cleaned my sewing room and I was disappointed that some of the projects I had accumulated and didn’t start or finish are not my taste now. I would have enjoyed working on them when I was accumulating them but now never see myself finishing them. Just a possible wonderful project, both in doing it and having the finished project to enjoy wasted. Now I’m faced with what to do with them. I cannot bear to throw them away or even give them to anyone else, unless someone shows an interest. I put them back in their spot, hoping that maybe I will have interest in them later.
Jill McCaughey says
I have had some time at home to think about who would have to deal with all my stuff when I am gone, and have happily boxed up fabrics, magazines, fat quarter packs, threads and patterns to a friend who was thrilled to receive “new to her” things. It didn’t make a dent, but really made her day, and I was glad to pass it on and hear “thanks so much” while I am here to enjoy her pleasure in receiving it. The act of giving for the sake of giving was a real joy. Jill in Calgary/Phoenix. (Not this year for Phoenix!)
Judy Laquidara says
That’s one thing I don’t ever think about – what will happen to my stuff when I’m gone. I’m going to live and enjoy every minute of doing what I want to do and acquiring whatever I want to acquire. Chad can call an auction company to auction it all off or he can go through it and take what he wants – just doesn’t matter to me. I’m definitely not going to let those thoughts take up any space in my head while I’m too busy having fun. 🙂
It is nice to share with those who appreciate it. Nicole knows that she can take yarn or fabric to make whatever she wants to make any time.
Sara Fridley says
I have a friend who always says about quilting – “just enjoy the journey” and the destination will take care of itself.
Christina Coats says
Morning Judy
From the UK. Well you and All have had me deep thinking about WIPS and kits. Oh dear when I realised how much capital is tied up in my ‘collection ‘ it has made me come to a decision. NO MORE BUYING OF FABRIC unless it’s from the charity shop. I truely cannot live long enough to use up my stash. I do not need to buy anymore, so gently does it, NO more buying in March and I will go from there! I’m in the process of cutting up 100 Tilda FQS to make 3 quilt tops and that doesn’t make a dint in the collection.
Love reading from everyone their opinions, kindly given insight.
Off to finish the cutting, I’ve just realised I’m making 3 more WIPS! Must get a move on.
Joyce says
Whatever works for you…I have a bunch of knitting projects in process, and sometimes it bothers me. When I was cross-stitching I think the maximum number of projects I had going at a time was 2. I just never had a burning desire to start a bunch of projects at once. Knitting is a little different, because there are different stitches, techniques, objects (sweater/socks/shawl/etc.) so there is more to entice me…
Helen says
I don’t do cross stitch, but I quilt, paint, knit, crochet and sew nearly everything. I have a room full of supplies! I have quilts in kits, quilts in various stages (works in progress). I don’t count the things I am working on… I just work on them when I want.
Some projects may sit dormant for years, get unearthed and become finished projects. I will work on a project until finished if it’s got a deadline, but that’s completely different.
I, like you, get pleasure from the process, not necessarily the end result.
Now, my sister…we are totally opposite and she would NEVER start a project if she had one going. I love her, but I do believe she is an obsessive/compulsive person! (She has offered to throw a project in the garbage for me if she thinks I take too long.)
Rosalie says
I have many unfinished projects- but tend to think of it is kitted that it counts – maybe because they are stored in the same area rather than on the shelf with the fabric stash. Though it is easier to de- kit a kit than a started project- at least in my head. I’m trying to get some ufo projects finished this year. I’ve finished 3 and made a quilt top that I had all supplies for in the past 5 months. Working on a Halloween project now but getting sidetracked by other new ideas.
Judy Laquidara says
I want to do a Halloween project and a patriotic project and that’s part of what got me thinking about kits vs. WIPS.
JustGail says
I don’t count kitted projects as WIPs since I don’t have to think about where I left off, what needs fixed, etc. when I pick it up. And I can put the items back to stash if I change my mind on making it up. I tend to have only 1-2 WIPs of a type in progress or at various stages at at time. As in one needlework, one quilt being pieced, one quilt being quilted, one quilt being bound. On those rare occasions I have more, I tend to work on one until done or I’m stuck due to lack of materials, knowledge, or ideas on how to continue. For me, too many projects in the same stage leads to errors and frustration of feeling like my wheels are spinning and I’m getting nowhere. To each their own, I say.
Marcelle says
I am similarly somewhat concerned with the number of wips some people seem to have. I could just not have that amount of capital tied up in unused projects that may never be finished. That being said, since starting to stitch everyday, the number of wips I have have increased. The morning project (hardanger/ blackwork), the night project (HAED), several not quite FO yet, and two meant to be worked on in between bigger projects. Flosstube and Pinterest have increased the list of stuff I would like to do at some time.
Quilts though, stash for a dozen quilts (which ones yet to be decided), a couple waiting to be quilted, 2 (usually one) pattern quilt being made, 1 leader ender project, 2 going slowly projects (nearly insane to use scraps and dear jane – because every one needs one, right?). So maybe it depends on one’s vision/imagination.
Sharon says
I am on the opposite end. I start one project (quilt) at a time. Finish it, clean my sewing room and start another. I don’t do kits. It’s what works for me. And I’m happy with that. To each their own.
Judy Laquidara says
I’ve never been that way with anything – always have more than one thing started. The great thing is that you know what works for you and stick with it!
Deborah M Grier says
This won’t be popular, but I only have one of two things going at one time. Also very little waiting in the wings. It feels wasteful to me to have spent on what may never be made of finished. I hate that feeling!
Judy Laquidara says
I don’t think what’s popular or unpopular matters so much as knowing what works for each of us. I’ve never lived near a quilt shop, a yarn shop or a stitching shop so I’m happy to have a large stash. If there’s a chart I want to download this evening, I love knowing I have the fabric and floss to start it without having to order and wait weeks for it to arrive and possible have to wait months to get some of the popular floss colors. Same with quilts and sweaters . . nothing I might want to make that I couldn’t find something here that would be perfect.
I try not to have so much that I know I’ll never use it all but I know that has probably happened. It’s the same with things like milk and lettuce. Because I only go to the store (back in the day) or do curbside pickup every two weeks, it’s more feasible for me to spend $1.90 on an extra half gallon of milk or $1.50 for lettuce – just in case I need it. If I don’t, it’s no worse than paying homeowner’s insurance that I’ll probably never need.
cindy says
Personally, I don’t consider a kit as a WIP because i could still take the kit apart. I go through spells of what i want to work on, so have not only quilting projects in progress, but cross stitch, and embroidery, and other things as well as kindergarten activities for the 5 yo grandgirlie and initiative and energy have been in short supply for awhile. Now that meds have been tweaked, I am looking forward to having energy and time to complete some things. But i still gather new things to do. We are all different and work differently and it is all good.
Carol H says
I don’t count kitted projects as WIPs unless some stitches have been made. I DO have a LOT of kitted up pieces though!
I have a long list of WIPs that resulted when the company moved us, packing up house contents and putting them in storage three (count ‘em, 3!) times where three different collections of WIPs languished for periods of from of 2 to 12 years . Naturally, when finally unpacked when we moved in here, they were sorted and put away in a cabinet, waiting for me to get back to them. Many were no longer to my taste BUT I spent a year challenging myself to upgrade WIPs (which probably were really UFOs) to finished (framed or ornaments or pillows or…) and didn’t do to badly at it. And I did all that while learning to crazy quilt, do free embroidery, and do bead-encrusted free embroidery. However, some dozen or more are still lacking something (mainly needlepoint needing speciality stitching and one crewel pillow cover) and odds are they never will be done.
Then I broke my wrist, lost two years with surgery and PT, and then ruptured the thumb flexor on the same wrist, losing another two years to surgery and PT. Three major pieces and one small that I had been working on went into WIP/UFO status. Last year, i cleared three of them! I’m working on motivation for the fourth…
These days, I often have a “rotation”, usually of medium to small pieces, often SALs, but I try now not to carry WIPs for more than a year. After all, no-one in my family wants to deal with my stash when I die, let alone unfinished pieces!
moneikquilts says
I think it is better to have kits then to start so many and never finish them. When my mom passed we gave a lot of kits away. If it was a random started WIP and we couldn’t figure it out, it got tossed. I have three cross stitch kits from her, yet I haven’t taken the first stitch. I know I can do it, as that was the first craft I learned, I just prefer quilting and using my own projects. My mom rarely finished anything. As soon as she could see how it would turn out, she was done and on to the next project. After her passing and having nothing done, I vowed to finish my quilts and have something to show for my time. I do think it is personal preference. I keep a detailed list of my projects and set goals to finish them. Others just willy nilly grab and work on a project. There is no right way.