Last week, I shared my informal “inventory” of projects-in-progress that I want to finish up (or make significant progress on, in the case of “finishing” my Waffle Pullover) before Fall officially begins (September 22 this year). Based on the comments I received, many of you think it’s quite a “lofty” goal. And maybe it is. But I like “lofty” goals now and again. Besides . . . I know that most of these projects just need a little push of attention from me before – POOF! – they’re finished.

Because . . . most of the projects I laid out across my sewing table last week are near the finish line anyway. Each of them just . . . got stuck . . . for some reason along my way to finishing. I am notorious for putting up roadblocks or barriers – for myself – when it comes to finishing certain things. And once I remove my barriers (which are often really simple things), whoosh! I’m free to finish.

So the first project I tackled . . . was the little needlepoint owl for Erin (Project 2 from my inventory post last week). The stitching of the owl was finished. I had purchased a frame specially designed FOR the needlepoint owl, and I had it at the ready.

So what were my barriers to completion? I didn’t know how to block my needlepoint piece and I was intimidated to frame it on my own. (It’s my first needlepoint project, by the way.)

So. I took a deep breath and did some Googling to find out how to block needlepoint pieces. And then . . . I just did it. Success. (CHECK!)

As for the framing, the needlepoint owl and the frame came from Poppy Monk Needlepoint Kits and it turns out . . . they have some excellent tutorials right on their website. So I followed their guidance, et voilà! In 15 minutes I had the owl framed and ready to ship off to Erin. (The blocking took longer, but it was simple, too.) (CHECK!)

So. Barriers removed. New skills unlocked. Project complete!
(One down.)

Next up . . . the unfinished Sashiko stitched project bag (Project 1 from my inventory post last week). The stitching part of this project was completely finished, and yet . . . there it was, languishing on my sewing table.

What were my barriers this time? Well, the first one is the same barrier for any of the sewing-adjacent projects in my inventory. While I had downsized and reorganized my entire “craft room” (which isn’t actually a room, but a space in my basement) last year after we had the basement painted, I had not put my sewing stuff back in order. . . yet. So anything that needed machine sewing . . . just sat.

But this project had a two more barriers. The little bag was a kit project from Sue Spargo, but when I got the kit, I was really unhappy with the included fabric for the interior lining of the bag. (It was a fall leaf pattern and really didn’t “go” with the stitching at all. In fact, it sucked all the “fun” out of a charming design.) And the instructions for the cute little tulips at the ends of the drawstring ties were . . . not clear at all.

So. Step 1 ensued: deal with the sewing stuff. (CHECK!) Step 2: Find some suitable fabric from my own stash. (CHECK!) Step 3: Do something else for the ends of the drawstrings and move on. (CHECK!) (Note: Kat managed to figure out the “tulips” for her MDK project bag by finding a tutorial. She sent me a link, but I’d already finished my bag . . . so next time. And thanks, Kat.)

After the sewing stuff was cleared and reorganized (which did take a while, but will help all sewing related projects move forward in the future, so a worthy time investment) (that I should have made a year ago. . . ), the sewing-up of the bag took . . . one hour.

So. Barriers removed. Sewing machine uncovered and ready for whatever comes next, sewing-wise. Project complete!
(Two down.)

(If you want to see more photos of the bag and read my project details, I’m building a Field Note for the project now. The link isn’t live yet, but I’ll edit this post when it is available.)

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How about you? Do you create your own barriers to finishing projects? Or is it just me?