In August, I did a post outlining all the unfinished projects I wanted to try to finish “by fall.” By laying them all out in photo and list form, my intention was to hold myself accountable and keep myself on track. I really wanted to “clear my (making) decks” before starting some new things in the fall.
Yesterday was the Autumn Equinox. Today . . . is my Reckoning! Let’s take stock and see how I did, shall we?
Project 1 . . . was a little piece of Sashiko stitching that I wanted to stitch into a little project bag. I am happy to report . . . it is finished! I turned that finished piece of stitching into a fully functional project bag . . . in about an hour and a half, give or take a minute. You can read all about it here.
Project 2 . . . was to block and frame my first finished piece of needlepoint – a little owl I stitched up for Erin. I learned to block and frame a needlepoint project, and then sent it off to Erin. Hands-on time, including packing it up to ship? About an hour, all told. It’s done . . . and hanging on Erin’s wall. You can see my photo of the finished piece before shipping here.
Project 3 . . . was to finish mending Tom’s old and much-loved “guide pants.” I had the ripping-out part finished already (painstakingly completed last spring), but still needed to do the tedious putting-it-all-back-together part. I am a perfectly competent sewist, and yet . . . I am really not a fan of mending. Sigh. I finally pulled it out and finished it last weekend. Tom is happy to be able to wear his old favorites again . . . and I am happy to have that chore off my list! Once I sat down at my sewing machine, this project took me under 2 hours to finish.
Project 4 . . . was actually the simplest and quickest project of the bunch! I had finished this little piece of embroidery earlier in the summer, but hadn’t done anything with it. It was just sitting there, on top of a pile of accumulated stuff. I just needed to put my hands on it and . . . consider it for a while. I ended up deciding that, at some point, I would like to use it as a journal cover. But not right now. (I’d have to make the journal first.) So it ended up with all my other finished-but-yet-unused stitching projects. All ready for . . . someday. Total time for the considering and putting away? Less than 5 minutes.
Project 5 . . . was to finish sewing up a linen shirt that I’d started a couple of years ago. And I did! It took me 2 afternoon sewing sessions (so probably about 5 hours) plus sewing buttons on. I think of all the projects I needed to finish, I feel best about actually finishing this one. Not only is it highly wearable, but now my mind is free to think about other sewing projects I might make.
Project 6 . . . was finishing my Saltwater Bandana #2. Which I did in short order. I love this pattern, and I love Purl SoHo’s Japanese Denim Cotton. This one will be a gift . . . and it also won’t be the last Saltwater Bandana I knit. I did a bit of a fly-by post about this one here. (I have no idea how long it took me to knit this, hours-wise. But I cranked it out in the evenings while we watched TV over a couple of weeks.)
Project 7 . . . Ahhhh. Project 7! I planned to just . . . embroider a few random “ladies” on my little bag. Just for fun. I put it in a little basket with some embroidery floss. And then forgot all about it! Seriously, until I looked at my original picture/post, I forgot I even HAD this project on my list. I did not touch it again. So much for getting All As . . .
Project 8 . . . was to finish my linen stitch bandana (The Wakebrite Bandana from Barker Wool). And I did that. And I love it! It may be the most favorite thing I’ve ever knit. (I’m putting together my Field Notes with details and more photos. I will link that here when I finish and post it.) This project took a long time to knit, mostly because I couldn’t do it when I watched TV, and it was even tough when I was listening to an audiobook. This one was reserved for early morning knitting . . . a meditative, centering kind of practice for me.
Project 9 . . . was to START my Komebukuro Bag from MDK’s Summer Camp. I had no intention of actually finishing the bag in my “inventory” timeline, but once I got started, I couldn’t stop! You can read all about it – and see photos of how it came together – here in my Field Notes. I don’t know how long it took, start-to-finish, but it was relatively quick. I focused on just this project for about . . . 3 days of making-time. I love it so much!
Project 10 . . . Yep. There was a Project 10, even though it isn’t shown in my photos above. Because it was too big to fit on my sewing table with everything else. The Waffle Pullover. I didn’t PLAN to start working on it yet – I just wanted to get it out and take a look; to assess where I left it last May and start “dealing with it” in my head. But once I finished my bandanas, I needed something to knit. So I picked it up again. And here I am . . . just down to a few inches on each sleeve, plus sleeve cuffs. It won’t be long now . . .
And there you have it! My unfinished project Reckoning!
I’m quite pleased, actually. Even though I forgot about one little project altogether. (Which probably tells me all I need to know about that project’s priority in my “making world.”) I know that a lot of you thought I was setting myself up to fail, but I knew I could actually do it all . . . if I set my mind to it. And, for me, that’s always the trick. (Because I am always tempted by the Shiny Objects!) But by setting myself up to focus on a limited number of projects (many already near the finish line from the start) and a limited timeframe, I figured it would work out.
And it did!
Now, my “making deck” is clear (well . . . except for The Waffle) and I am ready for my fall . . . Quest. Stay tuned!
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How about you? What are you working on???
Oh, I had every confidence you could do it, you just needed to challenge yourself, and you did! Congratulations on your focus and finished objects. I toyed with the idea of the little Japanese ladies a while back, but I think they are too small for me to enjoy stitching. You have a lot of beautiful new things to enjoy as a result of your efforts. Send me some motivation and focus, would ya?
Well done, you! It probably feels great to have cleared the deck, especially for the not-fun ones like Tom’s pants. But that poppy shirt is really lovely and you do look quite pleased with your Wakebrite bandanna (as well you should)! Congratulations on all the finishes and I look forward to the Fall Quest.
Congratulations! It’s fun to see all you did!
Bravo to you!! That is an impressive scorecard of finishes! I have started the Wakebrite Bandana as well and, like you, I am knitting this in the early morning… it is a knit that requires focus and attention! I have about 2″ knit… with a zillion miles to go! Ha But… I love the fabric! I love the stitch in the ballpoint color way! Oh my gosh, it is making for some very happy morning knitting!
Amazing!! *I* never doubted that you’d make a huge dent in that list, and look at you. Focus & intention are Good Things! 😉
You made so many beautiful items from your pile of projects. Mostly you were nearly done and it’s often that last little bit we tend to set aside. I think it’s a form of separating anxiety. LOL
Everything was an accomplishment, something worthy and, often, beautiful and useful. Good work, Kym. Even with one tiny project left behind I still think you deserve an A, maybe even an A+. Now you can work on accumulating another pile of goodness to finish next summer! :)xo
You completed so many beautiful projects! Now you have opened up space for fun with a new project!
Such an accomplishment! You’ve inspired me to do the same for the upcoming Wyoming winter. But before I dive into that, I must say how much I love #5, the linen top. I even backed up to your earlier postings to check it out further. So, before I finish what I’ve already started, can you share the pattern you used for that top so I can start yet another project? Maybe if I start now I would have a new tunic for spring. Oh, all the lovely things!
Well done! I’m not even counting the one you forgot, because I think that was more of an embellishment than a true project. With the exception of some of the knitting projects, everything you finished didn’t really take that much time, and it leads me to wonder why so often we put off things that really aren’t big time commitments for much longer than it will take us to actually do them. I know I do it, and it’s so weird to me that I do!
Look at you go girl!! Well done you. Of course, I knew you would easily get through these (mostly finished except for the finishing) projects. Now I’m truly anxious to read/see what you have planned next! Do tell!
You really conquered that list – well done. I set myself an end of September goal for some of my WIPS and I am making slow but steady progress.
I’m impressed! Well done!
The way I feel energized seeing this!! Beautiful and inspiring, every single one. The linen stitch bandanna was worth the focus. When I started reading the post I thought “surely she doesnt mean literally finsh all by the equinox, she meant when it emotionally feels like Fall…LOL)” A list and a deadline are VERY good things in my world. Enjoy the victory lap on the waffle sweater and do something special for yourself ! xox
I was certain you’d finish and I’m glad (for both of us!) that I was right. It was a smart and methodical approach to a bunch of stuff and you held yourself accountable in a smart way. I’m with you on the waffle although I predict you will be finished before me.
Very strong work! You completed some great projects. You remind me that I need to make a list of projects, including two Christmas gift knits. Time to get cracking.