If you’re a maker of any kind, chances are you’ve got one. A drawer, a bag, a box (or three!) - filled with works in progress.
Half-cut fabric, projects waiting to be hemmed, or something that just . . . didn’t quite work out. These are your WIPs - your Works in Progress. And despite how common they are, they’re often quietly tied up with something else: guilt.
The project you “should” finish, the materials you “wasted”, that time you “didn’t follow through” to the end. But what if we chose to look at that pile differently?
“The work is never finished, only abandoned.”
Unfinished Doesn’t Mean Failed
Every project you start begins with intention. Curiosity. Creativity.
And sometimes, along the way, something shifts.
You lose interest
The materials aren’t right
The fit is off
The technique doesn’t work
Or simply . . . you’re just not enjoying it anymore
None of that is failure. It’s valuable information.
Each unfinished project is evidence that you’re trying, experimenting, learning - which is the entire point of making.
Why We Avoid the WIP Pile
Most people don’t ignore their WIPs because they’re lazy.
They avoid them because they represent:
Decisions not yet made
Mistakes not yet resolved
Time they feel they’ve “lost”
That emotional weight builds up quietly. And the longer the pile sits there, the heavier it feels to go back to.
So instead of dipping in and finishing one thing, we start something new.
And the cycle continues.
Sound familiar??
An Spring Reset: Facing the Pile
If you’re looking for a gentle seasonal reset, this is a perfect one.
Set aside an hour.
Make a cup of tea.
Pull out all your WIPs.
No judgement. Just curiosity.
Then, go through them one by one and ask a simple question:
“Am I realistically going to finish this?”
Be honest - your good intended optimism has no place in this process!
Sort Your Projects Into Three Clear Groups
1: Yes - I want to finish this
These are the projects that still excite you (even a little). Set them aside somewhere visible. Not hidden away again - somewhere they can quietly invite you back. You don’t have to finish them immediately. Just keep the door open.
2: Not right now - but maybe later
These might need: More skill, a different season, a bit more headspace.
Store these intentionally. Label them if you can.
Give them a future - not just a pile.
3. No — I’m not going to finish this ever!
This is the hardest category. And yet the most freeing. Letting go doesn’t mean you’ve failed - it means you’ve decided.
What To Do With Unfinished Projects You’re Letting Go Of
Instead of seeing them as wasted, treat them as resources.
You could:
Unpick and salvage usable fabric or yarn
Cut components down for smaller projects
Reuse notions like zips, buttons, elastics
Turn sections into samples or test pieces
And if they’re still usable as they are, consider passing them on - someone else might pick up where you left off.
Turn “Failure” Into Learning
Before you pack it away or take it apart, pause for a moment.
Ask yourself:
Why didn’t this work?
What would I do differently next time?
Was it the material, the pattern, or my dwindling interest?
Even a quick mental note is enough.
This is how your skills sharpen — not from perfect finishes, but from honest reflection.
A Different Way to Measure Progress
Not every project needs to be completed to have value.
Some teach you:
What you don’t enjoy making
Which materials don’t behave how you expected
When to stop forcing something that isn’t working
That’s not wasted time. That’s direction.
A Gentle Challenge
If you’re feeling up for it, try this as a small seasonal reset:
Revisit your WIP pile
Finish one project you still love
Let go of one you don’t
Salvage something for future use
Small actions. Real impact. You'll be through that WIP pile in no time!
Making isn’t about producing perfect outcomes.
It’s about exploring ideas, learning as you go, and building a creative practice that works for you.
Your WIP pile isn’t a sign that you’ve failed.
It’s proof that you’ve started.
So set yourself some time aside, free yourself from any associated guilt - and just progress a project in anyway you can. Even if that means waiving it goodbye!