Earlier in the year I took on a slightly mammoth task… I sorted through all my WIPs.
For anyone new here, WIP stands for Work In Progress. And in the quilting world, you’ll hear us talk about WIPs all the time… or UFOs (Unfinished Objects). Because let’s be honest, most of us have a few projects on the go at any one time! If you are me... you might have a lot.
I actually surprised myself. I thought I had far more than I did, but when I properly went through everything, it was less than I expected. Even better, quite a few of them are now officially on the “nearly finished” list, so they’ll be ticked off over the coming months. I've already made progress on a few quilts and have been sharing this in my weekly Quilt Tube videos - here.
If you want to see the full chaos (in the best way!), I’ve done a proper WIP Parade over on my YouTube channel.
Why I Actually Like Having Lots of WIPs
Now, I know some people love the idea of only having one project at a time. One start, one finish, nice and tidy. And I can really appreciate! I think I wish I was more like that. But it's not how my little brain works, so I lean into that.
I actually like having a few WIPs on the go. There’s something really comforting about knowing I can choose what I work on depending on my mood and what time I have available. Some days I want something simple and repetitive. Other days I want something a bit more creative or detailed. And sometimes I just want to sew without having to think too much at all.
Having a few different projects means I can always find something that fits how I feel that day.
Why I Bounce Between Projects
I definitely bounce between my WIPs, and for a long time I thought that was a “bad” thing… like I should be more disciplined or finish things one at a time. Believe me I have had my fair share of negativity around it... but the more open I have been about it, the more quilters have come forward and said they love the way I work and have decided to do the same. There is no right or wrong - do what is best for you.
Switching between projects actually keeps me motivated. If I get stuck or bored on one thing, I can move onto something else instead of putting my sewing away completely.
I firmly believe quilting should feel enjoyable, not like a chore. It's our hobby after all.
It Fits Real Life (Not Just Ideal Life)
Another big reason I like having multiple WIPs is simple… it's time.
Real life doesn’t always give us big, uninterrupted quilting sessions. Sometimes I’ve got 10 minutes. Sometimes I’ve got an hour. Sometimes I’ve got nothing at all.
So I like being able to pick up whatever fits the time I have:
- Quick piecing when I’ve only got a short window.
- Slower hand sewing and EPP when I want to sit and relax in front of the telly with my hubby.
- Bigger “thinking” projects when I’ve got proper headspace.
It makes quilting feel flexible instead of pressured and I get excited to work on different things at different times.
Different Projects, Different Moods
I also genuinely love how different projects match different moods.
Some days I want something bright, scrappy and fun. Other days I want calm, simple stitching. And sometimes I just want to follow steps without making any decisions at all.
Having a mix of WIPs means I can match my sewing to how I feel and that makes me more likely to actually sit down and sew in the first place.
So Yes… I’m a WIP Person
Sorting through everything reminded me that I don’t need to feel guilty about having multiple projects. Sometimes I do think twice before starting another new project because I have so many, and I am really trying to make progress on all my WIPs this year, but it won't stop me from having lots of projects on the go at any one time.
If anything, it’s part of how I stay creative, inspired and consistent.
And the best part? Slowly but surely, they do get finished. One by one, they move from “work in progress” to “complete”… and that feels pretty good too.
If you fancy seeing everything I have as a WIP at the moment, head over to this week’s WIP Parade on my YouTube channel, it’s a nice little peek behind the scenes of all the things currently living in my quilting space.
Are you a one-project-at-a-time quilter, or do you have a few WIPs on the go too?