One of my ongoing goals for basically forever has been to be better at finishing my current projects before moving onto the next newer and shinier project. (Probably I should spend less time on Pinterest.)
So this is my latest attempt at kicking myself in the pants. I picked four works in progress (because I have many many more than four lying around but I’m starting small) that I’m going to aim to finish in the next two weeks. If you don’t see these guys blogged in the next month, feel free to shame me.
Polka dot Elisalex
The only reason I haven’t finished this dress is because I sewed the skirt on before I checked the darts and it was far too wide at the waist, but the prospect of unpicking eight inches of seams was too much for my lazy brain.
Vintage Simplicity 3100
This dress currently has quite a few issues, all of which are my fault for only sort of skimming the instructions. First of all, the bodice front buttons up, but I didn’t want the buttons to extend to the skirt, except that I forgot to leave a side or back open for a zipper so there is some tweaking that needs to be done. I also didn’t like how I attached the vertical strips on the bodice so I need to reattach them in a prettier way. I’m also contemplating redoing the sleeve cuffs in white.
Dotted Archer
I literally have no excuse on this one. Months ago when I started it, I was zipping along and was nearly finished when I made a stupid mistake. I was too lazy to fix it, but I remember it being not a big deal fix. Except today when I went back to look and to possibly continue with it, I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what I thought I’d done wrong. Gah!
Birthday dress
Anddd this is probably my absolute favorite thing I’ve worked on in a while. In the interest of picking up more intensive projects, I decided to make a beaded dress to wear for my birthday which is next week and which I’m still totally in denial about, other than the planning what to wear part. I’m just keeping my fingers crossed that I don’t completely screw it up since I haven’t gotten to the hard part yet.
Wish me luck! And do share what projects you have lurking in closets and under beds being ignored. It’ll make me feel better.
this is a fabulous idea– and how can shame one you, because those UFOs are DAMN PRETTY. well nevermind, i guess we could, it would truly be a shame to let them wallow. those polka dots! that beaded dress! get on it, birthday girl!
Thanks Oona! I just spent most of the weekend beading and my fingers are in so. much. pain. So worth it though, the beaded dress is almost done!!
Ahhh! I love the peekaboo print on the inner yoke of the archer. Such a cute detail. Happy almost birthday! (That dress is gorgeous.)
Thanks! I loove that fabric and only had like a square foot of it left so I’m glad I found a way to use it 🙂
Oh please finish these things. I want to see them ALL so much – they look beautiful even half made x
Yes, what a great idea! I’m also guilty of having a bunch of WIPs and wanting to make the next sparkly thing that catches my eye. I think I’ll do a post, too!
Your birthday dress is gorgeous, I can’t wait to see it finished!!
Finish all of these! They’re so pretty!!! Let’s see, I just went on a bit of a UFO finishing binge, but I still have a few left to take care of. I need to take in my plaid cocoon cardigan (made it a few months back, but I haven’t worn it because I feel kind of dumpy and frumpy in it), and I have a pair of ponte pants that just need to be hemmed and have the elastic waistband put in (don’t ask me how long that’s been!). I have a BHL Polly Top that needs armhole and neckline binding- I set it aside a while ago when I realized that a tank top made in voile wouldn’t get worn for months. And I have a sweater knit Briar Top cut out, but not sewn. Eek, that’s starting to sound like a lot of things! I’m in the middle of a buttondown for my husband right now that I’ve been working on slowly over the last two weeks. Gotta finish that first!
Ooh I’ve been meaning to try out the Polly pattern. Can’t wait to see yours!
Oh man I totally feel you on this. I have a BHL Anna bodice that is somehow too large to attach to the skirt…have I fixed it, made alterations, scrapped it altogether? No. Instead I keep it in a box labelled “UFO Graveyard” and THINK about salvaging it periodically.
All of your UFO’s are gorgeous, but I like your birthday dress best of all.
This is a really good idea! Most of my WIPs are just sort of lying around or dumped in a box. I should really separate them into two boxes: “will finish soon” and “probably won’t because of fail”.
I agree with everyone: you have some good lookin’ UFOs! That polka dot frock is looking good… I too have a polka dot frock along with a few skirts, blouses and other things that need to be delt with, but the issues are so major that I am discouraged.
A few months ago, I mustered up the courage to have a UFO-only sewing day. It was great! I finished a few hems, took in the sides of a dress and felt so proud because I had 3 or 4 more things in my closet! Maybe i’ll have the balls to do it again when spring come around.
I’m so impressed! I made an actual mending pile once with some things that required little bits of fixing or taking in or length-altering but then only managed to stick with it for about half an hour before I wandered off. Maybe we should have an online WIP party!
I have a skirt sitting unfinished because I just can’t get the zipper right, and I’m not sure I love the fabric.
I hate when that happens!
I really want to see how your birthday dress will turn out. So far, It’s lovely! Good luck finishing these clothes 🙂 And as for me, there are quite a few projects I abandoned, like a fitted shirt for my sister, a mini skirt, a button down shirt and more. ><
Thanks! The goal is to have it up on Wednesday but we shall see.
Please finish the purple polka dot dress! It’s so pretty.
I have a shirt dress that has been waiting for over a year for me to put button holes in the placket……I
I have a Kelly skirt that’s suffered the same fate! Literally all the complicated stuff is done, it just needs 3 more button holes and to be hemmed. And it’s been over a year. -_-
Ahhh! Finish them! They all look so adorable! And I can’t wait to see your birthday dress– cah-yute! =D
This is always my aim too, I always get excited about new things and want to start them right away and then have other unfinished items hanging around for ages. Every now and then I tell myself not to start any new projects until I have finished the last, but before I know it I have started something else, opps.
Hannah.
http://surfjewels.tumblr.com/
Hehe same! I have no discipline. Add that to my inability to stick to fabric diets and you’ve got a tiny room exploding with fabric and half-completed projects.
I was just looking through my sewing space last night and thinking- I’ve got to organize my shit! Taking up most of the space was WIPs. They make me feel anxious just thinking about them. I should totally be doing this too. Well done, and good luck.
Wow – I’m with everyone else, those are some good looking WIPs!
I love the polkadot Elisalex – just gorgeous. I want that fabric.
Also, the beaded birthday dress. Happy birthday – I hope you finish it in time!
Isn’t it cute?? Grey’s has it in a bunch of gorgeous colors and I’m trying to justify having a garment in each color. -_-
Oooh, I did a similar post the other day laying out my plans for the next six projects I want to finish. Then I spent the whole day yesterday working on one of them, only to realise I’d made several schoolboy errors which I have no idea how to correct. I think I’ll move onto the next one and hope that they either fix themselves, or look less horrific and more manageable next time I take a peek.
Oh no! I hate when that happens. Although surprisingly sometimes errors do seem to fix themselves and disappear (like my dotted Archer up there). Or my standards lower themselves hehe.
I have such a shameful WIP! I started a plaid Negroni shirt for my boyfriend for christmas this year and I STILL haven’t finished it. I’ve made all sorts of other things inbetween times and just ignored the little pile of plaid pieces. He’s so patient though, he hasn’t said a word about it.
Hehe I made a men’s shirt for my boyfriend for Christmas and somehow the collar stand ended up being like two inches too tall and makes the collar go up to his ears. Whoops! Should probably fix that soon.
I have a pair of shorts that I started on at the end of July, but I didn’t manage to finish them in time for my vacation. After that, I didn’t have time to sew, and after that, summer was over and I didn’t feel like finishing them until next summer. Oops. I also have a white/silver sparkly thrifted little jacket that I just needed to refit; I got stuck on the sleeves and it has been lying there for over a year. So, you are not the only one 😉
So nice to know I’m not alone! Sparkly little jacket sounds cute!
I am super obsessed with your birthday dress. It’s coming out so well! I have a few wips at the moment, too. Mostly just simple things like adding buttons… I’ll hold you accountable because these all look great!
Yayyy thanks! It’s weird how we can get so stuck on the little quick things that turn a project from a pile of fabric into something wearable, isn’t it?
Thanks so much for sharing your WIPs! They all look so pretty and make me want to work on my own projects!
Some of my WIPS:
– A denim Coffee Date Dress. Still wants hemming. finishing the facings, and for me to figure out what to do with the bodice darts. Just can’t get them good enough…
– A light blue linen Cambie. I think I got distracted sometime around attaching bodice lining at the waistband. I’m gonna try to work on it next month. Maybe it’ll be my Easter dress?
– A grey Burda Danielle top . I started attaching the “skirt” part and got frustrated matching the pleats to the bodice darts. Also need to find a suitable zipper.
– A black denim version of your Simple Skirt! I need to fuss around with the overlocking capabilities of my machine. I plan to try to finish it today or tomorrow. We’ll see if that happens…
There’s just a small sampling of my WIPs/ UFOs. I’m hoping to finish a few of them this year. I hope that you finish yours, Ping! I love seeing your creations, they inspire me so.
Ooh half your list are patterns I’ve wanted to try (Cambie and Danielle, specifically). How did you like them? Definitely shoot me a link when you finish the skirt, I’d love to see it!
Great idea! Your WIPs are all really cute, and I can’t wait to see them finished!
Can’t wait to see these! How is that beading coming along?
It’s coming! I got the front done and went to start on the back and realized I was off by about a centimeter on the top bit so I’m redoing just the top row around the neckline. Should be done on time though so yayyy!