It hit me like a flash of lightning: this is the month to deal with all those unfinished projects. Why on earth have I always waited until January?
By the time January rolls around, we’re all wiped out from the Christmas rush, and the fresh new year feels endless—perfect for procrastination. But if I start now, I’ve got a three-month sprint to wrap things up and a couple of weeks to celebrate before the New Year even begins.
Earlier this week I sat down with a group of WI ladies sat down to tackle this burning question: What’s a “normal” number of unfinished projects to have? After some lively debate and a bit of googling, we agreed the magic number hovers between ten and twenty, depending on your age. And honestly? That’s not bad at all.
Why so many? Because inspiration strikes when it strikes! It would be a sad world if we forced ourselves to finish every single thing before starting something new. Tastes shift, a gorgeous fabric winks at you, a new technique pops up on Instagram—suddenly you’re off on a fresh adventure.
Still, there are some pretty good reasons to finish what we start:
- Sense of Accomplishment – Nothing beats the feeling of ticking a project off the list.
- Confidence Boost – Even though I sew most days, every finished piece proves I can handle challenges, big or small.
- Skill Growth – I usually stall when things get tricky and I’m short time, so pushing through always levels up my skills.
- Less Stress – Let’s be honest: half-done projects lurking in a cupboard is wasteful.
Finishing can feel daunting, so our WI super-crew whipped up a simple plan to carry us merrily toward Christmas while lightening the creative load:
1. Inventory & Prioritise
Everything starts with a list. I built a simple Word doc to track each project, what’s left to do, and any supplies needed. We each picked three top-priority projects. Anything we’ve fallen out of love with? That’s a “priority three”—donate it, gift it, or recycle it guilt-free. Everything inbetween is “priority two”.
2. Make Mini-Goals
We slotted those priority-one projects into realistic timelines for the next few months. Once they’re done, we’ll bump a few “priority twos” up to the top spot.
3. Limit New Starts
During the sprint we’ll resist (or at least limit!) starting new things. I can’t avoid business-related projects, but I can close my books to anything extra.
4. Celebrate Everything – Starting counts as an achievement, so we’ll toast both beginnings and completions.
I’m calling this a storming plan and one that will let me glide into 2026 like the superhero sewing queen I know I can be.
✂️ Your Turn!
What half-finished projects are calling your name? Download my free tracker or make your own “Finish-It” list, and tell me in the comments:
- How many UFOs (UnFinished Objects) are you claiming?
- Which three will you tackle first?
Let’s cheer each other on and cross that finish line together!
