My Drawer of Unfinished Projects

Years ago, we bought an antique oak dresser from an elderly neighbour who was moving to the Prairies to live with her son. I stripped and stained the dresser, and it has lived in our bedroom since then. There is a story attached to this dresser. One day before she moved, I discovered that my neighbour had been a childhood friend of my friend’s mother, Mary, many years ago in Prince Edward Island. A serendipitous moment that has made me treasure this dresser even more.

The third drawer of this dresser houses my unfinished projects; some have lain tucked away for over twenty-five years. I find it hard to fathom that I have projects I started so many years ago and never finished. Why is it, I wonder, that I never complete so many of the projects I start?

This talent of not finishing things stretches beyond stitching, and into my younger years. I can still vividly recall the smirks on my parents’ faces as I shared my excitement about projects I was eager to explore. Those smirks would accompany reminders that I still had several unfinished projects.

It took me many years to realize that part of the reason projects were never finished was because I am a generalist; I have so many interests! I changed my university major five times – from women’s studies to anthropology, sociology, social work, and finally settled on English literature, with a minor in political science. And yes, that also elicited parental smirks! But you see how they’re all connected, don’t you?

And then, in my early 40, I discovered that expertise is needed to initiate new projects; it was a skill in high demand. As a consultant, the words pilot project and collaboration gave me goosebumps! How I loved pulling people from different disciplines together to initiate or implement something innovative and then leaving it to them to continue - and I got paid for it!

And that brings me back to my drawer of unfinished projects – many so close to completion. I pull a project out periodically, thinking, today I will finish, only to tuck the project away a week later. These are projects that I need to finish - no one is waiting, eager to continue my work.

A few months ago, I read Say Yes, a blog post by Aprille, an east coast artist and blogger at Aprille Janes Studio: Life, Art and Inspiration. Aprille was exploring what she could do with a bag of linens she had recently purchased. She wrote, “But this! This I could easily pick up and put down. It’s meditative and intuitive and can be as big or as small as I want. It doesn’t even have to BE anything except a chance to play with a needle, thread and nice materials.” I was intrigued by her mention of a post by artist Chelle Stein, What is Slow Stitching? How to Get Started? Stein defines slow stitching as, “a mindful needlework process that focuses on intention and the joy brought from creating – not so much the final result of the piece itself.” Her words sparked something in me; it is one of the reasons I love stitching. Yes, I love planning and creating something new but I also just love the journey. Maybe my stitching projects are not about finished products. Could it be that I was part of the slow stitching movement long before it had a name?

Mark Lipinksi, a well-known figure in the quilting industry, is often identified as the founder of the slow stitch movement. After some health issues, Lipinski realized the importance of slowing down – and the many benefits of a mindful stitching practice. The point of slow stitching, he says, isn’t to be perfect; or make a cohesive final piece; the intention is to enjoy the process one stitch at a time. Slow stitching is about relaxation and not stressing about all the things we might worry about if we were trying to make a perfect quilt or sewing project.

I liked the idea that I might have been at the forefront of the slow stitching movement! And doesn’t it fit with how I live my life these days? I have so much more time now that I am older; I am no longer running to the finish line. I like walking for the sake of walking, not the destination. I enjoy spending hours cooking in the kitchen with my husband and then savouring a tasty meal with friends as the sun sets and candles burn down. Slow walking, slow food, so why not slow stitching?

Last year I wrote a blog post called Five Lessons From A Quilt, the story of a quilt I began stitching for myself over twenty years ago. A quilt I finished in two days only last year. In that blog post I shared that I am much better at going slow these days; age and the times we live in have fostered that skill. I wrote that finally finishing the quilt felt effortless; patience and going slow had both paid off.

As I re-read those lessons from a quilt, I am reminded that there is also a satisfaction in finishing projects. My drawer of unfinished projects is calling; it is time to attach the sleeve to the knitted cable sweater, frame the sampler I embroidered, and attach the zipper to the pillow. I will slowly stitch, sew, and frame. Hopefully, I will finish these projects, but if not, I will enjoy a meditative and intuitive process that will allow me to focus on ‘intention and the joy.’