How do you stay motivated to finish a project?

[SpunK]

when something gets tedious(sweater, or a lace pattern), i do a quick smaller project (hat, handbag)  just so i don't get bored... once that happens i just make mistakes... 

[arabella]

Absolutely nothing, which is why I have so many unfinished projects. haha, I started a blanket.. simply granny square blanket.. when I first learned to crochet a few years ago. It's still not done. I did get a lot of progress on it, though, this past week when I was stuck in the car driving from Michigan to Florida.

girl, I'm with you.

what's worse (or better, I don't know) is that after a while of it sitting there unfinished, I decide I don't like it, and rip it all out.  I just frogged a 7/8 finished afghan.  but I guess reusing the yarn is better than it sitting there forever.

see, this is why I like to join swaps.  then I *have* to finish!

[BeaG]

see, this is why I like to join swaps.  then I *have* to finish!

Wouldn't it be nice if you gave yourself the same love and respect that you give your swap partners? You deserve that too. (Just my two cents.)
Gr,
BeaG

[serialdeviant]

Guilt. Major, major guilt at leaving a project unfinished.

And deadlines (birthdays, holidays, etc).

I've actually got a long-unfinished sock doll project mouldering in a box. It's not for anyone and I think it will be bad so... another day, maybe.

[Homerof2]

I just frogged a 7/8 finished afghan.

Yesterday I took a friend to the hospital to get a cast changed and was working on my boring pillow back and I took a good look at it and thought 'it wouldn't be hard to frog this whole thing and just have a front' but then decided I only have 10 more rounds to go and I would be disappointed if I didn't finish.  So, thanks for all the advice! I'm going to keep plugging at it and hope to finish it soon - better get it done so I can go on to something else 

[arabella]

see, this is why I like to join swaps.  then I *have* to finish!

Wouldn't it be nice if you gave yourself the same love and respect that you give your swap partners? You deserve that too. (Just my two cents.)
Gr,
BeaG

what an intriguing comment.  this actually made me realize that I hardly ever crochet anything for myself - it's always gifts for other people.  I make other things for myself though.  so I don't think it's a matter of not loving and respecting myself, I just get bored and move on to a fun project. 

[DebbieDoo]

That's why I usually work on more than one project at a time.  When I get bored with one, I'll work on another for a little while.  I also make a lot of things for other people, and I always want to finish quickly so I can give it to them as soon as possible. 

[Homerof2]

I'm working on a filet pillow cover right now and while I loved doing the front because it was interesting and challenging, I'm having terrible trouble staying motivated on the back.  The back is 37 rounds of open mesh, which means you just go around and around and around...

I finally finished this pillow!!!!!!!  THANKS to all of you who gave me ideas of how to make it through the boring part - I actually tried some of them.

It looks great in my living room and as soon as I get a chance, I will post a picture in the finished projects area.

[PinkyK]

I'm motivated to work on anything that isn't my dissertation!

AMEN!!

I also work on things when my husband plays video games and set and work toward deadlines.  With that being said, I have 3/4 of a doggie sweater done for my sister's dog that will have to be for next winter since it is almost summertime! I'm also working on custom name plate for my co-workers and I have been working on them for so long that someone last week said they felt as if they were on back order!

[shewolf]

I'm motivated because when it's done, it's DONE.

I had this poncho that took forever (2 weeks) by the end I was just doing about an hour or so at a time. All that kept me on it was knowing that when it was done I could do something fast that would take about 2 hours start to finish.

Plus I could show it off to my MIL, who seems impressed with my work And then I could wear it! Too bad mom now wants one. . . *sigh* At least I know what I'm doing and I can do something else when I get tired of it. . .