Osborn Fiber Studio

When I started typing the title of this post, I thought I was inventing a word. Then my phone autocompleted it after six letters. Clearly I am not alone.

I am on the brink of starting several projects.

I’m all warped up for my next weave, complete with header, but can’t bring myself to throw that first pick.

I have fiber selected and weighed out for my belated 51 Yarns spin for October, but can’t quite get the wheel turning.

I pulled out my pile of holey jeans, measured, cut patches, ironed, and pinned them in place, but I haven’t managed to thread a needle.

Then there’s the sewing project Stringbean wants to start. I hunted up all the materials, mostly from stash, and scoured the town until we found fusible interfacing. But we can’t seem to find the time to cut pieces.

It’s not just Startophobia; it’s Prep-itis. You know all those fiddly steps to get a project started? I used to resent them, but now I love them. You get that sense of finishing something in a short time, without actually committing to anything. Procrastination as accomplishment!

I know what’s going on. It’s a stage-of-life thing. I’m resisting the overwhelm: I can’t really get lost in a project these days without house and/or kids descending into mayhem that I then have to claw back from. It’s ok; I actually like having a kinda-clean house finally, even though it takes a good chunk of my creative juice. And any time playing with kids, or producing healthy food they will actually eat, is a win. I just have lower bandwidth for projects, and I’m cool with that. I’m just getting more thoughtful about what I take on. Also not a bad thing.

So I’m engaged in productive procrastination. What’s the best way to stay there as long as possible?

Finish the last big project you started!

Yup, the bluebells are done. I mean, the knitting is done. I mean, the body of the knitting is done. I cast off two days ago, then yesterday I finished seaming the underarms (so annoying! So satisfying!) and pulled out my machine.

Working with my sewing machine always feels like negotiating with someone I’ve been neglecting. Coincidentally, my middle child is four, so I’m well-practiced at this. I coaxed twelve straight lines out of the old girl.

Then I took a scissors to my work.

It’s a special kind of level-up in steeking when you let your six year old cut your steeks. Stringbean cuts really straight, but she likes to rush, so it was a little scary. In the end she only nicked one stray float.

So there we are! Several hours of rubbing and buttons yet to go, but I’ll get there. It’ll be awesome to have this project in the bag. As Jared gently mentioned a few weeks ago, “it seems like this is taking kind of a long time.” No longer than I’d planned, but still.

Then maybe I’ll know what to start next.