Every crafter has them, those half-finished projects that linger at the bottom of a tote or the back of a closet. Sometimes life gets in the way, sometimes enthusiasm fades, sometimes the project just isn’t working out. And eventually, those unfinished pieces often find their way into estate sales, swaps, or (sadly) the trash.
That’s where we come in.
At Remnants, we’ve seen countless unfinished projects arrive in our marketplace, each one carrying a spark of possibility. What strikes me is how much value there is in finishing someone else’s work, giving it a chance to become something beautiful, and keeping it from the landfill.
Pumpkin Spools: A Work in Progress
Take these pumpkin spools as an example. A crafter clearly had a vision: painted orange thread spools, topped with green leaves, lined up to become little pumpkins. But somewhere along the way, the project was left unfinished.
Looking at them now, it’s easy to see both what was started and what could be: add stems, a bit of raffia, maybe stack them into a garland. By finishing what another crafter began, you honor their creativity and get to put your own spin on it.
👉 See the unfinished pumpkin spool project →
Other Forgotten Projects with Potential
The pumpkin spools aren’t alone. Other unfinished projects waiting for a second chance include:
Unfinished holiday stockings – fabric cut, seams started, but not quite ready to hang by the chimney. A perfect chance to finish them off and use them for years to come.
👉 See the stocking project set →
A needlepoint with a heartfelt message – the words “2 Teach is 2 Touch Lives 4 Ever” partially stitched, waiting for someone to complete the thought. It’s a reminder that even unfinished, the intention is powerful.
👉 See the needlepoint project →
Happy painted wooden dowels – cute white wooden dowels with cheerful painted faces, left incomplete, begging to become plant stakes, toy parts, or whimsical snowman décor.
👉 See the painted happy dowels →
Each of these projects tells a story, and offers a new chapter for someone else to write.
Why Finish What Someone Else Started?
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It’s sustainable. Instead of letting materials (and hours of someone’s effort) go to waste, you’re giving them purpose again.
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It’s collaborative across time. You’re partnering with a fellow crafter, even if you never meet them.
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It’s inspiring. Sometimes an unfinished project is easier to approach—you don’t have to start from scratch, just carry it to the finish line.
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It’s joyful. There’s something special about imagining the original maker, and then seeing your own hand complete their vision.
A New Way to Think About Unfinished Work
The next time you see an unfinished project, whether in your own closet or at a swap or sale, think about the possibility it holds. Finishing it doesn’t erase the original crafter’s effort. It amplifies it, keeping their creativity alive while adding your own.
And really, isn’t that what craft is about? Continuity, community, and making something beautiful together, even across generations.
✨ What about you? Have you ever finished someone else’s project? Did it feel like collaboration, or reinvention, or both?
