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basket, crochet, crocheting, knit, knitting, process knitter, project bag, project knitter, WIP, WIP Wednesday
Over the past week or so I have had at least a dozen people ask me if I have multiple projects going at once. Maybe we’re all getting to that point in the season where we want to see some of our WIPs finished and have less on our plate? I know I’m feeling a little itchy to share some actual, finished projects with you.
So the answer is, YES. I always have more than one project going. I feel like this is a very personal thing and something that is different from knitter to knitter, crocheter to crocheter, spinner to spinner. I’ll tell you about myself – you tell me about yourself in the comments!
My Top-Down Sweater is almost done!
I am both a process and a product knitter/crocheter. I want to enjoy working on something and enjoy wearing it or giving it away when it is complete. In order to find harmony in my yarn life I have several categories of projects going at once.
The Tiny: I almost always have a sock. I can grab it and stuff it into my purse in a knitting emergency. While I’m debating the next sweater, I can pick it up and enjoy knitting without making a hasty decision about that sweater. It lets me think and eventually I have a finished pair of socks! Also… I love sock yarn. I have a whole bin of it and yard for yard is the majority of my stash at home.
The Middle Ground: A hat, cowl, mittens or a baby-something is usually stuffed into a project bag. A lot of times this is a gift project and I’ll work in it a little faster than my other projects. It usually has a quicker deadline but it is a smaller project so it gets done faster.
The Store Project: This runs the gamut of sizes and yarns. As a store, we pick out our own samples. This lets us have control over the color, size and style of what we display for inspiration. I usually have something going for the store and sometimes I get to wear it when it’s done being a sample.
The XL: I have to admit that I keep things easy. Most of my projects will fall into the “Advanced Beginner” to “Intermediate” category. But here – my XL Project – is where I’m trying something new and/or complicated. I’m a little maxed out at the moment, actually. I have three XXL projects going, though I’m about to dial it down to two. I have a double knit cowl started, which is a totally new technique for me, and a colorwork, steeked cardigan, which is just a big project. I also have a hat that I started for crochet month and it has me so stumped I’m going to throw it in timeout for a bit.
I know that if I focus on ONE project at a time I see the finished product faster. And so, within my categories, I usually have a project I favor because I want to see it done. But I never only have ONE project going at a time. The thought of finishing something and not having the next thing lined up to go, or having a sock to knit on while I’m debating colors for a hat for my sister, just sends me into panic mode! What kind of knitter/crocheter are you? Do you have more than one thing going right now?
A “Sensible Shawl” in progress, almost done!
Right there with ya! I have so many projects that are just about half finished. I really need to put my nose to the stone and finish them!
Sometimes I get into a mood where I really need to finish something, so I grab the project that is closest to being done. I’m getting close to that point now, where I have to choose one of the smaller ones and just finish already.
Hi – I sent you an e-mail a few weeks ago with regard to the stay in place shawl. I never got a response. My question was HOW DO I MAKE IT WITH A BORDER IN THE FRONT. If I do 6 stitches before the initial yarn over at the beginning and ending of the row would that do anything to the pattern? Also, last summer you had a V shawl hanging in the front of the store and I lost the pattern and was wondering if you could -mail me. My name is Lynne Wexler and I have been a steady Summer client of yours for a few years.
Please help. Thanks. Lynne
Hi Lynne, I’m sorry I never received your email! I can certainly help with that.
The stay-put shawl can be altered very easily. You can put 6 stitches before the initial yarn over in front and it won’t change the shape of the shawl, just make a wider edge. You can put other edgings in that area instead, also, very easily. I would probably just put a stitch marker where you want that increase so you don’t have to worry about counting stitches. You can also use a different increase instead of the yarn over, if you don’t want a decorative eyelet.
I had a few different shawls hanging up front last summer and I want to make sure I have the right one. Was it this shawl, here? http://sageyarn.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/wip-outlaw/
Jen
I have 3 projects going 1. cowl 2. vest 3 sock
3 is perfect! Just enough to keep you going and not too many to get distracted
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