A Little Yarn On The Side

* You'll locate all those missing knitting needles. * Your knitting bags will be less likely to explode under pressure * Winter is coming, and it's a whole lot easier to stay warm with a finished sweater than half a scarf. * Putting a bad project in the very back of the closet doesn't actually make it go away. * Is there a better reason to justify buying more yarn than just having finished a project? * It would be really embarrassing to give someone a baby sweater for her firstborn when you had actually started it for her as a baby. * You'll just have to memorize that stitch pattern all over again if you set it aside * People will notice if projects keep disappearing off your knitting blog and never reappearing. * If you've been knitting for a long time, it might surprise people if you start finishing a whole bunch of projects at once. You can torture them by saying you've finally figured out how to knit in your sleep, but you won't give any detail...

My first WIP for the Ravelympics isn't quite done, but it's really close. I just finished the sleeve and just need to sew it on. That will be 1 for Team Stashdown and WIP number 7 in the WIP marathon. And if I get some of the seam done tonight, I've promised myself some quality time with those beads!

The Ravelympics started yesterday, but I didn't get to start on my entries for WIP Wrestling until today. Bright and early this morning, I cast on the second sleeve for my nephew's sweater and it's making great progress. It could possibly be done this weekend, which would be WIP number 7 in my WIP marathon, and 1 completed for Ravelympics. YAY! The poncho got a little attention today as well. Then as a reward, I got to work on Fleur This is the beaded band that will go all around the edges. I am still totally in love with beading, but I've reached a bit of a snag: I can't get more beads until the spending ban is over, so I might start showing a little more loyalty to the WIP Wrestling entries. I might only be capable of project monogamy under extreme circumstances, but when a gift is already 6 months late, I'll resort to pretty much anything.

Having finally finished MS3, the temptation to cast on something new has been almost overwhelming . It wouldn't matter what project, exactly, just a new one. To give myself a little "pick-me-up," and just in case I did cave finally, I decided to finish the baby wrap sweater which just needed a small seam, some buttons, and a couple snaps. Not terribly exciting, but it is the 6th WIP in a row finished. YAY! I'm hoping to have a tally of everyone's WIP progress for the blog tomorrow. Let's see how we're doing!

The Albatross Swan Lake MS3 stole is finally done!!! It will look a bit better after being blocked, but how much depends on your perspective. I am a "symmetry" sort of person, so this takes top honors as my least favorite knitting project ever. But, it's done, and I get to add 1000 yards to my tally for the year. YAY! I might have been doing a little swearing while working on the last few beaded rows--Theo obviously thought it safer to wait outside the sewing room. I've had a little difficulty deciding what to work on next. After finishing 5 projects in a row, I would love to cast on something new, but I'm hoping to get to at least 10 WIPs in a row before I crack. So, I did a few rows on the Fir Cone Shawl which can't be finished without buying more yarn, then on to Fleur which I have a love/hate relationship with. It's a lovely cashmere blend yarn, but because of the shaping, it is really fussy knitting and yet boring stockinette stitch, so I los...

Recognize this? MS3 - started over a year ago. 13 rows to go, and this bad boy is done!!! And do you want to know the best part? WHEN IT'S DONE I GET TO ADD 1000 YARDS TO MY STASH-BUSTING TALLY!!!!! I knew somewhere in the universe was something that would finally motivate me to finish MS3. Turns out it took the Year of the Stash AND the WIP marathon to force me into it, but it's going to be done!!!!!!!

Aside from needing a button (which will have to wait until the spending ban is over), Sitcom Chic is DONE!!!!!! So, my 4th WIP in a row has been finished! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And even better, I haven't found any more WIPs lurking any where. That's a nice feeling Callisto seems to be enjoying the huge WIP pile, but I find it a little intimidating. Still, there's one less of them. YAY!!!!!!! So, how is everyone else doing?

So last night I was cleaning the sewing room--obviously not having yet learned that cleaning is never really a good thing--and I found yet another knitting bag, which was holding this: Besides a giant yarn snarl, I found this: an ABC sweater from Debbie Bliss's Nursery Knits that I started for a future niece or nephew who was ultimately miscarried and I put away because I didn't have the heart to work on it any longer. Enough time has passed--and the fact that I now have 8 healthy nieces and nephews plus 2 "honoraries"--to make this an acceptable project again. I also found two green baby sweater pieces, and my first thought was "Wonderful! It's almost done!" Then I noticed: Not parts of the same sweater. What possessed me to start & abandon 2 sweaters in the exact same yarn is anyone's guess. I just hope I wasn't making them for specific children, as the intended recipients would now be of school age & way too large for either of ...

Did you see that????? I have passed the 10,000 yards of yarn mark for the year! There are now 66 (there were those 3 balls of mohair to finish the Lady's Circular Cape, after all) fewer balls of yarn in my stash than when I started the year. YIPPEE!!!!!! But on to other things... The Stealth Project is now in the hands of its new owner, and to directly quote from the text messages received: "OH. MY. GOSH. I LOVE IT!" "It fits perfect, I love the color, and I love the style!!" "It's my favorite piece of clothing." "Ha ha! It's so beautiful, I already had someone comment on it!" Now THAT is what makes knitted gifts worth doing! The "finishitis" contest--The rules: 1. Post a list of your WIPs in the comments. Remember, they must already be started. 2. Keep us posted on your progress 3. Any and all projects will count, but size and complexity of the project will be considered. 4. The winner will be the one who finishes...

I am still holding strong and have not cast on anything new. It's possible....just possible...that I could finally get through all this before I cast on something new: Not very likely, I'll grant you, but possible. Wouldn't that be fabulous! The odds are better than normal as my case of "finishitis" is still going strong. Let's hope it's both contagious and incurable! To help spread this new condition, I have decided to sponsor a contest for number of WIPs finished in a row WITHOUT casting on anything new. Some consideration will be given for the size and complexity of the project, but they must already be in progress as of this moment. The winner (or winners--I reserve the right to award multiple prizes if it is called for) will receive a knitting bag with his or her name embroidered on it. I'd post a picture, but I haven't made it yet as I just thought of this yesterday. Keep me posted through the comments and let me know how many project...