A Little Yarn On The Side

So far, Jennifer might be our front-runner in the WIP contest, having finished 5 so far. I think I'm going to be making two or three divisions--small projects versus large projects, and maybe a third for crochet. I want to make the contest fair enough to keep everyone motivated. So, no one get discouraged! We're all in this together and all projects will count! I have spent tonight undoing & redoing last night's work. Smart knitters double-check patterns quite often. Others of us choose to live on the edge and plow ahead blithely in spite of all previous experience with knitting disasters. Last night I noticed that one sleeve looked okay after being attached to the body but see those increases on this sleeve? Those are supposed to be on the underside of the sleeve, not the topside. Oops. So, after tinking several rows while swearing to the Knitting Gods that I would finally this time learn to start double checking, I tried again and everything is where it shou...

I'm still amazed at the sheer number of Works in Progress. It's almost overwhelming. Makes me want to cast on a new lace shawl....... !!!!! Bizarrely enough, I really do. How insane is that????? Wouldn't it make more sense if I had a mad desire to finish something? Insane! Though, the does help explain the 21 WIPs left, doesn't it? Luckily, we are the WIP Team , and everyone else is holding strong--I can as well. I can soon be at 4 WIPs finished in a row--a personal record. Heck, two in a row might have been a personal record, but four sounds better. Tonight I have been working on Sitcom Chic . After a couple failed and very stupid attempts that had the sleeves inside-out, the sleeves are joined and the yoke decreases have begun. Even better, there are 3 balls of yarn in use right now (I will do anything to avoid weaving in ends), so working on this project will allow me to move the stash-busting tally soonest. Such priorities in life! I've heard from a co...

I keep trying to count my remaining WIPs, and keep coming up with a different number. After the Finish-itis contest, we will be embarking on a "learn to count" campaign. So, let's see if I can list them: 1. Magikal Earth Shawl (photo to come when the camera battery is recharged) - more than halfway through the mind-numbing edging (what is it with edging?????) 2. Plum baby aran: front in progress: 3. Poodle mohair: body done to sleeeve join, one sleeve in progress 4. Blue toddler sweater - back not quite done. Nothing else finished 5. dem fischer sin fru - still not quite halfway through the first clue. Out of 6. 6. Fleur - just missing the edging and the right front 7. Toddler sweater: needs seams, edging, and one piece knit 8. sleeveless sweater - back mostly done 9. Alpaca cardigan: back, one side, and most of the second side done 10. Glitterspun sweater - back finished, front half finished 11. Pi chemo cap - no picture yet. 12. Fir cone shawl - 40% d...

To the Land of FINISH-ITIS!!!!! This is a remote land--often not found by knitters--where hours & hours of knitting actually result in a FINISHED OBJECT. Knitters in this land tend to be well dressed, and have MATCHING socks--which is not always seen in other areas of Knit Land. The Land of Finish-Itis can be difficult to reach, as there are always brand new patterns hoping to snare the knitters, but the brave knitters have banded together to swim straight and avoid the whirlpool on the left called "Knit-A-Longs" and the monster on the right called the "new knitting magazine." It is a treacherous route, but we are determined!!!! When Toni has NOT been gone for most of the weekend and just arrived home, we will be introducing our team members. For now... WE SET SAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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...

I have finished 3 projects in the last two weeks--including tonight's blocking of the plum scarf-- and instead of diving head-long into the stash to start 3 new things, which would generally be my next move, I have apparently contracted a little known disease called "finishitis." This is possibly the first ever documented case in the knitting community. Unlike "starteritis," with "finishitis" the victim is irrationally compelled to finish projects--a very desirable state, of course, but the long-term effects of this condition are as yet unknown. High on the thought of finishing four or even five projects in a single month, I pulled this out of the WIP pile: and have knit 3 rows already. This is the start to Fir Cone Square Shawl from Cheryl Oberle's Folk Shawls book, which was abandoned about 7 months ago when the intended recipient said she didn't actually want a shawl for her birthday (which later led to the music quilt--which she will ...