theraineysisters knitting and so much more

February 2, 2015

From Susan — Looking Back to Move Forward

Filed under: Updates — surly @ 9:44 pm

I am in the knitting doldrums and patiently ::yeah, sure:: waiting for some yarn deliveries (“Um, John, you may notice a few packages arriving in the next few days…” 🙂 ).  So, when I am impatiently waiting for the next project, I usually drag out some musty old thing that I stopped working on because it was boring or problematic.

Or two musty old things.  One is my Window to My Soul (I admit that I do not understand the name of this one).   It is cute and should be fun to wear next spring and summer, but I am at the point where I am knitting acres of stockinette and getting nowhere.  Plus, there are the sleeves to do as well.

Sally finished hers and it turned out so great, that I am inspired to keep going.  It is mindless, so I drag it around with me.

The other musty, old thing is really old.   A really old thing.  I first mentioned this in September 2009.  It is Dale of Norway 10903.  I have started this multiple times for multiple reasons, but I must really want the darned thing because I keep coming back and giving it another go.  Maybe this is the year to be done with it!!  Yay!!

The problem with working on these two projects is that when my new yarn arrives, I will want to drop them like hot potatoes.  But I kind of hate doing that, especially when 10903 has been waiting for 6 years.

So maybe my new yarn purchases will have to sit in wait until they become old and musty to get any attention! 😉

14 Comments »

  1. For a while I had a rule that I couldn’t start a new project until I finished the one I was working on. I would set the new yarn out where I could see it while I was knitting — as a motivation to finish the project I was currently working on. That works best if you’re close to done on the current project. 🙂

    Comment by Lissa — February 2, 2015 @ 10:04 pm

  2. I hear ya, Sister. I’ve just picked up “Snow Sky” from Meg Swanson’s lovely Sweaters from Camp which has been in a sack for 12 years. TWELVE YEARS! It was finished save for one sleeve. One sleeve! I KNOW!!! Now this single sleeve seems to be taking æons to knit. The pattern is so pretty. The yarn and colors are perfect. I’d even trouble to knit my initials into one of the squares. What the hell is wrong with me? Ugh.

    Comment by Catherine S. — February 2, 2015 @ 10:52 pm

  3. I once counted how many unfinished projects I had on the needles. I stopped counting before I ran out of UFOs and I will never reveal the number I was up to when I stopped.

    Comment by surly — February 2, 2015 @ 11:52 pm

  4. Good for you for going back for your lost sheep. When I put something down it really stays down forever and the yarn is frogged and recycled. I admire your ability to even contemplate picking up and finishing these pieces. They certainly seem worth the effort, from what you’ve shown us in the photos. Besides mindless stockinette is perfect for Netflix or BBC knitting, isn’t it?

    Comment by PurrlGurrl — February 3, 2015 @ 2:42 am

  5. Maybe it’s because it’s just so much fun to start something new, but both of these UFOs are so beautiful I really hope you finish both of them and show them off to us. I love the Window to My Soul color and pattern and the Dale of Norway is amazing. I can’t even imagine knitting all that color work. I hope to see the finish.

    Comment by Barb — February 3, 2015 @ 8:44 am

  6. Life is too short to spend it on projects you don’t enjoy. When I find long-term UFOs, I tend to rip them out and recycle the yarn; once, I found someone who wanted to finish the project and sent it to her.

    Comment by June — February 3, 2015 @ 10:29 am

  7. Please finish the Dale of Norway project…it looks so pretty. I have projects I started in the early 90’s still languishing in the knitting bag. Some day I’ll finish them.

    Comment by Mary Lou — February 3, 2015 @ 6:43 pm

  8. After that amount of time, I’ve usually frogged the project, so good on you for picking them up. I really want you to finish the Dale project.

    What have you ordered? I have a serious hankering to order yarn, but don’t even have a clue what I want. Or what I want to knit.

    Comment by Susan — February 3, 2015 @ 8:04 pm

  9. A knitter after my own heart.

    Comment by stashdragon — February 4, 2015 @ 2:17 pm

  10. Hooray, someone who has, as I told a friend of mine, a project that, if it was a child it would be in middle school by now. I have a couple of those. Too ‘something’ to give up and get rid of, too ‘something’ to finish.

    Comment by Loretta — February 4, 2015 @ 11:38 pm

  11. A knitterly friend commented the other day that we should have ‘bring your UFO’s to the store and finish them or rewind the project and make something you love’ night(s). Life is to short and time is to precious to not work on stuff that you adore. Alternatively, do not pass go, do not collect $200, do not open the packages until you finishes those UFO’s. Hard as it would be, gotta look at how you’ll feel having completed two projects that have been lingering. By the way, they are gorgeous.

    Comment by AnnieC — February 5, 2015 @ 7:54 pm

  12. I love Dale of Norway patterns but do not have the skills and am not likely to acquire them at this stage of the game. I would love to see your finished project.

    Comment by Chloe — February 10, 2015 @ 10:39 pm

  13. My Mom always said “Your eyes are the windows to your soul”. – So that might be the reference. Thanks for continuing to inspire!

    Comment by Kathleen — February 11, 2015 @ 8:57 pm

  14. Re. Comment #13: Yup. The little diamonds in the pattern look like diamond-shaped windows, and the twin eyelets look a bit like eyes peeking out – it’s cute!

    I envy your patience in getting as far as you have with the colorwork. Think of what a sense of accomplishment you will have when you finish the gorgeous critter!

    Comment by LaRue Manning — February 14, 2015 @ 9:26 pm

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