Sorry. I may have read one too many click-bait headlines lately. I was really tempted more than I should have been to add something like, “You’ll never guess what secrets we learned!!” Ugh. Maybe I’ve been on Clickbait, ehr, Facebook too much lately.
AHEM.
But in all seriousness – the question of the month is: Are you a monogamous knitter? It’s a topic that has come up amongst the Yarnistas on multiple occasions as we respond with glee/disdain/horror/shame at the number of projects we have on the needles. Some of us don’t want to talk about it.
That person or persons may or may not be me.
OK, it’s me. Shush.
So, fine. I twisted my own arm to COME CLEAN about my little project problem. I may have just a few projects on the needles. Some of which just need to come OFF said needles because it’s time to face the music and admit that they are not. going. to. happen. Nope, nope, nope. (See: Chevron mittens, below. Sigh.)
Confession time. Actively on the needles at the moment are: the VERY END of my Westbourne, if I could just hurry up and finish it; I’m about 2/3 of the way through a gorgeously red Hitofude; I’m dragging my feet on making a hat for my husband, winner of the “most likely to not take care of a handknit item” award because, well, that; the start of some socks; plus at least five (but quite possibly more) other “zzz” items on my Ravelry projects page.
Now let’s talk about all the items in my queue. On second thought, let’s not. The answer to my question is, of course, I am most definitely NOT a monogamous knitter. Unless I have to be. I do enjoy finishing things. It’s not like I *don’t* finish things. Heck, this year I’ve already finished three projects. And it’s only the 20th! That’s not bad for me. So, let’s focus on the positive, right? Right.
Here’s what the rest of the crew had to say about my question:
Trudy
Multiple projects always! When I was commuting on bus and Metro, I always had to have a small portable project to pull out. Then I needed a big project for TV knitting and maybe a complex lace project for concentrated knitting.
Monogamous knitting only happens if I have a firm deadline (a knitalong or a shop sample). Multiplicity is a result of too many new shiny things catching my eye! There’s always a new pattern or a new technique or a new yarn.
Let’s NOT discuss the status of UFOs!
Nicole
Oh golly. Hi, my name is Nicole and I am a project slut.
I am definitely not a monogamous knitter. Different projects fit certain aspects of my life and so I have to have multiple to get me through. Three tends to be my magic number but, if I’m being bad, I can get all the way up to seven or so. One is always a big and mindless project like a shawl, blanket, or sweater. One is my “to go” project that I can shove in my purse, like a hat, socks, or mitts. I always have a lace shawl of some sort that’s a little more challenging. What gets me in trouble, though, are the class and shop projects. It never fails that something comes up that I just have to knit whether I’m working on something or not! It’s normally inspired by a class I’m teaching (because of course I need a teaching project!) or by some hot pattern or yarn around the shop that I just can’t wait to get my hands on. It’s a problem. Luckily, for all that, my UFOs never last forever and they always get finished…eventually.
Katherine
So, I think I may be the closest we have to a monogamous knitter among the yarnistas. I definitely didn’t start out that way. Dangle something shiny (an interesting pattern, a great colorway, whatever), and I’d be off to the races with whatever new thing had just caught my eye. A few years ago, I was frustrated because I felt like I was knitting all the time but never finishing. It happened sort of organically that I started to have a few projects going like Trudy mentioned. About six months ago, I started knitting monogamously. I still slip up (right now I’m working on a sweater that isn’t portable, so I’ve got a mindless cowl in my work bag), but I’ve gotten so much more off my needles than I’ve done before. I should also say, if I start something and I’m not into it, I abandon it. Life’s too short to make something that doesn’t stir you on some level, you know? There are UFOs, but really they’re just waiting to be frogged. (Editor’s note: WORD, Katherine. Word.)
Jillian
My name is Jillian and I have a project starting problem. Like Trudy, I can settle down for some monogamous knitting if I have a firm deadline of some kind (usually a gift), but somewhere in law school my project list got into a state of disarray but that didn’t stop me from casting on new things. Also, I need different projects for different purposes. Some are better for commuting, some for TV knitting, and some for challenging myself. One of my 2014 knitting resolutions was to finally frog old WIP’s that just were never going to be knit. I was pretty successful in parring those down, but I’m trying to continue that trend with finishing more things in 2015. While I know I’ll never be a monogamous knitter, I would like the amount of current projects to be a little more manageable.
Arthella
My name is Arthella and I have startitis. I’m fine casting on a new project every day. Especially after a long day, it’s my night cap. You guessed correctly, I’m not a monogamous knitter. I keep socks on needles as my go-with-me-everywhere knitting, there are midsize projects like hats, cowls and other accessories that hang out in my knitting nook that I pick up and knit on daily and last but not least there’s the bin of UFOs that I pull a project bag from randomly to finish whatever is inside. I want to knit all the things and knitting this way makes me a free range, happy knitter. (Editor’s note: Another very positive outlook! I like it! And I swear it’s not because I seem to have Arthella’s “startitis” affliction. Really! Stop looking at me like that.)
I’ll sum up
However you work on your projects, as long as you are HAPPY, that’s all that matters, right? Right. Happy knitting and crocheting in 2015!