Projects on the go

Ask any crafter and the chances are that they’ve got more than one project on the go – and I’m no different.  Why do we do this?  Do we have a shorter-than-average attention span than requires us to hop from project to project?  Or does yarn bring out our “inner magpie”, distracting us with something soft and squishy rather than bright and shiny, unleashing our creative minds to think what beautiful or practical item we can create next?

I don’t know the answer to this, and I suspect that it’s different for everybody, but I do know that in my case, I’ve usually got socks on the go along with something else as socks are such a portable project – and in the case of a basic pair of socks, pretty mindless too when you need to keep your hands busy but still be able to turn your attention to what’s going on.

I’ve had lots of project ideas whizzing about in my head recently, so it seemed like a good idea to get out the WIPs (works in progress) that I knew were lurking to see just how much I needed to finish off before I could start something new without feeling guilty about it.

Ah.  There were quite a few.

The biggest project, of course, is the Yarndale Sock Line.  Seventy-six (yes, you read that right!) pairs of socks are now all photographed and available for the world to see on Pinterest here.  It’s quite amazing to see all that socky love ready to go to new homes, and that’s my next job – the re-homing process is underway!  I’ll keep you posted on that one.

Next up and only just finished is this pair of socks in Regia Pairfect yarn.  These are going to be the subject of a future blog post so you’ll see them again another day.

These are my Uncle’s new pair of socks.  He told me the other day that he had finally worn out “his last pair of socks” so that’s a few pairs he’s managed to go through without even considering that I could have mended them for him!  Never mind.  This pair is in King Cole Zig Zag; they’ve brought out a new version of their Zig Zag yarn that has more wool content and knits up in stripes rather than swirls and I’m liking the way it’s turning out.

Oh, and do you like my new stitch marker?  Isn’t it lovely?  It was made for me by my very talented friend Tracy from Handmade over Yonder …

In fact, she made me five of them!

And she gave me these pretty Babushka stitch markers as well – I felt very spoilt!

Back to the projects … a cotton top in Drops Muskat which I cast on after admiring someone else’s top in a Facebook group.  Oh dear.  Surfing the internet can be an expensive hobby!  It’s ever so pretty though, and easy to knit up as it’s knitted in the round.  The good thing is that as it’s a short-sleeved summer top, I don’t feel quite so bad about putting this one further down the queue.

Another gift, this time from Janine in New Zealand (how lucky am I to have been given all these gifts?!).  This yarn is such a beautiful teal-blue colour and beautifully soft and squishy … and made from possum fur mixed with merino wool.  I’d never seen possum yarn before and have to admit being just a teensy bit squeamish about how the possum fur becomes yarn, but the possum is such a big pest in New Zealand that it’s good that something positive comes out of it – and, as Janine says, “everyone should knit with possum yarn at least once in their lifetime”.  I’m up for giving it a go!  This isn’t technically a WIP yet, but as I’m spending quite a lot of time searching Ravelry for that perfect pattern, then I think it counts.  It’s DK yarn and there’s no nylon in it so I won’t be using it for socks – I’ve been thinking maybe a scarf or a shawlette, or possibly even a hat?  I’m having a lovely time on Ravelry looking around so I probably won’t make a decision just yet!

Oh dear.  This list is longer than I thought it would be.

My Vivid sock yarn blanket which I first wrote about in November 2013.  This one was always going to be a slow project so I don’t feel at all bad about how long it’s taking.  It is growing, though. Slowly.  These are just two of the squares that I’ve done; I really need to start looking through them all and seeing if I can start to join them together so that it feels like there’s real progress being made.

This one … I’m ashamed to say that this Viking version of the Central Park Hoody has languished in a bag pretty much since I cast it on – in December 2013!  This was the picture that I showed you then – and this is pretty much how it looks now.  I love the yarn but each ball goes from dark to light purple and I was worried that my jacket would just be too stripy.  I even tried knitting with just one of the shades from each ball and that was going pretty well until I discovered that my circular needle had two different sized tips on each end.  Oh, the joys of interchangeable needles!  I can’t quite bring myself to unravel it just yet, so it’s still languishing.

Finally! This one is just about to go on the needles – dog jackets for my friend’s tiny little dogs. She asked me if I could make them and I said “yes” without considering that (a) I have never knitted a dog jacket before, (b) these dogs are too small for any pattern that I’ve found so far (they’re teacup chihuahuas) and (c) I have all of the above projects to finish.  However, winter is approaching and these teeny tiny dogs shiver at the slightest draught so I will be trying to get the jackets finished over the school holidays next week so that they’re ready to wear when the weather turns cold. We’ve been blessed with such a mild autumn so far, but you just know that the icy wind is waiting to blast in with a vengeance at being kept waiting for so long!

I haven’t even mentioned all the yarn destined to be new projects that waves cheerfully to me every time I walk past it, hoping that I might just cast on yet another project and it might be the yarn chosen.  After reading this back, I don’t think I dare!

What’s your WIP list like?

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16 Responses

  1. Rachelradiostar says:

    Guilty WIPer here too! I've four matinee jackets on the go, a full layette just one bootee short, a little Aran waistcoat one front needs doing and I've already eyed up your squares now…itching to have a go!!!

  2. Anonymous says:

    Crikey O'Riley! Mine isn't quite that bad. A cosy stripe blanket, a pair of toddler socks and my priority project-Joes Toes socks purchased at Yarndale. I'm currently having to wear woolly socks over my normal socks but I'm in danger of going boob-over-bonce in the kitchen. And I've been inventing some one-colour mandalas to decorate trees at my friend's wedding next summer.

    • Winwick Mum says:

      Actually, with a cosy stripe blanket in that list you're not far off as bad as me! 😉 I bet your mandalas are going to look fab – I'll look forward to seeing lots of photos on your blog! xx

  3. Sharon - creativity and family says:

    I love your knitted squares, by far the prettiest knitted squares I have seen, it will be a beautiful blanket.

    • Winwick Mum says:

      It's a really nice pattern, Sharon, I do enjoy making the squares. The original pattern is for thicker yarn so the squares are bigger – knitting in 4ply is going to take me a while! xx

  4. selina says:

    wow love all your WIPs! i have a few, 'sample squares, for furture throw, cotton top, knitted fisherman's rib jumper, craocheted squares to be made into a throw as well, not as many but i also have a huge stash of yarn just like yours, waving to me waiting to be cast on! i have a bad habit of buying yarn when it's on special, everytime, just can't help it, i think there just might be a day when i can no longer purchase it, so for now i do!
    thanx for sharing

    • Winwick Mum says:

      It was really quite liberating to list all my WIPs and I'm going to make a concerted effort to get some finished now! The socks will be done this weekend and hopefully the dog jumpers by the end of next week so I'm not feeling quite so bad about them now! xx

  5. Lilly's Mom says:

    Hi Christine, it's always a joy to see your perfectly matched socks; I love the different sock yarns you are using. The sweater looks so beautiful with the pattern on the edging. I am struggling with knitting a sweater for myself. I'm almost to the point of throwing it out 🙁 I think the sock yarn blanket will be so pretty when it's done. The pattern is so intricate. Right now I'm working on my sweater (ugh) and a new needlepoint which is a lot of fun but I have to work on it in natural light. Enjoy your weekend and don't work too hard in your garden. Autumn has arrived but not for us yet here in southern California. Hugs, Pat xx

    • Winwick Mum says:

      Sweaters can seem to take such a long time to knit – I think that's why I'm addicted to socks! Hoping to get out in the garden this weekend – we'll have to see how the weather is! xx

  6. Amy at love made my home says:

    Wow, that is quite a WIP list!!! You have some beautiful things underway though and I can understand the need for different things for different times. I cannot take a blanket or big shawl to work for example, but I can make something small, then at home a blanket to snuggle under and crochet on at the same time is a good thing I think! I love the socks that you have made and the squares are beautiful too! xx

    • Winwick Mum says:

      It makes perfect sense to have "home" and "away" projects! I just think that perhaps I don't need quite so many of them … 🙂 xx

  7. Christina says:

    Hi Christine. I love having different WIP's because I need one for every mood. My biggest WIP is my duffle coat, but I am also making some mittens and hats and I am mending a granny square blanket that the naughty dog has chewed up. You can probably get away with two different needle tips on your languishing project, it will not be noticeable after a wash or two, especially if the needles are quite close is size. Possum yarn is new to me. Off on a Google journey to find out more. Enjoy your weekend. x

    • Winwick Mum says:

      Dog's just don't appreciate the effort that goes into home-made blankets, do they?! You're probably right about the needle tip sizes but I'm not loving the jacket at the moment so I will leave it for just a bit longer, I think! xx

  8. Wainwright and Wright.Co says:

    Oh Christine, this post made me smile, yes I am just the same. Like you I always have a pair of socks on the go as I too call them my "portable project" fitting into a pencil case-size bag. But I have many other WIPs too, including a tea cosy (can only knit it when the teapot is empty which is rare in our house), a crochet blanket, a cardigan, a summer top and a Christmas teddy. Love the pretty pink of the summer top and possum yarn sounds intriguing. Dare I say it I also have cross stitch projects aplenty too!
    Caz xx

    • Winwick Mum says:

      It is making me feel so much better to see how many other projects people have on the go too! I'm not alone! 🙂 xx

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