I HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE that I have a problem with finishing. When it comes to knitting, this tricky admission has a double meaning. I have more unfinished knitting projects lurking around my office than I care to count, or even see, and part of the reason I don’t finish them is because I don’t like finishing, that is, the tasks of weaving in ends, sewing seams and blocking that are critical to a successful sweater, or even, for that matter a purse. (And trust me, I am highly motivated by purses. I LOVE purses.) The problems started, along with the knitting, back in high school. I’d like to blame those nice ladies at the local yarn store, but I expect I just wasn’t paying attention.
I’ve always liked diving into projects more than I cared, really, about how they turned out. I am not, it turns out, as much of a perfectionist as I might like, and I am able to reap a whole lot of enjoyment from “doing,” without caring much about the outcome.
I fear that this is the hallmark of a selfish knitter. That so-called sweater above? That’s my response to the Rock’s request, sweetly and politely made two years ago, for a purple hoodie. Well, purple, yes, but hoodie? We’ll see. There’s a whole lot of knitting to be done before anything resembling a hood appears.
This is like the baby blanket I began 10 years ago for the daughter-to-be of one sister-friend that ended up going four years later to another. And meanwhile, I pretend not to see all that soft purple yarn lying forlornly under my desk (it’s right next to my knees, even as I type this) and instead think lustful thoughts for the teal blue alpaca that’s waiting for me downstairs, partially cast on to begin this incredible shawl.
Is there a cure for this disease? I’m hoping that the sisterhood over on our Ravelry group can help, but I’m looking for suggestions from other knitter/crafter/project-y types: How in the world do you finish everything you start?
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I am able to reap a whole lot of enjoyment from “doing,” without caring much about the outcome.
I fear that this is the hallmark of a selfish knitter.
No, this is the hallmark of a process knitter. It doesn’t matter what you end up with, as long as you have fun along the way.
I’m usually pretty good about finishing what I start although it might take me forever. That’s one reason I’ve been sticking to small projects like socks and dishrags. Too much chaos to even contemplate anything bigger.
But, if we’re holding objects up for scrutiny, I have not finished the Boogie Vest or Voyager Lace Stole. I fell out of love with Boogie – it’s totally my fault, not Boogie’s – honest! And Voyager. . . well, all I can say about that is oops and not having enough patience to tink a row or two since I knitted on regardless of where I actually left off in the pattern many moons ago. (What? You mean row counters can actually be wrong???)
Obviously, I don’t have an answer for you except “Soldier on”.
I’m sorry. Do you mean to say that not finishing things is a problem?
After a certain point, I realized that I was looking at this unfinished project business 180 degrees wrong. Rather than see all the loathsome bags stacked up around me as half-done crap, I realized I should see them as PRESENTS! Somebody has left me a sweater that’s ALREADY HALFWAY FINISHED! If you have enough of these bags laying around, all of a sudden, it was like some leprechaun was hiding little surprises for me all over the place. Lucky me!
You’ve got a leprechaun around there someplace, I’m sure of it.
(P.S. This psychology actually works for me. If I got up the steam to start a project, then there is probably something worthwhile in there, something worth revisiting. )
I’m ecstatic that there are others out there that relate. Although, I think this problem is more common than we already know. As of now, I am invested in at least 6 projects — some in progress, and others that have yet to be started — but supplies on hand! My husband does NOT get it. So I’m glad that you do.
An observation — the majority of my finished projects are items for babies. Small is easier to finish, it turns out.