MaryIndiana requested a post on unfinished knitting projects. Some people won't start a new project until the old one is finished; others constantly start projects and move on to something more exciting before it's finished. I believe I fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum.

I have knitting ADD. I wasn't always that way; I used to only do one project at a time. But in the past few years, I have needed variety. So I always have a few things going at once. I only have a couple of truly unfinished projects. I started a sweater two years ago that I know will be to small for me. I hate to rip out the entire back of the thing, but I know I can't continue it, so it has sat for two years. I also started another stuffed animal back when I was teaching knitting classes, but with no baby to get excited about, that project petered out too. I started myself a DNA scarf that is about a third finished, and I started a double knitting scarf for my mother that takes more concentration than I would like and has sat there all year. Yeah, it was supposed to be her Christmas present. And I started an Aran sweater that takes even more concentration than mom's scarf: I tried to do a row while watching TV, and I spent 45 minutes knitting and then unknitting the row. Can't talk or watch TV during that project.

OK, that probably sounds like a lot. But by knitter standards, that's not so much. I will finish the scarves and the Aran eventually. Probably the stuffed animal too. One day I will get brave enough to rip out that sweater and start it over.

But I say with pride that I do not have any mate-less socks in this house.

Posted by: Sarah at 04:33 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I finished my first Primavera sock on the plane out to Seattle and started the second.

I am fantastically happy with this project, but the second sock will be put on hold for a while while I start a very fulfilling project to fill a need. Cryptic, I know. But I can't wait to write about it later.

Posted by: Sarah at 08:29 AM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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1 You have inspired me, you know. You and that sock-knitting blog you linked to a week or two ago. I have now decided that I absolutely MUST learn how to knit so that I can learn how to knit socks. I'm giving my first sock a try; started last night. I'm sure my first set will be terrible and probably unwearable, but it will be a learning experience.

Posted by: Leofwende at November 19, 2008 09:13 AM (jAos7)

2 Leofwende, I know the temptation to emulate Sarah can be overwhelming, but please don't neglect your art. I love your self-portraits and would like to see how you'd depict other people. Amaravati already has one Sovereign of Socks. It needs a Princess of Paintings. But never mind what I want. Learning new skills is always a good thing. Best of luck with your first pair! Sarah, Cryptic, I know. And you also know that hint-dropping is a tried-and-true technique to keep your readers hooked. We'll be back every day in hopes of seeing the unveiling of The Project. How do you pick projects? The Primavera sock is on a year-old blog post. (Not that beauty is ever out of date!) Do you mostly find ideas through random websurfing, or is there a pattern of patterns?

Posted by: Amritas at November 19, 2008 11:11 AM (+nV09)

3 Usually through random web surfing. I also pick out patterns much faster than I can actually make the items, so sometimes I have patterns backlogged for years. I saw the Primavera socks by random and thought they'd be a good fit for this particular yarn I had. There is a clearinghouse of patterns called Knitting Pattern Central, which is a good place to start a web crawl.

Posted by: Sarah at November 19, 2008 11:44 AM (TWet1)

4 what kind of yarn is that? So pretty!

Posted by: Mare at November 19, 2008 11:52 AM (APbbU)

5 The photos are nice, but your readers should know they do not do the sock justice! Can't wait to see what needs you're filling!!!

Posted by: Guard Wife at November 19, 2008 12:42 PM (eb8pN)

6 Thanks, Amritas. I have done a few paintings since then; I just haven't gotten around to posting pics of them. Knitting/crocheting is something I can take with me on the bus to and from work. Oil paints? Mmmm...not so much. Next year, when I'm no longer working a long bus ride from home and when my husband is deployed, I will probably do a lot more art. But for now it's only here and there.

Posted by: Leofwende at November 19, 2008 01:41 PM (jAos7)

7 Leofwende, D'oh! Didn't occur to me that you can't paint and commute at the same time! Nor can you simultaneously commute and Photoshop. It's odd that I forgot about the mobility factor, since I insist on maximum productivity. Just sitting on the bus doesn't sit well with me; I have to do something. Unfortunately, what I do isn't as visible or as beautiful as Sarah's Primavera sock. Or your paintings. Do post some more; I look forward to them.

Posted by: Amritas at November 19, 2008 03:32 PM (a1nQd)

8 how many single socks do you have around the house waiting for a knit mate?

Posted by: airforcewife at November 20, 2008 06:45 AM (Fb2PC)

9 That's my only un-mated sock. And the mate is half done anyway. Now unfinished scarves and sweaters, that's a whole nother story...

Posted by: Sarah at November 20, 2008 11:01 AM (TWet1)

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In sock knitting news, I just want to be this girl. She makes beautiful footwear.

Posted by: Sarah at 05:25 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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I haven't put any crafting up in a while because, well, I haven't made anything blogworthy. I have spent most of my time crocheting wheelchair afghans for the VA hospital. But, what the hey, I thought I'd put a photo up.

I also have been working on a Primavera sock since I left for San Antonio. It will travel with me to Seattle this coming weekend for the next SpouseBUZZ live. (Which totally snuck up on me. Yesterday AWTM said, "See you next weekend," and I had no idea what she was talking about.)

Tomorrow I am hosting a Yarn Event at our Michaels, where we make blocks for Warm Up America. I have made several blocks in the past few weeks. Hopefully we'll have good turnout.

Posted by: Sarah at 12:45 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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1 Comrade Sarah, You are always in search of "common ground," and we on the Left also seek it, even with the likes of you. We support all those who make peOple's crafts. The letters "PC" are almost as beautiful as "BHO." We prOgressives admire your willingness to work for nothing. It is a shame that other Omericans still insist on being paid and that we had to remove the word "require" from Our plan for universal voluntary service. In the spirit of bipartisanship and cOmprOmise, we only have two suggestions for you. First, correct the spelling of "Warm Up Omerica." Second, use this pattern. We will see you in Seattlegrad. The peOple's eyes are everywhere!

Posted by: kevin at November 08, 2008 01:28 PM (gpO+N)

2 I'll be there, too. Looking forward to it.

Posted by: Leofwende at November 09, 2008 08:48 AM (cZoqf)

3 Dang! If I had read this earlier, I would have gone!

Posted by: Green at November 09, 2008 09:12 PM (6Co0L)

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