In with the new
My friend Leigh pointed out the other day that I’ve got an awful lot of knitting projects going. She’s right, of course. (And I don’t think she even knows about the quilting projects.) Some are very close to completion, lacking only buttons or other finishing details. Some have lost their luster, at least for the moment. I firmly believe that knitting—given that for most of us it’s a luxury hobby and not a means of economy or livelihood—ought to be pleasurable, so I’ve set them aside until the urge for reunion with that particular yarn or design should strike.
I do think there’s virtue in finishing what you start, but there’s also so much joy in the fever of new ideas and the experimenting to see whether what you’ve envisioned can take shape in your hands. Sometimes once I know how something is going to turn out I lose interest in actually completing it. I thrive on the problem-solving aspect of knitting, frankly. There’s always satisfaction in finishing something beautiful, of course, but it’s different from the triumph of hatching a real dragon’s egg of an idea.
All this is by way of saying that I’ve started some more knitting.
I had credit at Twisted and could no longer resist their stock of A Verb for Keeping Warm and Indigo Moon yarns. That’s AVFKW Annapurna in “Burnt Ember” and Indigo Moon Fingering in “Moss Green.” These colors together sing to me like a Bollywood musical. And I’m thinking a baby could best pull them off, so together they will be a wee stripey sweater. Maybe even two wee stripey sweaters. There’s a fair old batch of babies brewing for 2010.
Another reason for new projects to leap onto the needles is pure necessity. I have a husband with an enormous (though handsome) head, and he insists on wearing ugly hats because they happen to fit. There’s a particular little white, orange, and blue lycra number I’d really like never to see unless he is going out for a run. However, you can’t just tell a man not to wear an ugly hat; you have to put a better one in his hand. So I cast on a Windschief in an attractive brown. I’m not convinced that even the largest size will be large enough, but I had to try. I also lengthened the band of twisted rib at the edge in the hope of covering his ears; this hat looks a bit short in some of the modeled pictures, which would make it the next thing to a yarmulke on Mr. G.
At least if it’s too small for him it will fit me. And if it’s too small for me it’ll fit my dad. A hat always fits somebody. And I love this Cascade Rustic wool/linen mix.
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 4:03 am
Wow, those colours together are really amazing, and to my eye – suitable for both sexes. I love the hat – I have a massive head, and will be interested to know if it fits.
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 5:16 am
Hmmmm… that is the most beautifully phrased justifications for casting on new projects that I’ve read. 😉 I might have to employ your thinking to my basket, as I’ve been yearning to start a few new projects (me, of the cast on then finish one project mind set!) but I haven’t found the proper rationalization for doing so. I think yu may have inspired me!
Casting on for another pair of socks tonight! Weeeee!!
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 5:31 am
Those colors look so beautiful together! What a lucky baby the recipient will be. I just knitted my (also giant-headed) husband a new Botanic with some leftovers and some handspun; I’m excited to see how this hat you’re knitting turns out!
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 6:25 am
Oh, girl, you just could not resist those colors, could you;)
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 8:05 am
I have four projects on needles… and three more that I REALLY WANT TO START. sigh.
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 9:01 am
Funny — when I finished knitting several “must-finish-on-deadline” gifts this past holiday, I felt bereft when it came to choosing something to knit (or, um, finish) for me once I suddenly had time to knit for me. I’m way more likely to soldier something out if it’s gift knitting than if it’s for me, but this rule does not apply to bulky hats once it gets cold…
That hat you’re knitting now, though — what a winner!!
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 11:41 am
Whether or not some people think it’s an excuse or not, I love the fact that you’re casting on again simply for the pleasure of it. I agree that knitting should be pleasurable, and if you’re running out of steam on a project then you should feel no guilt casting on another. 🙂
I love the brown that you’re using for the hat! Beautiful!
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
I love the richness of the brown yarn for Mr. G. I have to remind myself when I make hats for my husband that there is no way it will fit me if it doesn’t fit him. My head is pretty miniscule compared to my friends. Though a good hat can go to charity with my blessings if it is attractive, warm and doesn’t fit anybody I know.
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Wow. You had credit at Twisted? I don’t think that will ever, ever happen to me. Have you seen their Blue Moon stash of yarns? I never seem to buy anything else from that place. I get to the Blue Moon and WHAM I’m spending the grocery money!
Your new projects are gorgeous!
Posted: January 13th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Sweet!!! I had no idea. I’m ready to throw my ugly hats away.
Posted: January 14th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
I totaly agree. Loved you “words”, and I have just cast on for yet another project 😉
Posted: January 14th, 2010 at 2:12 pm
An excellent attitude towards new projects. I’ve developed something of a phobia of unfinished knits, partially attributable to a lack of UFO storage space. Maybe one day I’ll have room for a nice, roomy basket so I can unbend a little ; )
Posted: January 15th, 2010 at 6:44 am
Oooh, those colors are amazing together!
I am currently struggling with keeping some balance between the excitement of starting new things and the eventual feeling of being overwhelmed that I get when I have a lot of things on the needles at the same time. I love the new stuff, but I don’t do so well with too much on my plate!
Posted: January 16th, 2010 at 9:10 am
You are wise to enjoy the pleasures of knitting…for some reason I feel I have to slog through projects to the bitter end even when they have lost their lustre, and so they take forever to finish. Like Whitney said, I get overwhelmed when I have too many things on the needles, and I’m in that stuck position right now. 🙁
Posted: January 17th, 2010 at 2:19 pm
I love that fact about hats, no matter what you knit it really will fit somebody somewhere. Its best if you have friends and family with a variety of head sizes.
Posted: January 18th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
Thank you for directing me to Windschief. I knit one last night, lengthening the ribbing to 2in and knitting 6in from the cast on before decreasing. It’s pretty big–I’m going to have to rip it back to make it smaller. I hope yours works out–very nice yarn choice.
Posted: January 26th, 2010 at 10:42 am
Great colour combination – the Indigo Moon Moss green and AVFKW burnt ember…you are right they really do “sing” together!
Cheers
Trish from Indigo Moon Yarns