This happens to me every so often and it comes on so suddenly I'm really taken aback. I'm tired of knitting right now. I know, and if you think you're shocked, imagine what it seems like for me. During Knit Night last Thursday evening I was so uninspired about knitting I started making a dishcloth; it is completely brainless knitting. No disrespect to avid dishcloth knitters intended here; it's just that I have other things on needles that should be finished. OK so I am knitting, just perhaps not what I should be knitting. But the entire knitting enterprise feels rather rudderless for the moment.
There are three different things that should be finished; well really there are more, but they aren't currently sitting around in the living room so I forget about them so they're lost in the count. These forgotten projects are in deep storage near my stash and often just end up being part of the stash as I become motivated enough to take them apart. But that's an entirely different story.
Stalled #1 - Fisherman's Pullover
At the time the Fisherman's Pullover was introduced I rather cavalierly wrote: "I have to continue to knit so that I can see the emerging textures and design." Sometime shortly after that was posted, interest waned. The only thing not turning out perfect in this project are the twisted cables. For some reason they seem too tight in certain spots. I showed it to Tena on Thursday evening and she thought there was no need to frog the whole thing, (she's a good source to get feedback about such things) Tena thinks a good blocking will bring those tight twists right around, and I tend to agree. Plus she had an explanation of what she thought I'd done to cause this tightness not that I fully understood it. Or was it the glass of wine we had to celebrate Tena's retirement that foggied up the explanation or more correctly my appreciation of it. At any rate, the sympathetic discussion about my failings with this fancy pullover was nice. For some reason, though, I've lost that loving feeling for it (apologies to the Righteous Brothers).
Stalled #2 - Churchmouse Crocheted Moebius
The project has lost its luster. It is a sea and I do mean a whole lot of single crochet. I'm on the second skein of fingerling mohair yarn and there's no real end in sight. It is equally as mindless to make as the dishcloth, but the reward for a job completed takes so much longer. Differed gratification is not acceptable at the moment. There's really absolutely no reason for the stall on this one; I just need to buck it up and stay with it.
Stalled #3 - T-shirt for M Doll
The clothing for the M doll has hit a snag. The pants that turned out to be true hiphuggers have now been fixed to be more like mom jeans. The two pieces of the pants were sewn together followed by having to remove a few of those finishing stitches. The remaining live stitches were put on a circular needle and the waistband was raised. Easy fix!
It is the t-shirt that is now causing problems. It was all done except for the finishing, aka sewing the seams together when it became apparent that if the shirt was completed the way the pattern suggests, it would not fit over the rather large doll head. If the t-shirt is sewn on the doll it will be permanently attached, not something I want. So the pattern needs to be adjusted with a seam and buttons in the back. The ideas about how to do this have been discussed with knit buddies, the buttons are purchased, it is just a matter of knitting it. Since I'd like to get this done before July there's no reason not to begin. But there it is, not begun yet anyway.
So I've been psychologically beating myself up about these stalled projects and the mess they make in the living room. Then I read Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's blog post from May 29. She too seemed that day to be at some knitting impasse. It was very comforting in knowing that if she, one of the most prolific knitters I know, was off her game it is acceptable for me to take a few days off to gather my knitting mojo and start anew when this passes. I guess sluggishness likes company as much as misery. Hopefully my lethargy toward knitting will move on; this rudderless sailing isn't much fun. For tonight, however, I'll just finish another dishcloth.
There are three different things that should be finished; well really there are more, but they aren't currently sitting around in the living room so I forget about them so they're lost in the count. These forgotten projects are in deep storage near my stash and often just end up being part of the stash as I become motivated enough to take them apart. But that's an entirely different story.
Stalled #1 - Fisherman's Pullover
At the time the Fisherman's Pullover was introduced I rather cavalierly wrote: "I have to continue to knit so that I can see the emerging textures and design." Sometime shortly after that was posted, interest waned. The only thing not turning out perfect in this project are the twisted cables. For some reason they seem too tight in certain spots. I showed it to Tena on Thursday evening and she thought there was no need to frog the whole thing, (she's a good source to get feedback about such things) Tena thinks a good blocking will bring those tight twists right around, and I tend to agree. Plus she had an explanation of what she thought I'd done to cause this tightness not that I fully understood it. Or was it the glass of wine we had to celebrate Tena's retirement that foggied up the explanation or more correctly my appreciation of it. At any rate, the sympathetic discussion about my failings with this fancy pullover was nice. For some reason, though, I've lost that loving feeling for it (apologies to the Righteous Brothers).
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| Churchmouse Crocheted Moebius as it is today |
Stalled #2 - Churchmouse Crocheted Moebius
The project has lost its luster. It is a sea and I do mean a whole lot of single crochet. I'm on the second skein of fingerling mohair yarn and there's no real end in sight. It is equally as mindless to make as the dishcloth, but the reward for a job completed takes so much longer. Differed gratification is not acceptable at the moment. There's really absolutely no reason for the stall on this one; I just need to buck it up and stay with it.
 |
| The pattern for the t-shirt without the snowflake design and with short-sleeves |
Stalled #3 - T-shirt for M Doll
The clothing for the M doll has hit a snag. The pants that turned out to be true hiphuggers have now been fixed to be more like mom jeans. The two pieces of the pants were sewn together followed by having to remove a few of those finishing stitches. The remaining live stitches were put on a circular needle and the waistband was raised. Easy fix!
It is the t-shirt that is now causing problems. It was all done except for the finishing, aka sewing the seams together when it became apparent that if the shirt was completed the way the pattern suggests, it would not fit over the rather large doll head. If the t-shirt is sewn on the doll it will be permanently attached, not something I want. So the pattern needs to be adjusted with a seam and buttons in the back. The ideas about how to do this have been discussed with knit buddies, the buttons are purchased, it is just a matter of knitting it. Since I'd like to get this done before July there's no reason not to begin. But there it is, not begun yet anyway.
So I've been psychologically beating myself up about these stalled projects and the mess they make in the living room. Then I read Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's blog post from May 29. She too seemed that day to be at some knitting impasse. It was very comforting in knowing that if she, one of the most prolific knitters I know, was off her game it is acceptable for me to take a few days off to gather my knitting mojo and start anew when this passes. I guess sluggishness likes company as much as misery. Hopefully my lethargy toward knitting will move on; this rudderless sailing isn't much fun. For tonight, however, I'll just finish another dishcloth.
I missed out on the recipient of the church mouse sweater---is is for a doll??
ReplyDeleteNancy:
ReplyDeleteChurchmouse is a scarf/shawl described here: http://flagelknittingfiles.blogspot.ca/2014/05/getting-your-yarns-worth.html