The "Done" List

You may recall from my blog post in June, my commitment was to spend my summer holidays doing things without guilt. That's exactly what I did.

But I know you're thinking... "But did you get to try your loom? How'bout walking? The rock garden?"

The answers are yes and no....and the "no" comes with no guilt!

As far as my fibre pursuits, a spurt of finish-itis saw eight... yes, 8...EIGHT!... sweaters make their way from some state of "in progress" to "finished".

That was interspersed with gardening... and many thanks to the offer of assistance (and a great deal of motivation) from my brother, the rock garden was transformed.

I spent time with friends -- boating, picnicking, laughing, providing support and having that support reciprocated.

And family factored prominently into my time this summer as well.... including my Mom's 85th birthday celebration!

I didn't get to my loom, but the fall is as good a time as any to try new things. My yarn stash has been re-examined and I found a few things that I thought had been "lost". And I sorted yarns that I'm not going to knit and listed them on my "sell or trade" Ravelry page.

I have prioritized my "to do" projects, and committed to spending time knitting every day.

And who knows, maybe this "done list" strategy will serve me well for the rest of the year...

Finish-itis

It seems ironic that almost one year ago, I was looking for a specific yarn and was concerned about starting a myriad of knitting projects. Cut to one year later, and I'm in the midst of finishing projects -- some that have languished for many years.

With the luxury of some vacation time, and a highly-motivating group on Ravelry, I am now working on finishing sweaters number 6 and 7.... Yes, these were projects (for the most part) that were hibernating in various stages of completion. Rather embarrassing when I stop to think about it.

One colourwork sweater was started around 2006-07; the lovely shell and cardi I'm working on now was put on the needles in 2005. Both were about 85% finished.

Three other sweaters were started within the past year, and those are now off my needles. One was a shell or "tank top", the other two cardigans. A little infant-sized sweater also was completed.

I certainly admire those who are monogamous knitters.... I am not such a person. In fact, as my brain has been veering off on tangents as I knit, I have recalled three other projects (a coral summer cardigan, a turquoise shell, and a green winter cardigan) that are each 90% done....they're next!

I have also discovered something about myself in this journey of finish-itis, though.... I like the challenge and excitement of new projects, and when things are pretty much done except for the minor "work" (picking up stitches for the collar or button bands, or steeking the front of the cardigan), I'll set it aside and promptly forget about it as I venture to a newer, more exciting thing on my needles.

I said in an earlier blog post that I'd be citing my accomplishments rather than my "to do" or "wish I"d done" list for my summer holidays.  Suffice it to say, I'm well on my way to a healthy list!!