Many of you want to figure out ways to get to finish that project. It’s certainly nice to know that I’m not alone in having that problem.
I shared that in a recent newsletter and got lots of advice! I thought I’d share some of it here…
If you end a piece, make sure you start the next piece right away
I’ve most often heard it for socks, but it applies to anything that has multiple pieces – socks (of course), but also sweaters, mittens, leg warmers, cardigans, and anything that’s made of individual motifs.
Be sure to take good notes
Make it easy to pick it back up.
The last thing you want is for something to stop you from doing that next row.
I have to admit that I tend to be good about this. I always put things in my phone and I’m sure to note needle/hook sizes as well.
One thing I don’t do is noting the material. I don’t do that because I pretty much use one type of hook and one type of needle. If I were to sway from that, I hope that I’d jot that down.
For everyone – needle/hook material can definitely have an impact on your gauge.
Admit when something isn’t working
I’ve started to be better at this myself.
In the past, I’ve just tried to “power through it” with the hopes that it’ll get better.
Well, I’m here to say that this is rarely the case.
Dedicate one night per week as an UFO night
This is one that I really need to add to the mix. It’s a corollary to the “take good notes” above.
Go through your ufo’s and challenge yourself to finish or frog
I’m always amazed when I look in the bin and realize where something is or what it already looks like.
Putting something down for a while can make it feel new again, but with the added bonus that you’re starting with all this work already done!
Have several projects going at the same time, involving different techniques
I can see that working for some of you, so I wanted to share it.
I know that for me, it would just be the doorway to “starting (yet another) new thing”. I’d be good about explaining away how the next thing is different and needed. But really – I’d just use it as a way to start something whenever I wanted to.
And this final one isn’t a way to get to more FOs, but it might be a way to just embrace who you really are.
Make a small project to make yourself feel good
Get the FO euphoria with something small.
Bonus if you can put it somewhere that you see a bunch
- on your desk
- pinned to a bulletin board
- on your bedside table
- really, where ever it’ll be seen often
Be accountable to someone
I’ve had success with this in other facets of my life, and (kicking myself) I’ve never considered it for my knitting/crochet.
That needs to change.
An accountability partner can be SO HELPFUL! They do need to be comfortable calling out when they smell BS, and they also need to be good at reading you and knowing when enough is enough.
That’s all to say that choosing the right Accountability Partner is a big deal. And, the Accountability Partner’s job is quite different than that of passive cheerleader. But, when you actually finish something, they’ll be right there to be you biggest fan!
Accept that you’re in it for the process, and not for the (finished) object
I’m close to being that way for myself.
Sometimes, I just want to keep my hands busy. Or maybe, see that gorgeous yarn go through my hands.
Those things are satisfying enough and bring me lots of joy.
No Matter What
Regardless, MAKE SURE that you’re getting joy out of your hobby! That’s truly the most important thing.
What Do You Think?
Tell us in the comments below!
I actually embrace ads for seeing or learning about something new, and then tap it or skip it at my pleasure. You can either go with the flow, or fight it – going with the flow can save your life, like if you are caught in a flash flood. What do you do about an annoying insect – you can’t shoot it with a shotgun. Life is not having everything the way you want it every time you want it. One way or another, we pay for everything. Why not see it as something useful – at the least, you can keep a positive outlook, something you have control over.
That’s a great perspective and I’ve never thought of it that way!
I do it in other facets of my life (as in, I might learn something about a topic I never thought about).
But since I’m both a creator and a reader, I’ll be looking at ads more this way 🙂
An easy fix for socks is to knit both together, either magic loop or two circulars. Heck, even if you use dpns, knit one cuff, then the second cuff, and so on. This approach totally cured my SSS (second sock syndrome). 😄
Thanks!
I forgot to mention that because it doesn’t work for me. I don’t care for the extra thing of yarn.
But I totally see the appeal! I wish it worked for me.
I stuff the working yarn ball in the other sock when I start to get irritated by the second thing of yarn. Hope it helps you, too!
Oh that’s a great idea!
And I’m working on a striped sock now with 2 different colorways so I can’t do that with just one color.
But your nifty idea sounds awesome! SMH why didn’t I think of that?
The best ideas are so simple!
I love the article and can say yes to all! I only wish you could say it without all the ads. I would like to print but the extra stuff discourages me from sharing.
I’m so glad it’s helpful! I got all those great tips and wanted to share.
And about the ads. They truly help pay for the cost of the web site. It’s the only way we could make it a viable business and we want to be here for years to come.
I understand the need for ads, so if there is something I want to print or save, I just copy and paste it in to notes.
Thanks for understanding!