Exclusive.
It should be obvious to me that knitting a single project, to the exclusion of all other projects, allows you to finish faster. Funny that I “discovered” this while knitting Birch. I have about ten projects on the go, but for the past few weeks, I’ve been ignoring them all to work on Birch… Birch for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Birch is now off the needles, just in time for me to start the Rowan 38 River stole on September 1st!
Birch still needs to be blocked, but I won’t be able to use the top of the bed to block until Saturday morning. I’m trying to decide if I should go off to Home Depot and find some wire that I can use as make-shift blocking wires, or if I should try the Harlot’s lace blocking technique. There are of course packs of blocking wires that you can buy for $35 CDN but, again, my wallet is currently unavailable.
What’s on deck next? Finish off my KOTR Friday Harbour socks and Knitty’s Trellis baby aran cardigan… those should be quick. Maybe I should think about trimming my “current projects” list so there’s no more than three or four projects at a time… Otherwise, how do you divide your time and attention?
And oh yeah, I’m so not ready for September.
I have tried my best to be only exclusive…I was good when I first started knitting a little while back…just knitting one thing to the exclusion of all other projects…not even starting any other! Oops, now I’m in multi-project mode…but when I want one thing done, I do the same, focus just on that and forget the rest.
I used welding rods for blocking wires on the Lotus Blossom Shawl. They’re stainless steel and the smallest you can get (maybe like 3/16″ - I can’t remember off the top of my head) and they’re around 3′ long - I used 2 across the top of LB. You get them at a welding shop and I got something like 20 for $6 (because that was the smallest amount they could sell me). Anyway, Birch looks so pretty - I love the purple. I try to work on one or two projects at a time, but there are so many good ones out there. It’s hard.
I love the color, purple is my favorite color. Can’t wait to see how Birch will look once blocked. I have the blocking wires that I bought for blocking shawls but I have yet to knit one.
Welding rods are definitely a cheaper solution. As to the Cascade 220 supply - I don’t get it either. I tried to talk our LYS (since I work there) into carrying it, but they went with Lopi instead.
Your birch is gorgeous! Mine has yet to be cast on …
I recently had the idea that weed whacking cord is similar to circ. needle cords. Wonder how that would work out.
Hmm. I need to check out the Harlot’s wire technique too! I can’t wait to see Birch finished!
I try to limit myself to 4 projects… okay, maybe 5 at times… I think it really helps me finish lagging projects.
Your Birch is beautiful, can’t wait to see it blocked. I wish I can concentrate on just one or two projects at a time, but it’s so distracting with so many pretty patterns available.
Birch is enough to make any knitter monogamous. I’m curious to see how your River develops. I have yarn for mine but I’m busy making Marianne from Rowan 37 and I can only do one KSH project at a time.
I’m sooo guilty of doing this. I’m always so eager to cast on and finish a project that I always end up with at least 4 projects going at once. It can get higher if the knitting starts to get boring. Like right now, I’m finishing the sleeves of my son’s sweater, knitting Iris, Pia, a Phildar sweater, the Turtleneck shrug from Scarf Style, and I’m itching to cast on for Salina and River. And I’ll be honest, lol, I have yarn coming in for Willow, which I’m hoping I can finish over the weekend watching Lord of the Rings.
Felicia, you’re not alone. There are plenty of unfaithful knitters, I’m one of them, lol!
Can’t wait to see Birch.
ha! i know very well the obsession that is BIRCH, though i will admit to occasionally having my way with other projects whilst knitting birchie. funny how one good kidsilk haze project often leads to another; i also just cast on for RIVER in KSH trance. and my next jones: FLOURISH in KSH maramalade (the kim hargreaves confection from the winter blooms catalog). pics of all are on my knitblog.
p.s. your birch looks beauteous! and such an artful photo.