Just a year ago, I marveled at the progress that I made on projects, simply by staying focused on one project at a time. After almost a year of commitment to that philosophy, my project bag has a new story to tell.
I have been challenging myself this year with new types of projects. First, I conquered my fear of sock knitting. In doing so, I discovered that socks are actually quite simple. Other than a few fiddly sections, they are easy-going, especially a standard stockinette stitch sock. This discovery has become abundantly clear as I work on the second sock of a pair for my husband’s size 12 feet. ‘Round and ’round, I go!
Honestly, I love these types of projects. While they may seem monotonous, they are the projects that allow my mind to roam to new places. I also find myself in a meditative trance, often praying for the recipient of the project or reflecting on deeper thoughts about life. However, when my last shopping trip hit me with new inspiration, I was antsy to start another project with a new pair of Lykke copper needles.
So, I took on a second project, the Poet Scarf by Sari Nordlund, with some hesitation for the new stitch pattern’s complexity. After conquering my fear and getting started, this project has put me into a deep focus, intently reading every line of the chart to avoid mistakes.
Now, my project bag has two unique projects inside, and I see the appeal of multiple project knitting again. In the past, multiple projects were more indicative of my lack of enthusiasm for something I was working on. And, in truth, the left-behind projects often become forgotten, never to be seen again. These were the memories that pushed me into project monogamy, but I forgot the benefit of having projects for certain times and places.
My husband’s sock (made in Malabrigo Sock Metamorphosis – Moraine Lake) is now the perfect tv-watching, audiobook-listening, chatting-with-others project. Meanwhile, the poet scarf is filling the quiet moments with wonderment as each line takes shape. Each require something different from me, and now, I realize how I am gaining something unique from each type of project too.
My new goal is to understand why a second (or third?) project is worth starting before completing another. For me, the reasons below seem worthy of having multiple works-in-progress (WIPs):
- Project Diversity to allow for knitting in all (reasonable) circumstances (i.e., simple vs. complex, portable vs. not-so-much, etc.)
- Deadlines for gifts or holidays
- Opportunities to teach, learn, or connect (i.e., a knit-along or casting on to teach someone else)
I still expect to finish the things that I start, and I look forward to more diversity in my knitting bag.
Do you typically have multiple projects going at once? Why or why not? Let’s chat in the comments!
Happy Knitting!
Leave a Reply