This week's creative space finds me starting and finishing lots of little projects rather than completing my long term project, my grey cardi.Its the strangest thing, I only have five rows of ribbing to knit on the left sleeve and then I can cast off and wear the grey cardi I've been so excited about for so long, but something is stopping me.
I can only compare it to finishing a book that you have been reading for ages and have loved. A book where you know the characters so well you almost feel like they are your friends. You feel comfortable in the story and can slip in and out of it whenever you please. When you are in the middle of a book like this you look forward to finishing it and seeing how it ends, but when you only have a few pages to go you start to wonder about the next book. Will you enjoy it as much? Will you ever get to know the new characters as well? Will it take you long to get right into it? Will it feel as comfortable and part of your life as the old book did?
Once I cast off my old friend the grey cardi I'll have to choose a new project. I'll have to make sure I have the right coloured yarn and enough of it, I'll have to knit up gauge squares until I get one right and then I'll have to learn a new stitch sequence. It'll take a while before I can pull it out at school pick up time and knit a couple of rows without really thinking about what I am doing.
And so I have been putting off the final five rows and crocheting squares and triangles,
I have been knitting a tiny green beanie for a chef friend about to have a baby(Ravelled here), a bunch of rainbow carrots (Ravelled here) and a hooded scarf.
So do you think I'm a bit cuckoo or can you relate? Do you have a long term project that you would feel a bit lost without? A project that is comforting in its comfortableness? A paper pieced hexagon quilt that you pick up like an old friend, a crocheted granny rug that you know the pattern of so well, or a book that you only have a few pages left to read but must start another to delay the inevitable.I wonder...
Today, along with the gazillion Thursday things to do, I plan to make a final decision on the buttons for the grey cardi and then knit five rows of ribbing, cast it off, block it, sew on the buttons, darn in the ends and wear it. Its freeeeeeeeeezing and a grey cardi would look great over the dress I'm wearing.
I hope your Thursday is a creative one.
See ya. XX
Love your hooky space this week Kate x
ReplyDeleteWithout seeing the other button options, I love those ones!! I am opposite though, I like finishing things. I hate having too many WIP's, it makes me feel unaccomplished. But I don't have to learn a whole new style of doing something (like your knitting) to start on something new, so that's probably why it doesn't bother me.
ReplyDeleteAnd how on earth are you cold? It's stinkin hot and muggy and nasty in brisbane!!
Loving the crochet!
ReplyDeleteI like to draw out certain projects..but with others I like to get them completed asap :)
ReplyDeleteI can understand completely. Moving on to something new can be hard. The cardi looks lovely though, and the buttons you have in that last photo are very nice.
ReplyDeleteOH Kate I can TOTALLY relate ! Really I can. I always feel that when I make a bear like Marty or Colin, a bear that I've put so much into, has taken me so long through all the various processes, and then when it comes to putting him together which take no time at all, I put it off.
ReplyDeleteBecause I've enjoyed the process it has driven me and consumed me. And well this is nuts, but I'm a little scared too. Scared that he won't be any good after all that, that I will be disapointed and hate him ( which I always do for the first day) so in a way a bit scared of myself.
So you don't sound nuts at all to me, at least you're not scared as well xo
xo
Oh Jess I am totally scared too!
ReplyDeleteWhat if it doesn't fit right? What if it is too short after I skipped those extra few rows? What if it grows too big after I block it? What if the waffle pattern bit on the bottom hem sticks out and makes my bum look big? What if it is the wrong grey?...
I get the "too scared to finish" thing too (and a big dose of "too unsure to start" too...)
ReplyDeleteI love all the things you've been making instead though!
not cuckoo! normal :)
ReplyDeleteyour triangles are gorgeous.
and yay for nearly finishing the grey cardi ~ you can wear it everyday once it's done.
Totally normal - I just love your creations!!
ReplyDeleteHi Kate, can you let me know from where you purchase your yarn. The top image of the crochet flower in a green square, this looks like beautiful yarn. I am limited to online purchasing however some store do send through Auspost. If you can share your source that would be wonderful. If not no hard feelings. Warm regards Cate.
ReplyDeleteAll looks lovely! Love the baby hat!
ReplyDeletei have a (small) pile of stuff that's in the process. i take a project out of there every now and then to finish it off but i don't really have any long term projects that i don't want to end. i want them all to end, i'm just a procrastinator i think and it drives me nuts! i wish i did have a gorgeous grey cardi that only had five rows to go and i didn't finish it yet cos i didn't want to end it. sounds lovely!
ReplyDeletex
I know exactly what you mean! I finished a green cardi (Liesl by Ysolda) and just before I finished it I slowed right down and didn't want to finish it! I so enjoyed knitting it and I wasn't sure what to knit next!
ReplyDeleteI love the book analogy. I hate finishing a great book. I always feel a little lost.
ReplyDeleteI misread the middle bit and thought you were knitting a tiny green bean! Not so far fetched considering the beautiful carrots :-)
I'm bad at starting and finishing. I always wonder why when i am in the middle and enjoying the process.
Love those mofits! I'm sure your cardi will be lovely on, I wish I was up to the last five rows on my cardi...feels like it's taking forever....
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate Kate, that is why I always have a number of projects on the go! Cant wait to see how wonderful that grey cardi is when you've finished and I'm sure it wont make your bum look big, lol! Love your crochet too.
ReplyDeleteThe one thing I don't like about knitting is the whole set up process. I love looking at patterns and deciding what I'm going to do next but when it comes to choosing the yarn and size etc it all seems much harder. I still do it mind you, but I do love when you can pick up a project and do it without thinking.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy finishing off your cardi. I love the colour.
xx
Nah. I am a "can-hardly-wait-to-finish-this-so-much-else-that-I-want-to-do" kind of knitter. Believe that the cardigan will be fabulous. Look forward to seeing it.
ReplyDeleteOh, and that first floral square is divine!
sadly i have zero sewing or craft skills, but your grey cardy & buttons look great :)
ReplyDeleteWow! You have so many projects going but they all look wonderful. The flower granny squares are lovely.
ReplyDeleteWow, your crocheting is fantastic, I have craft envy :)
ReplyDeleteAre these your designs or are they from a pattern.
They are so amazing, I would love to have a try at doing them.
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. Love the colours too.
Just finished my big project and are feeling at a lost as to what to do next so totally get how you are feeling. Although it does feel really good to have finished it as well! Love the granny flower squares.
ReplyDeleteSurely that's normal? I wouldn't really know, but surely it is!?
ReplyDeleteYour work is so beautiful. I just love all your stuff. Sometimes I wish you lived next door so I could watch you work (and then I would also be living in Daylesford which I confess is a rather large part of the daydream!) x
I love your beautiful triangles, wow! and totally agree with the almost finished projects, there's just a point when it becomes too much and you HAVE to finish off. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteLoverly crochet as always. I know exactly what you mean about long term projects, but I must confess I don't really do them. I am more about the product than the process (unfortunately!)
ReplyDeleteI need the little "quick fix" stuff to keep me interested & motivated.
ReplyDeleteLovely hookery.
A little cuckoo but in a really sweet way :-)
ReplyDeletelove the crocket colours too!!
xxxCate
It all looks so lovely and snug and beautiful. Love the green beanie. I know what you mean about finishing things but I have to get in there and do it anyway.
ReplyDeleteWhy is it cold over there already? Did it ever warm up? How can that be when we are still in the high 20's??
Your work is beautiful and I can't wait to see your grey cardi finished! Though I do know what you mean, I think this is why I keep picking up pretty yarns when I see them, so there is always something on the go. I hope you've had a great day & managed to get everything done that you'd hoped XX
ReplyDeleteThese are truly wonderful pieces of crochet. I didn't know anything like these flowers could be done.
ReplyDeletesince maxabella is moving next door, can I move across the road? x
ReplyDeleteLove the squares and triangles, so pretty and great colour combinations. I know what you mean about finishing a good book, but then there's always a new one to get into. For goodness sakes lady finish that cardi! I'm dying to see it and can't bear to think of you shivering from the cold. x
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate - but it's kindof like pregnancy - there comes a point where it's just really time to properly meet, greet, and cuddle the thing you've been working on for so long. Finish it, wear it, and love it :)
ReplyDeleteYou know sometimes when I have finished something I find it really hard to give it to it's new home. It is kind of like giving a little of yourself away. At least you get to keep the cardi. I am loving those buttons. Please put up a pick of lovely grey cardi. It would be nice to see.
ReplyDeleteTotally normal and I am certain that all crafty types can relate. Looking forward to seeing it on though
ReplyDeletekate i love your cardi's, and i love the grey buttons and i really love your amazing crotchet, it's all fab. i have so many UFP's, but with me i don't think its so much about missing them when they are done. i think its just good old attention deficit crafting disorder
ReplyDeleteI'd say you are very normal, not cuckoo at all. I think it is a sign of creativity to have lots on the go.
ReplyDeleteI also think it is very important to allow the mind to think a bit about a project when we have to. By putting it down, walking away from it and coming back later...all kinds of great things happen usually involving a decision.
Absolutely lovely things you've been up to. I can totally relate. Can't wait to see your finished sweater!
ReplyDeleteI worked on a paper pieced hexagon quilt for 2.5 years!
ReplyDeleteBut I'm more like that with books than craft projects.
And please can you put up some photos of the puppies???
Bree
I can totally relate to the book scenario- I currently am unable to start a new book because I still miss the old one! My craft projects are generally easy and quick, or really hard and fiddly, in which case I can't wait for them to be finished, or I just don't finish them...
ReplyDeleteMaybe when I can actually knit something of substance, I will feel as you do about your gorgeous creation. I can't wait to see it on :)
I can relate, I do seem to find it hard to actually finish things. I always do, but it takes me a while. I love those crocheted flowers by the by, do you have a pattern for them?
ReplyDeleteI usually procrastinate because I don't want to do something or I'm scared I won't be able to do it as well as i want to, though sometimes I just need to do something small and fun, which can be finished quickly, for quick satisfaction and mild rebellion :-) (Is it silly than the rebellion against completing tasks from the never-ending-chore list takes form of reading a book until 1am in the morning?) :-D
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