The Sunset UFO Afghan is now 33 years and running

It's that time of year again when I survey the UFOs around me.  And, it has be brought to my attention that the Afghan is now 33 years old.
And, the Mop Yarn Aran Sweater is now over 6 years old.
But in my defense, I did finish off some projects this year.

Attic? Really?

Well, the "Yonder Attic Fair" has not been the fairest place of all this week.
It's HOT here.  Attics Collect Heat in this part of the country.
It is time to rescue my yarn from up there and all those UFOs.
It is time that We take advantage of those Tax Credits to Insulate!
I'll update soon.........

Renaming the 25 Year Afghan : Welcome to 30 !

Wow, I have to rename it; We've been calling it the 25 year afghan. But, it's going to be 30 sometime this next fall.

Holey, moley. It was started about the time we met, started dating, fell in love....... My theory has been that it started with our relationship, and if it's ever finished, so might be the relationship. ???

At about 20 years, my DH and DD1 pulled it out of storage and draped in on the couch in it's unfinished state and started using it anyway. The colors include warm brown, burgundy, honey/tan, and yellow. And, yes a bright orange that I had bought in rug yarn that I had to "un-ply" to get the right weight to match the others. The brown is sport weight held 2 together. It's mostly good old Red Heart acrylic worsted that's wearing like iron. The colors came from a variegated yarn in sunset colors that should eventually be the edge. The pattern was crochet granny-hexagons that started dark in the center on some and light in the center on the others. The original pattern was for a "throw" size, but I had enough yarn at the beginning to make a King Size Bedspread! (And I lived in the college dormitory) The poor UFO survived several moves over the years, but parts got stored and misplaced away from each other. At one point, my DH took everything he could find in to a coworker and offered to pay her to finish it for me ! She refused and gave him a lecture on the evils of trying to control another's OCD ADHD behaviors. So, he came home, put the funky shaped partially done UFO on the couch and it has been there ever since. Except when it's a tent, or a castle, in the washer / dryer, or wrapped around a kid and or a puppy. Some of the unattached hexagons show up as potholders every now and then.

Felting Lion Wool

In Science Class we learned about the Scientific Process. Theory, propose a Hypothesis, perform an experiment, prove the Hypothesis to be acurate or inacurate.

Theory: Lion Wool would be "good" for a somewhat felted dog sweater.
At the end of this, I want to have a good pattern for a doggy sweater.
I want it to be in Lion Wool that will Felt into a sturdy fabric for a farm dog sweater that will stand up to really being outside. Not a "city dog on the sidewalk" sweater. Not a "suburban dog in a manicured lawn" sweater. We need a tough guy, huntin' dog, chasing rabbits, sweater. A sweater that will collect all the stick tights and cockleburrs so we don't have to cut out hunks of puppy fur when he comes in from outside.

Hypothesis: If I perform some preliminary experiments to find how much my knitting and washing in my washer will shrink and felt a Lion Wool test object, I will then be able to accurately design a sweater to fit my daughter's dog.

Experiment phase one: We used a skein of red Lion Wool with size 8 US needles. We web surfed to the Lion site for an easy pattern. I was actually looking for the one where you knit a cube and it felts into a ball. The "irony" of doing a test ball (I have issues with the word Swatch, and I'm working on that) for a doggy sweater seemed fitting. Anyway, it's in the washer felting right now.
Update later..........

WIP vs UFO

How do you draw the line between a WIP and a UFO? Is it a conscious decision? A slow metamorphosis? A painful realization? Total surprise? Unobserved and unnoticed phenomenon?

Working Hypothesi: (what is the plural of Hypothesis?)

Is it time? Is their an expiration date at which a WIP becomes a UFO?

Is it place? When it moves from the bag you carry to the bottom of the closet? When it moves from the living room to the attic?

Is it a level of frustration? There's that point in the patten directions that makes no sense?

Is it a change on the part of the Victim? The intended changes size: A newborn sweater won't fit a 2 year old. The MIL went on the Greatest Loser diet. Oops! it's a boy, not a girl.

Is it a change of fashion? That color is sooooo last year! No one's wearing those any more.

Is it a change of season? It eventually just gets too hot to knit with Cowichan in July. Explaining the silk string bikini is too much in October.

Is it a change in tools? The lost needle, the puppy chewed the cable needle, the row counter was a good toy for distracting the toddler in the waiting room. Broken, lost, changed.....

Is it a change in materials? The yarn ran out before the pattern was done. The skeins obviously weren't all from the same dye lot.

Is it a mental problem? The ADHD kicks in and the new project is started. The OCD sneaks up and there's suddenly new bags of yarn that must be attended to. Boredom, there's only so many thousand stockinette stitches a person can do.

What is it about these projects that sit languishing? Is it better to group them all together so they can keep each other company? Or would it be best to have one in each room on the off chance that it would be picked up in a spare moment?

Inspiration: Can I figure out a way to turn this into a decorating style? Stash as Decor? WIP as art? Would a WIP in a vase qualify as a centerpiece? All that (fake) crystal and (faux) china in the hutch aren't doing anything useful now. How far can I get with this before the DH and kids notice? Who will notice first? I'm betting on the very observant Eldest Daughter. But, as she is newly married, nursing student, not living in the house anymore, it'll probably be a little while.

Ideas anyone?
What's your hypothesis on the transition from WIP to UFO?

Countdown: Twelve days to the new Interweave Knits.
I am so looking forward to the Counterpane Pullover
Can't wait!
I'm going through my stash to see what yarn I have that's suitable. I did a swatch last night that I'll put through the washer when I get home from work to see if it survives.
I might as well not do it if it can't be machine washed. Even with the best of intentions, eventually, someone trying to *Help* will accidentally throw it in with the rest. Know Your Strengths / Know Your Shortcomings! Right.

I Truly want to beat the shopaholic thing and NOT buy any new yarn for this! I'm still trying to get up the courage to collect all my yarn in one place.

And, I want to finish (and WEAR) the Blue Lacy Slink (inspired by DomiKnitrix) BEFORE I start this one.

I think I can, I THINK I can , I think I CAN::::::::::::::::

Disorderly Conduct

Well, what can I say, the fight against OCD Hoarding / Shopping disorder is not going so well:
New projects started:
a pink and variegated skirt inspired by the new pattern on Knitty. But, I cast on with Lily Cotton Sugar & Cream on size 5 needle. And it seems HUGE! Maybe it'll all work out in the end, but I'm not sure it's going to fit it's intended 8 year old "victim". Or maybe she's more of a guinea pig? lab rat? Poor thing........
Frogged out and recast on the beginning of something in a beautiful Blue Alpaca that I got at the Ren-Fest last year.
I'm almost through with a Father's Day Tie for the DH. Let's see, Father's Day was what, 6 weeks ago? It's pretty cool: Black Nylon Construction Twine in a Modular like pattern. If I could just stay focused for a couple of days.............
Did I mention the blue "Peacock Shawl"?
I came across the Dragon scale Mitts for the SonIL that I had started last winter. They're in Incredible ribbon, shades of gray.
Then there's still the Wedding Wheel throw that I had started for them before the wedding, last year!
And those little Hedgehogs, and the Harry Potter Mitts, and the Monet Shrug, and the ballerina skirt, and
Oh, I almost forgot the Blue Lacy Slink! It's on the third version of sleeve one, the second version of the collar, and ready to start sleeve two. The plus here is that there will not be any finishing once it's done because it's all finished as you go along. And I did find the missing ball of yarn for the second sleeve. More on that later.

I did get some more plastic tote bins to organize and store the stash in.

I'm trying a new technique: if I have a project (or more than one) stored in the car, at each of the places I frequent, I seem to experience less need to go shopping on the way home. I've been keeping a project sitting on the passenger seat where I can see it and think about finishing it instead of starting something new.
Wish me luck.

But, now I've got the Spinning Wheel and all the temptations that go along with it. I've now got so many rationalizations for needing parts and books and fiber. Fighting to stay reasonable all the way through.

Blue Shadows Slink with Fern Leaves

Has anyone else done anything like this?

Well, I started this one and ripped it back twice now. I think I've got a good running start on it now though. And the yarn's not wearing too thin, yet.

1. Basic Patten that I started with: "The Slink" from Domiknitrix.
2. Additions: a derivation of the "Staggered Fern Lace Panel" from November 28 of 365 Knitting Stitches a Year.
3. Needles: Size 8 circular
4. Yarn: Caron Simply Soft Shadows, Color- Soft Merino (who comes up with these names?) - 3 skeins each 3 oz / 150 yards. (Yarn weight symbol is 4 = Medium)
5. Yarn: Caron Simply Soft , Color - DK Country Blue, 1 skein @ 6 oz / 315 yards.
6. Guage: 17 stitches x 23 rows = 4"x4"

I've deviated from the pattern from the start. Instead of starting at the Right Underarm and knitting the Back first, I've started at the Left Underarm, and will be knitting the Front first. The plan is to gradually introduce Fern Leaves at the Left Shoulder, increasing the density of the Fern Leaves as I go across the Front. The Right Sleeve and Collar will be mostly Fern Leaves and other lacy leaf motifs. I'll probably make the sleeve longer and floatier than what is shown. At some point, I will run out of the Shadows yarn, and will need to change to the solid color. I think that'll be fine for the back, and I'll slowly decrease the Leaves as we go across the back. I'll need to knit the sleeve(s) and collar before I run out of Shadows for my plan to work.

At least that's the plan.

Elann.com Free Patterns Good Buys

http://www.elann.com/freepatterns.asp

Just what i needed for this little OCD thing i'm trying to get past here.

I find the Elann site. So much yarn at such good deals. It is so difficult to pass up a bargain.

Wow, I want to try this: Derek Lam

A sweater from the New York fashion shows by Derek Lam.

Very cool. Very fun to knit.

I wonder if Domiknitrix has anything like this?

Black would be great, but the stitches wouldn't show up this well in photos. It would be one of those things that you can really only appreciate in person.

I'm thinking a really soft, but well defined Alpaca in a natural color. Maybe that coppery red. Just like I always wanted my hair to be when I was little.

Wow, I've got to finish something so I can start planning this.

Dragonscale Mitts in Incredible Accent on Black

On the needles since about New Years:
Dragon Scale Mitts adapted from the Knitting Pattern-a-day 2007 calendar. I think they might be "wristletts" or wrist warmers in the pattern, but these are for a young man I know, so Mitts fits better. I got 2 balls of Incredible this time, so I'll have longer mitts that will fit bulkier forearms. The intended victim is a computer user that frequently has to work in cold conditions. He really appreciated the Shades of Blue ones that I made for the DIL. The daughter is telling me they should have convertible mitten paws, but the DH is voting for individual open-ended fingers. I'm thinking up to the first knuckle of each finger. Right now, I'm at the point where the thumb should divide off. We'll see how it goes. I'm having trouble doing the separate finger / thumb parts on the circulars, even with two of them. So, I'm thinking that I will have to work with a few DPNs in the mix. It is like knitting with a spider or an octopus.

http://cache.lionbrand.com/yarns/incredible.htm

Happy New Year!
Happy Knitting to you!

House Sweater

A Close to Home Cartoon

I suppose this would be a level of OCD Knitting that I have not quite reached (YET ! ).

Although, in my mind, this might be the solution to many of my issues. Major Stash Buster, Multiple colors & fibers, Random Stitch Patterns........

I do think it would need more than a stepladder to install properly.

Would a building permit be required?

Do you think she's in a Union Labor state?

Help! DH is helping me Organize!

And he found the hidden part of my stash! Oh, No!

It was like the Titanic hitting that iceberg. The night was calm and beautiful, albiet frigid and the sky spitting wet icy pellets. We were all warm and snug, oblivious to the furry yet to come. The hull ripped open, and the Red Heart started spilling out. Little lifeboats of boxes and bags were strewn about with the pitiful loner skeins and balls floating helter skelter on the carpet. Some of them had their little lifejackets of band balls all askew and torn. Hanks of hand dyed alpaca from the renfest had come undone, to be trampled in the avalanche of books, magazines, pamphlets and pattern sheets. The scent of lavendar mothballs and rosemary / edar/mint moth packets filled the air. The luxurious mohair and angora brought down to the mercy of the acrylic and nylon. Fastitdious skeins of worsted forced to mingle with the frothy balls of gaudy Friz and Fun Fur. The screaming! The humanity....

This is not pretty, and won't be for several months to come.

Bless his little heart, I know he's trying to help. The screaming and weeping was only in my head. Nothing was damaged. Nothing of value was thrown out. But, ......
How do you all deal with this kind of thing?

I know now that I have a deep seated OCD/HD - that's all shortened for Obsessive Compulsive Hoarding Disorder. Now that I have a label for it, and have found resources for dealing with it, I'm getting the help I need.

What is a "healthy stash"? How much crafting supplies does it take before you're over the edge into an OCD/HD order of magnitude? Where is the line?

Honestly, though, this can't be like Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous, or even Gambler's Anon. Can it?
I can't quit knitting, and crafting, and never go back. I know it's an addiction, and I've chosen it very carefully. Knitting and craftiness is a talent, and should not be wasted, Right?

Have any of you had to deal with totally out of control craft stashing? I don't mean just that you have trouble organizing what you have. I mean the out of control buying stuff!

As an example, I found at least 2 copies of the same issue of one magazine in the same room.

How do you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, when you have enough stuff?
How do you control the buying, the spending, the starting new projects before finishing the old ones?
Who defines what is reasonable? How does one draw the line that you won't cross? How do we get help?

Burgundy Regia Silk

Well, this was going to be a pair of socks back in September. It's back to the drawing board now. It is wonderful yarn. I wonder about the stretch, or lack thereof.

When is an object truly finished?
I just realized that some of the items that I knit are constantly evolving, almost like growing, living organisms. Especially those long-term UFOs.
John's Gansey: Ordered the yarn from eBay. It was described as a "soft" blue. When it arrived, the adjective "soft" obviously described the color and not the tactile texture. So, it went from being a girly tom-boy project to a tough all-boy project. In my Scotch / Irish cultural heritage quest, I went off on a Gansey tangent. So, a scratchy tough blue Gansey was begun. I tried to follow the pattern, but when I picked up the stitches for the sleeves, something went horribly wrong. The shoulders are smooth stockinette funnels that feed into the way too skinny arms. Having plenty of yarn and can't waste any, I kept knitting the sleeves until I ran out of yarn. Therefore, they have oversized lengthy ribbed cuffs. I did experiment with a very stylish skater thumb hole part way down the cuff. It came out well.
So, since no human child could really wear this long term..... It's being rebuilt into a new improved version. John bravely wore it once, but when his fingers started turning as blue as the sweater from lack of circulation, he gave it up. He's also grown about a foot since it was started, so the sleeves aren't really that long now.
Corrective track: I've unknit one shoulder to detach the sleeve and am trying to reattach back on with about twice as many stitches picked up from the shoulder.
(photo of in progress here).

The 25+ year Afghan

A long time ago,
Far, far away,.... (place photo here)
The college semester that I met my DH, I started an afghan.
It's actually crochet. The colors are very 70's Sunset, yellow through Burgundy. (I was in my natural Fall colors phase before I was color analyzed to be a Winter and should only surround myself with Cool Colors.)
And yes, it's all acrylic, I think Red Heart mostly. One really bright orange is actually a rug yarn that I "delaminated" into a thinner yarn to use. It was the best I could do in a town of 2,000 and only one store that even sold yarn. At that point in time, I was totally convinced that I was allergic to wool. If I was, I "outgrew" the allergy. I have a slightly rantish post to put up someday on wool allergies. But, I digress.

The 25 year afghan: I have a lot of excuses for why it isn't finished. It was lost in the black hole attic for several years. I don't move very well. When in college and first married, I and then we, moved pretty frequently. The afghan would get packed into various boxes and bags as for some reason it never occurred to either of us to keep it all together. The boxes would be separated, with one lost with this move and then found with the next move when a different box was lost. The afghan is many, many pieces. Hexagons that alternate with some dark in the middle and some light in the middle. A very lovely Sunshine and Shadows effect. Each has 6 or 8 colors. Lots of opportunities for orphaned pieces to go missing. Anyway, we've been living in the current house (if you can call it that) for 19 years (off and on). A few years ago, my Dear Husband found several boxes and ceremoniously presented them to me. Bless his little heart, he really is a dear. Really.
Anyway, I think some pieces may still be missing, but I started crocheting those little tribbles together. I must have been planning on a King Size bedspread that would reach the floor on all sides. What was I thinking? So, I basted together all the little Hexes I could find. And, then my ADHD took over. This is one of the many reasons why to this day I try to do "all of a piece" projects. I will only do socks or gloves if I can knit the 2 at once. That's my mantra now anyway.

In the mean time, DH has proudly displayed the partly finished "patchy" result on various couches and chairs in our living room for about 10 years now. Sometimes parts fall off because the basting has come undone. But, it is a well loved UFO. It comforts sick children as well as adults. It really keeps your toes warm in the winter. And it has holes just the right size to watch scary movies through. It washes well, even if it is in more pieces when it comes out of the dryer. It reminds us of how far we've come.
Thanks for following on this cathartic experience. Someday I will finish that afghan. It has come to symbolize my entire life. But, at this point, the family joke is that I started it when our relationship started, and I'm afraid that if I finish it, the relationship might be finished too. Approach Avoidance strikes again.

Knit Picks Candle Flame Shawl

Part of my order from KnitPicks is the yarn for the Candle Flame Shawl. Can't wait 'till it gets here.
If I remember right, I ordered a Shimmer yarn in Turquoise. The stitch is described as reminiscent of Peacock Feathers. I love to knit with Alpaca and Silk. How much better could this possibly be?
When (IF) it gets finished, the problem will be if I can really part with it and give it to it's intended victim. She better be pretty 'good' between now and Christmas, or her birthday, depending on how long this takes me to finish.

Have I ever mentioned my lifelong aspiration to be the world's fastest knitter? Of course, most people that know me would describe me as more in the turtle speed range..........

Unfinished Objects: The knitting frontier

This is where I want to post the Unfinished Objects that I, and others, have started, but not finished.
How many projects do you think the average knitter has, at any one time?
How many do you have started?
Well, I personally don't know how many UFO's lurk in the closets, attics, and other assorted cubbies of my home. (And office, and car, and camper, ...)
So, as I find them, I'm going to post them. Some of them were just forgotten. Others were discovered to have a fatal flaw; something that went undetected until that moment when these words were uttered: "How do you think that's going to work?"
Maybe as you peruse the photos, you can give me ideas on how to conquer these flaws and finish these works of fiber art.
And, I'm developing a 12 step program for dealing with my addiction to crafts in general, knitting specifically. Maybe it's actually a buying disorder? I love to buy the stuff to create, but don't actually end up with many finished crafts pieces.
Something to think on.........