How Many Projects Do I Have Going?
How many projects do I have going?
A lot!
Actually... maybe we shouldn't count them. 😄
Different from many knitters, my projects fall into two categories: shop projects and personal projects. The funny thing is, I have even more shop projects waiting to be cast on. Ideas come much faster than the time to knit them, especially when you're also running a yarn shop!
Right now my main shop project is a pair of fingerless mitts using the brand-new Torzal yarn from Malabrigo. I'm really enjoying working with this yarn so far. It has been a pleasure on the needles, and I can't wait to finish the mitts so everyone can see and try them.
As soon as those are finished, I'll be casting on the shawl that will be included in this year's retreat goodie bags. I'm pretty excited about that project too. It's knit in a DK-weight yarn, and I think it's going to be a fun pattern for everyone attending the retreat.
Then there are my personal projects...
Those are a little harder to explain.
First of all, I almost always have a pair of socks on the needles. Socks are my comfort project. I know what to expect, I don't have to think too hard, and I can knit on them while visiting with friends or watching a good movie. For some reason, when life feels especially busy or stressful, a pair of socks is exactly what I reach for. They're familiar, relaxing, and always make me feel a little more grounded.
I also have a couple of sweaters in progress. They haven't been forgotten—I promise! They simply require more uninterrupted knitting time than I've had lately. When I only have twenty or thirty minutes to knit, it's hard to settle into a sweater project. Lately life has felt a little rushed, and I find myself choosing projects that I can pick up and put down without much thought.
One project that almost always lives on my desk is my Inclinations shawl by Andrea Mowry. If I'm joining a Zoom meeting, chances are that's what's in my hands. I absolutely love this pattern. Once you get into the rhythm of it, it's wonderfully relaxing, and I've discovered that I actually concentrate better during meetings when my hands are busy.
I do own one of those fidget spinner rings...
But honestly, knitting works so much better!
Of course, those aren't all the projects I have going. There are plenty of others waiting patiently for their turn. I like having different projects for different moods. Sometimes I want something simple. Sometimes I want a challenge. Sometimes I only have fifteen minutes, and other times I can settle into my favorite chair for the evening.
I've stopped feeling guilty about having multiple projects going at once. Each one has its purpose, and together they make knitting fit whatever life throws at me that day.
So now I have to ask...
How many projects do you have on your needles right now?
Are you a one-project-at-a-time knitter, or do you have a project for every mood like I do? I'd love to hear what's keeping your needles busy the next time you're in the shop—or leave a comment and tell me all about it!
Happy knitting,
Betty Jo