Work in progress Wednesday is here once again and I have a question. How many WIPS are too many? I know I talked about this before, but I really want to know. At what point do you say, that’s it’s I am not casting on another thing?
You guys remember when I did 3 sweaters at the same time right? My fear with multiple WIPS is I won’t finish. The fun is in the finish for me, well it use to be. I swear if this sweater doesn’t go from work in progress to finished object soon…woo wee
Seriously let’s talk about this because I seem to be the odd man out. When you have so many projects going at once, how many actually get finished? Where is the excitement for you? Is it the cast on, the making or the finishing? I really want you all to talk to me. In most cases I am flexible and can/will do/try most things. My heart doesn’t want to do this..lol I get a rush off of finishing. What am I missing here?
For example, I am so eager to start that hat from Knit Collage with the new orange yarn. I look at it every day and then I move it, because I know if I cast on now…I will NOT go back to the sweater. Help me out here, does anyone else have that issue? How do you maintain interest in all of your WIPs?
Which team are you #teamcaston or #teamfinish?
I just have experimented to find what works for me! I have tried up to 5 wips at a time but so many get neglected for so long that I now limit myself to 2 or maybe 3 at most. The reason I like having a couple projects going at once is that I like having one complicated or big project and one smaller, portable, easy project. At the moment I have a cabled sweater in worsted weight and a fingering weight shawl. The sweater is for when I can focus. The shawl is for when I’m watching TV or in the car or visiting with friends. And I never put projects in “hibernation” or leave them for months at a time! I don’t think I could stand the thought of them languishing in my closet!
I like that you have a method! You go
I try to use a similar method to keep my WIPs under control – one complicated/challenge knit, one easy/mindless knit, and one crochet project. I learned to crochet first, so it goes much faster and I feel like I’m getting something done 😅
Totally adhere to this policy too. I get a thrill from buying new yarn and casting on and am surprisingly ambivalent about the finished product. So making the completion of one project mandatory before starting the next is the only way for me to not end up with a mountainous WIP pile.
I used to get to a point where I would start to feel a little panicky when I realized I had, say, more than 15 UFOs, but I still wanted to start something new. So I would look at what I had and would make myself finish two things (usually small) before I could cast on something new, and the new something had to be something I could finish in a couple of days, so that the UFO pile didn’t get any bigger. Once my pile got down to 8 or 9, I felt better. In 2016, I did a Marie Kondo tidying of my office and after sorting through my stash, books, tools, etc., I pulled out every UFO in every bin, box, and bag and discovered I had something like 43 UFOs. So for 2016, the only new projects I started were gifts that tended to be small and had deadlines. I evaluated every UFO: did I actually want the completed item? Would I enjoy knitting it? If not, I declared myself over it, and reduced the pile. Most things were projects I was interested in completing. A couple of things were tossed, and a handful carried over to the next year. Starting in 2018, I have done Finish it February every year, where the entire month is spent finishing things. So if I get bored with something in August, I know that by February, I will pull it out again to finish it (and probably be more enthusiastic about it again).
Every part of a large project has smaller sub-projects. Each sleeve of a sweater is a sub-project. Buttonbands are another sub-project. If I have blanket squares, I might sew a strip of them together as a sub-project and sew the strips together as another sub-project. When each sub-project is done, I can move on to the next one, or choose to continue on with the UFO I’m already working on. With that many projects, I started with the easiest things, like weaving in the two ends of a hat. That helped me knock quite a few things off the list quickly and to make me feel like I had momentum.
Another approach is to choose, say, 5 projects to put in your pile that you can rotate through, and spend some number of hours working on that project (say, 10), and then it goes to the bottom of the pile and you work on the next one for 10 hours. As you complete one of those five projects in the pile, you can either start a new project to add to the pile of 5, or you can bring in another UFO to add to the pile.
I am a spreadsheet lover, so I always create a spreadsheet for each project that allows me to track my project (I calculate the total number of sts in the project, so I know when I am 5% or 40% complete). For projects that seem like a never-ending hallway of knitting, I can see that I *am* making progress on the spreadsheet, even if it feels like I’m not with the knitting itself.
One other thing — I know that I have about a three-week tolerance for working on the same thing exclusively, and that after three weeks, I will need a break (usually a couple of months) before I will want to return to working on it. Knowing this about myself, and knowing that I have February to look forward to for finishing things, I no longer feel bad about putting things to the side, unfinished.
Knitting is enjoyable, so I don’t want any approach to finishing things that seems like punishment, but I am also aware that while I don’t feel happy about having too many UFOs, I like variety. The key for me was finding a way to keep things fun (don’t finish things I no longer care about), be aware that I *was* making progress (spreadsheets), and to rotate through my projects.
Gaye, I’m with you on most occasions, however, at the beginning of March I put down my complicated shawl (?) and started a sweater project with my BF. Unfortunately, I’ve had to rip out several times and still have not finished it yet! I am getting bored of it and just now thinking of casting on for a quick knit, like a tank top. I even swatched! So, I think I’ll take a week off for some “fun” knitting! And by the way, Modern Daily Knitting has a new designer with a perfect pattern That showed up this morning!! Is that telling me something??
Hahahahahahaaa yes it’s telling you to do what makes you happy
I have three WIP going right now. A shawl, kitchen towel and sweater. Like others have shared I stick to the easier projects when I can’t focus sufficiently for the sweater. Knitting for me is a type of meditation. It is calming. When it feels like work because I’m stressed and can’t concentrate enough for the more complex project it’s good to have an easy alternative to pick up.
Thank you for sharing
I’m like you on this. I find with too many projects I get overwhelmed and then I can’t do any of them. So I keep a strict three project policy, and one of them has to be socks. If there’s something else I want to start, I have to finish something I’ve started or totally abandon it. Arbitrary knitting rules have made all the difference in my life. Maybe you’re just a monogamous knitter? There’s no shame in that lifestyle choice!
So just to be clear, I am also saying it’s totally fine to not finish a project. Maybe it’s just not the right time or whatever.
Ps – I love your blog. I love how honest and real you are. Keep doing you, it’s helping the rest of us keep courage to do the same.
Thanks for reading 👩🏾💻😊🧡 and responding I appreciate your point of view
I work on 1 project at a time. This maybe easier for me because I mostly deal with hats,scarfs and shawls. I love making prayers shawls and if working from a pattern changing the design to add my own personal touch then gifting it to someone. Please don’t beat yourselves up for having wip’s. We are all different but we all knit because we love it. Working on 1 project at a time works for me but it may not work for others.
Yup always do what works for you
Having a lot of wips doesn’t bother me too much, but every once in a while I have to sort them out, line them up in order of progress and knuckle down on them. Starting with the ones closest to being finished, and going from there. Even then I might leave a few unfinished, but at that point I start asking myself if I should frog what’s left. There’s a point where you have to ask yourself if the lack of interest in finishing a particular wip is due to the project just not working for you. No shame in admitting that and reclaiming the yarn.
That’s a good point
I’ve been knitting as a lifestyle (as Kristy Glass says) for more than 30 years. I’ve been the knitter who has twelve WIPs and the almost monogamous one. I love the beginning of a project-choosing pattern, yarn, colors, getting to see them start to come together. The middle can be a slog. So I used to start something new to get the thrill back.
These days I’m more monogamous. I love finishing sweaters so I only have one of those going at a time. (or I wouldn’t finish) I always have a sock or two going for portable and easy. And I allow myself a quick hat or cowl if I need a break.
Like that process
While I can’t stop acquiring new projects (because the yarn is so luscious!), I find if I hide the new project out of sight in the closet, it helps me finish the current one.
Lol project hide n seek
I go through periods of project monogamy, and then cast on all the things. If I get really frustrated with a project, that will generally trigger looking for something new. I have had as many as 12 unfinished things at once. I promised myself I would never get that stretched out again.
Socks are my main knitting project, so usually once I have one done, I am in a hurry to get that next one on the needles and finished. I would say that the average for me right now is 3. I have some plain knitting- baby/child hats for my grandbabies, socks for portable knitting and then a sweater or shawl for complicated at home knitting. The variety for me keeps me going. I also have some arthritis in my hands so the difference in needle sizes gives my hands a break.
That’s great that different needles help
Two WIPS is enough for me. I can switch from an easy project to a hard one but still know I can handle finishing them both. If I find myself avoiding a project, I decide how much I like it. I things am always open to abandoning projects. When one invests in good yarn, it’s important to achieve something wearable with it.
Yes agreed
When I started crocheting I did easy small projects one at a time. As I got better, the projects got bigger and linger and more complicated. For car crochet or social gatherings (even by zoom) i needed simpler projects. So i probably have about 10 wips right now and that is stressing me out. Start-itis can be powerful tho.
10? Wow!
I right now I have 3. I have an easy cardigan that just keeps going when I can do it at the beach or park. Then the mkal shawl that I do when I’m home and I like to do a sock or gnome(my new obsession) when I need small. Different projects for different occasions. I cant EVER not have one with me cuz then I can’t concentrate (even if I’m not working on it I have to have.) Oh they all get done!
See at these you finish
One big difference here is that since you are in the public eye, we probably nag you about unfinished projects, while we are safe and hidden at home 🙂 I have a couple of projects that I started but were either too complex for concentration right now, or just not bringing joy/accomplishment (colorwork mitts to match a hat I made – lots of leftover yarn). I also have a couple of longterm UFOs – Sam the Ram/Sue the Ewe, the Great American Aran Afghan. And still have to add a border to the Cascade anniversary afghan – two others from our knit group are making this, and they are still working on the squares, so I put it aside. TMI 🙂 Immediate UFOs that will be done ASAP – a nearly 400 stitch picot border for Summer Flies, and up to the first lace section of the Infinito Asymmetrical Shawl. TMI 🙂
No nagging, I’m hard on me when it takes long for me
I am just happy to follow along with your journey, however much time it takes 🙂
Thank you 🤗
I don’t know how many WIP’S I have going to tell the truth. I would say that 3 or 4 are active at the same time. They all serve a purpose, and my self diagnosed knitting ADD. one is for mindless TV knitting. Others require more attention….and there’s always 1 that I better get my pattern out and pay attention. I get bored with one and move to another. But I’m always knitting something
Makes sense
I can only work on one project at a time. I love to see the finished object so then all of my attention is one the next WIP.
We are one
Like you, I absolutely love to finish things! That doesn’t stop me casting on though, I like to have socks on the go, a shawl or cowl and sometimes two sweaters. Then depending on my mood and the complexity of the project I knit on whatever takes my fancy. I know I’ll finish them all, and I’ll be monogamous if I’m in a rush for one of them.
If I have more than 5 or 6 projects I get the heebie geebies and stop casting on until a couple are finished.
Wow! My brain doesn’t work like that
I love starting things, picking out yarn, etc., the most! Casting on is like magic, except toe-up socks, lol. I don’t care for finishing at all, mostly the work of assembling and sewing, etc. I usually have 3 projects going at once. It helps me from getting bored with a project! I usually have something big or challenging, like a sweater or throw, something mindless like a scarf to just veg out and knit, and something portable, like socks or a dishcloth, going at once. I knit a lot of things for gifts, so that builds in deadlines. Every once in awhile (like last weekend), I really buckle down and have a finishing weekend, where I weave in ends, sew things together and block stuff. I usually have to resolve not to start a new project until I finish. I’m just working on one thing right now, and it’s kind of weird! I do have a lot of projects waiting, so I’m really trying not to buy more yarn until I finish more projects – I wish designers and yarn companies could cool it with the pretty new stuff for a couple of months!!
Lol
Two is my limit. One mindless and one I have to pay attention to. After doing a big project like a sweater where I get so bored with the round and round and round I treat myself to something small like a hat with a design to tweak my interest.
My favourite part is the finishing. Sometimes it seems to take forever but when I start getting close I will go at it until it’s done or I’m so tired I’m dropping stitches or my wrists are getting sore and if I don’t stop I know the rheumatoid arthritis is going to flare and I’m out of commission for three to four days.
What’s hard for me is not buying yarn that I want to start on now and having to put it into the closet to hibernate until I’m ready for it.
Yea that makes sense
Maybe you should do the hat, you will probably go back to the sweater when it’s cooler. Since it’s about the finishing for you, give yourself the treat of the hat. I kind of like to have WIP’s, that way when I feel like I just want to zone out and knit, I have something “easy” to work on. I find if I make myself work on something, it takes away my enjoyment, and if there’s anything we don’t need right now, it’s less pleasure. We need more of that at the moment. So go ahead, cast on that hat! <3
Lol I just need to do sleeves
Have you tried the Chiaogoo minis? They’re little circular needles that make sleeves a breeze (although people with larger hands can find them uncomfortable and complain it makes their hands cramp). Sleeves can be speedy quick with these little beauties.
I’m totally #TeamCastOn and I think the reason why is I’m slow. I don’t have a lot of time on needles, I knit slowly when I do, and a lot of what I choose requires focus (which I don’t have a lot of). So I get bored easily/quickly. I do have two or three things that I work on daily, but a lot of “hibernating” WIPs too. My socks get finished faster because I can see progress on them and I can do a row here and there like when I’m cooking dinner or on a meeting. Progress motivates me. Deadlines do too. So for example I’m doing a sock club. I know next month’s yarn is coming, so I know I want to be done with this month’s before it shows up. But I do get bored quickly and cast on something new to get that “Ooh new and shiny!” feeling.
Thanks for reading 👩🏾💻😊🧡 and responding
At 79, I have had to give up knitting due to arthritis, but I can still crochet. I usually don’t tackle big projects, and have 4 or 5 smaller WIPs going. Colorful hats for mindless soothing therapy while my mind wanders where it will go, and many gorgeous samples of new stitches or concepts for mental challenge or stimulation. I like to keep reading while I still can, and exploring music on YouTube. Here’s one I found and loved: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blUSVALW_Z4
As an exception to the small project habit, when the pandemic broke out, I was going through a lot of emotions and felt moved to start a mood blanket for next winter. [It’s extremely hot in Los Angeles now, and will get worse. We are also a CV “hot spot”] I used leftover colors from my stash to reflect my feelings at any given moment, held two strands together, and finished the whole thing in record time. The predominant colors turned out to be reds and oranges [hope], yellows and greens [sun and earth], blues and purples [ocean and introspection], with a surprisingly minimal amount of dark colors [despair], maroons [what we used to call morons when I was a kid, haha, maybe I was thinking of Trump and looking forward to November], and neutrals [greys/beiges like the characters in the Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine” cartoon]. After I got all that off my chest [fingers? heart?], I felt better, more patient, and can now sleep a bit more and crochet small projects again. I also stopped my TV service and just listen to news once a day. “Know thyself.”
By the way, you are an excellent writer. You could make a career in that if you wanted to, or maybe you already have. I have a granddaughter who got a degree in Astrophysics and now devotes her life to acting and singing. Go figure. Sorry to take up so much of your comments space. Somebody stop me! Love to you, GG. Black brilliance!
Thank you for spending the time to talk to me. I read it all so no apologies please. As for the writing. Thank you 🤗
I am a really slow knitter! I love starting a project, and also finishing, but then there’s that in between place. I see a new idea…pattern or yarn, or a new KAL…and then I’m distracted. I’m easily distracted! I try to limit myself to one active project, but I also have numerous WIPs. I categorize them in my head as inactive but they’re still there. Im trying to get to where you are as a monogamous knitter, but it’s a struggle!
You gotta do what works for you. I wish I could work on more than 1 it’s truly a struggle
I am completely with you on this issue. My knitting passion started when I was 16. My mother made the most wonderful things and taught me to knit. It was a great past time for about 20 years and passed away with a marriage, two young sons and a full time job. I took up knitting again 6 years ago. I found four unfinished works in yarn I wouldn’t dream of using now and 1 I could not find the pattern for. I promised myself to do better and finish each projected before starting another new one. Of course, I could have projects lined up and ready to go. About this time, I found the knitting community on line. For some reason, I felt inadequate at knitting because I only had one wip at a time. I also am not a very fast knitter. Then along came GGmadeit! You made it all better to have just one wip! Thanks GG😁
Yay! You do your knitting YOUR way! No comparing ok? Promise?
Oh goodie, I get to put my social science hat on. The answer is – it’s complicated – and also, do not let that comment overwhelm you like too many WIP’s might! knitting is complicated too, yes? So, what we know that works is called by people who don’t knit – chunking – chunk a project down – as knitters (okay I don’t really know anything about knitting, I’m a weaver, but from the outside looking in, I see a common thread tee hee), we take stuff on one stitch at a time – and we understand that complicated isn’t impossible it’s just about validating and attending to keeping track of various threads and colors and patterns. And we also know that learning in itself is a “thread” so when we start out learning something, we might be like, forgettabout variety of pattern and color or even making a sweater – just practice the stitch – maybe start by making a scarf. So right there – that understanding – is the “tension” (so many relatable terms) that you are allowing us to reflect on – the simplicity of few WIP’s and the complexity and potential “weight” of many WIP’s. But the reality is sometimes, just one project will have some serious “weight” – we will make a mistake or run into a challenge or even get bored or even impatient, like we start another project for all these reasons – the key ingredient is we know we like to keep our hands busy. But it’s also true that “incompletes” can weigh on us. Some of us might even be having some emotional baggage – like there is, for some reason, a common reality in children of parents who struggled with addictions where they can have trouble finishing stuff. So this is what I mean by complicated. The reality is there is no one answer for all of us but exploring the question is valuable for each of us. For some of us, we like variety – we like the autonomy that comes with choice, or we like moving from one activity to another. I personally weave and sew and felt…and play ball with the dogs and cook and write and….haha. But I am also a child of a whole society of drunks and so I can have that anxiety that consumes me and weighs on me and results in incompletes stuffed in drawers. And taking those projects on, and just, like you have – creating a goal to just finish the incompletes – sometimes also admit defeat and chuck them or turn them into something else – well that practice is both kind of filled with anxiety in the moment but the commitment is full of a sense of accomplishment and freeing – like I will sleep better even! So every once in a while, I will just check in with myself and ask myself this very question – how many WIP’s do I have going on and is that working – and like a Spring cleaning, I will shift from starting anything new to just completing everything I have going on. One stitch at a time.
I usually have at least two WIPs. I like to always have something easy on the needles like socks or a hat and a more complicated project like color work or something with cables and I go back and forth between the two, sometimes I want something complicated, other times I want something easy. I love the process, but my favorite thing is the finished product and being able to wear what I’ve made.
I don’t think there is a magic, one-fits-all answer to this one, GG. For me, too many WIPs is when they start to stress me out. Knitting is supposed to be anti-stress, so when my WIPs start giving me the stink eye, it’s time to finish something. I’m pretty monogamous for that reason. Buuuut there are times that I just NEED to CO a few things.
Go with what makes your heart happy. 🙂
I hear ya! I’m also all about the finishing. Probably why I tend to lean toward easier/faster projects. I have a couple of projects going right now, but I usually complete one before starting another
I have many WIPs. The main cause of this is that I always like to have something simple that requires no thought, that I can churn along on while I’m watching tv or sitting on a Zoom meeting. When a project reaches the point where it needs my attention, I need to get a different project to that point.
Yep, that means some things languish, waiting for me to have time and attention to devote again. But occasionally I get in the mood to finish things off, and then I get the pleasure of discovering socks that just need a half row bound off, or a capelet that’s nearing the end.
I used to pressure myself to get things done; now I just trust that eventually each project will have its day.
Hi Ms G, I’m the same, I tried doing more than one WIP a few times, but it causes too much stress! I too am itching to start the Knit Collage hat but I reeeeeeally want to finish the shawl that has been unfinished for way too long! So yeah I’m a monogamous WIPer! 🧡😘
I usually have 2-3. One big, because sometimes the big takes so long to complete and one small for instant gratification. I occasionally have a portable that I can leave in the car in case something happens and I get bored.
I usually work one knit project at a time. But this is my year for challenging myself to step it up. So I reserve crochet projects when I feel frustrated. Crochet comes easy to me. When I calm I go back to the knit project. I’m determined 😌
I currently have 5 WIPs on the go. 1 is reupholstering my gran’s chair so not sure if that counts. The others are a pair of slippers (to use up yarn that’s been in stash way too long), a shawl, a hat for my son and socks as my travel knitting. I think I also have a Christmas bauble on the needles for my guild’s fundraising. The hat is almost finished and only got cast on as my son needs it. Normally I try to stick to 3 WIPs, 1 travel knitting project which is usually socks, 1 shawl and 1 sweater. More than that and I start to feel overwhelmed.
Right now I have three–a fingering-weight sweater with color work, a pair of socks, and a shawl to use up scraps and that I can knit without a lot of attention. They all serve different purposes! I like that I can knit mindlessly with the shawl; I can finish the socks quickly; I can take little bites of the sweater as I can focus! But… I think ideally I’d have two–a larger, more complicated project and a small little something like socks or a hat.
#teamfinish here. In theory I like the idea of saying, “Today I feel like….” and choosing among multiple projects, especially because my Covid commitment has been to an endless blanket in brioche stitch on needles the size of toothpicks (WHY?!?!?), but I fear that if I put a WIP down I won’t pick it up.
I wonder if it’s a division between a more goal-oriented vs. process-oriented approach? What do you think?
Though I do love the process, too.
I am a chronic haver of many, many WIPs. And yes, some do get abandoned ot put on hold (mostly my own design ideas), but my brain does better when I can switch it up. Also, I have read that ergononmically it is better to switch around the size of needle you are working with frequently. So having multiple WIPs allows me to tell myself I am doing my hands a favor— rather than it just being I have the attention span of your average gnat! 😉
I’m comfortable with up to 3 WIPs at once, but only one project per type at a time, so I could have socks as one type, a shawl as a second, and then a hat. While I can break that rule for small projects, never more than one sweater going at a time.
I will say it loud for everyone in the back: “I have knitting ADD”! I start projects, become disenchanted with them or MORE enchanted with something else and…yeah. And when it gets close to Christmas, I knit these cute wee mitten tree ornaments that are SO quick and easy and satisfying! I have at least 6 projects on needles now. One is being actively worked on, one lives in my living room, glaring at me, one was for my father (who has since passed away, RIP) and the others are biding their time, hidden. I am determined to finish all these projects. This would be easier if I could quit my job, but that ain’t happening. I’ve declared a moratorium on purchasing new yarn for now. That hat looks adorable, btw! To my credit, during this whole covid mess I knit my first sweater into completion! Yay, me! OK, I gotta focus and finish this gorgeous shawl.
thanks for another excellent post.
Yes I am often conflicted about WIPs. I am often very very slow (a couple of years) for items requiring fit like a sweater, but in May I knit and finished an entire sweater for me.
I have another sweater project in the closet which has lingered for some years. I won the yarn, which was not something I would have bought (and it came with a pattern book), and I should really finish it this year – even if I then give the sweater away. I don’t want to rip it as I don’t want to knit anything else with that yarn.
I used to always have an active laceweight scarf/shawl project ready for travel (an easier pattern with one colour) – now no travel! I am aiming to finish that project this summer even without travelling.
Sometimes i do have two scarf/shawl patterns active, but I try not to go beyond two at a time (OK beyond three …)
I have a lot of projects in mind – with great yarn and patterns ready to go.
I enjoy the process and I enjoy being finished, especially if I want to give it to someone.
but i guess I can get distracted along the way …
lots to think about here! I am really enjoying your blog
Do have a good week.
I’ve a few WIPs on the needles. Pay attention socks, vanilla sock I can grab and go. Sweater to pay attention and sweater in mindless Stocking Stitch phase grab and go. A couple of shawls as well. I get the WIPs over the mindless knitting THEN I monogamously knit to the finish line and it feels like I accomplish more. Total mind games eh?
I normally max out at 3 because I am a completist and having more than that makes my brain itch. But this pandemic is stressing me out! I kept getting stuck and couldn’t get into my LYS for help plus I wanted to support them and now the WIPs are out of control!! Hopefully when they open up I can finish my first sweater.
Hi GG
I normally have more than one project in progress at a time. I have a carry along, something large or bulky, and then I have my own ideas that I work up. I like to make baby blankets and not always have someone to give them to. Somebody is always having a baby. Then there are the adults in my life that want a specific color wave in a blanket. My carry along are usually lace doilys. One of my other favorite things to make. And those are just my yarn projects. I also like to work with fabric. And usually have multiple works there to. So my hobbies keep me busy. That’s a good thing.
BP (before pandemic) I had maybe 3 to 5 projects going at one. A shawl, a sweater and docks Cathy’s was my typical Combo. I am a process gal. It’s all in the doin and finish. NOW? I am a cast on maniac. And to make matters more complicated I am quilting and cross stitching. (Have you considered the fun of quilting with orange fabric?) I want to do it all and I have been giving myself permission to do whatever and whenever. That’s my current situation. I think one day I will wake up and say, stop! But until then…..
I usually end up with WIPs when I have to frog and fix a mistake or fit problem (I have 2 sweaters in time our for those very reasons right now) . Of course there is always the case of a new shiny coming along. That does it every time.
the new shiny is very tempting, what is does is make me hurry and finish what I am doing currently
I don’t have a maximum number of WIPs, but usually fall in the 2-5 range, plus a few spinning projects. I try not to have more than 1 or 2 similar projects at a time though! That way I’m switching between easy / hard or small / large projects. I can’t not have something to do with my hands so its important to have a few projects on the go so I can switch what I’m working on depending on how much I am able to concentrate and where I am in the project.
I’d get less done if I stuck to one at a time. For example – I knit a lot on conference calls, but I’m not going to do a fiddly bit which requires my full attention during the call. So maybe I pick up the project that’s in the middle of a nice long stockinette section at the moment… At the end of the day, I’ve done more knitting and made more progress.
Makes total sense..it just doesn’t work for me. 🗣 thank you for sharing
EXACTLY!
I know I have too many WIPs so I’m not counting. I have a crochet UFO that’s about 30 years old (cotton tablecloth halted due to carpal tunnel). My quilting and older knitting WIPs changed to UFOs when I was caregiving for my parents. I did finish a 9-year-old WIP after my mom died. I occasionally knit on hibernating projects—but this year I added 3 sweater WIPs which are in Time Out.
I am too distracted to knit anything requiring focus right now, so I’m knitting a second blue hat.
Ok, this has changed over the years for me. When I first started knitting, I was trying all of these really difficult and complicated projects which I didn’t have the skills for yet, let alone the ability to TINK back, or drop down to fix. I would FROG back to the start over and over! I think of those days, and it gives me anxiety. Now I try and build new skills by picking certain projects. Once COVID hit, I also decided to try and use up my stash instead of having yarn just sitting there. I have a yarn wall now, so I often want soooo badly to start another project without finishing the first. I’ve also been gifted about 50 pounds worth of scratchy acrylic that I need to try and work with. My husband says I don’t have to use that, to just focus on the nice stuff I love, but I’m determined.
That being said, I’ve been limiting to a gift knit and a selfish knit, so two at a time, I just switch back and forth, then go all out on the gift knit as the due date gets closer!
I have… about 3 active WIPs (crocheting and knitting) right now. I find that multiple WIPs keep me busy. I have about 4 more WIPS but they are blankets and it’s HOT here in the South USA for the summer. Do I make sense?