Help me

There comes a time when a knitter must ask the hard question - is it really worth it? Just because a project has waitied in the wings for years doesn't mean it must get finished. Some times you just have to change the definition of done. Some things were meant to be knit but not to become anything. They are still valuable - you probably learned something from making them and you had a relaxing activity for a period of time. I'm still debating on this one. It's the beginning of a freeform purse. I'm not quite ready to call it quits, but I'm also not ready to move it to the top of the priority list. I have a few others on my blog that I'm debating about too. Why is it so hard to let go of something even when you don't really want it anymore!

Why UFO?

So, here's a fundamentally significant question - why do UFO's become UFOs? I'm all full of enthusiasm when I start the project. Most of them I'm still want to do, I just find myself more interested in other projects. Sometimes it's because the project in question is complex and daunting. Sometimes, I suppose, I just get bored. Regardless, I find that I reach a point having left the project for so long has created new obstacles to picking it up - like this fine snarled mess. Now, I have to spend time unraveling before I can knit (or figuring out where I was in the pattern, or trying to find the directions again, or figuring out where the right needles are) so it just seems easier to pick up something else.

This group is giving me the inspiration I need to jump the hurdles. This is the first UFO I'm taking on even though others might be quicker. This is my Secrets of the Stole, started months and months ago. The pattern was revealed at a rate of about 100 rows a weeks. Some people would finish it within days and be begging for the next installment. At first, I was almost able to keep up but then I wrote a novel in a month (long story) and Christmas came and any number of other projects I really wanted to get done.

The one benefit to having knitted so much in between is that I'm a better knitter now and able to handle the complicated lace more easily. I should set a deadline for myself on this, but I hesitate since we're heading off on vacation and I'm finding that it's hard to get much knitting done in the summer. I will pledge to work on it at least a little every week until it's done.

Half Done!

This UFO has motivated me to finish my Monkey Socks. I have now finished one and have already cast on and finished the ribbing for a second. I've quite a ways to go but I'm really, really going to try to get this done before starting something new. I have Janice to keep me moving since she started after me and will totally finish first! Go Janice.

SerpentineSock1stDone

SerpentineSock1stDone,
originally uploaded by KnittingNiche.

I've been working away on my UFOs, this past weekend, and finished a sock! The other one is done to the top of the the heel (toe up socks) and I hope to finish it soon. I also worked on my Civil War Shawl some and have it ready to start the edging, with a picture on my blog.
Danielle M
knittingniche.blogspot.com

UFO Go go go

Just a note of encouragement to all UFOers - I haven't posted mine yet because we're on vacation in CT. But I'm getting excited about pulling them all out and having a good look. I think I'll offer at least one up for adoption.

Thanks to this KAL, I've already knocked one off my list, however. I frogged it. It was a dish cloth, but I'd lost the pattern. In general, I hate to go backwards, but there is a time to be realistic about the possibility of actually getting it done. The answer for that one was nil.

I've also resisted buying more yarn while on vacation so I can keep motivated to take on the projects I've already got started. I did however, start two more while here. (tee hee)

Keep sharing your progress and send all your knitting friends over to the site to sign up - the more the merrier etc.

Jknits

Danielle M's UFOs & Plan of Attack

I have 14 projects on the needles right now. First up, will be to finish a pair of socks that I've started a couple of times. Next, I may try to finish up my Civil War Shawl. This one is less than half done, so if I finish it, I will be amazed! In August of 2006, I worked on my UFOs and finished nearly every one! This time, my UFOs are in a lesser state of completion, so I doubt that I will get everything done, but we'll see. If I work on finishing the pairs of socks that are started, I have a better chance of cleaning up more projects.
Danielle M
knittingniche.blogspot.com

Janice's UFO's

I LOVE this KAL and really hope it will inspire me to get some of my UFO's off of my needles. (Well, it already has as a matter of fact!!) I did a blog post here on my 9 UFO's that I had on my needles that day. Since then, I finished two of them, and cast on a new pair of socks. (So, down two, up one.... 8 UFO's now!) I really hope to get most of them done this summer. We have LOTS of car trips coming up, and I can knit very well in the car. Thanks for a great KAL, Allison and Jennifer!

Bonnie's UFOs

Here are my UFOs. Technically, the yellow top doesn't count as all I have to do is weave in the ends. Other than that, from top to bottom:

1. Thunder sweater (pattern by Kim Hargreaves) in a Rowan purple pink twist wool (barely started). A finished version is here.
2. Shawl / Wrap in a yarn called Kid Slique by Prism
3. Cozy in Knitpicks Andean Silk in cream
   
4. Scarf in feather and fan pattern, Patons SWS

ADOPTION

As a part of our Summer of the UFO we also are creating an Adoption Agency for those UFO's you no longer have an interest in. If you have a UFO that you are not going to finish you can put it up for adoption here. Why not find it a loving home? Just post a photo and a description of your UFO and see who is interested. You can even put it in the witness protection program if you don't want your family members to know you gave it away! You can put it up in one of three ways:

1. Free to a good home.

2. Exchange with someone for one of their UFO's or some yarn from their stash.

3. For sale.

Please note that we hostesses take no responsibility for anything :-) Your mailing/payment/swap arrangements are between you and your adoptee. Let us know if you have any questions on this one!

Spooky!

Allison, how did you get inside my brain?!! Just last night, I gathered up my projects, surrounded myself with them and try to prioritize what I want to work on. As you know, my knitting has been just about non-existent lately. And to be honest, I only have four TRUE UFOs - a wrap made from a cool unusual yarn that I suspect is not sufficient to finish the project, a Cozy shawl (yes, the same one I start eons ago), a sweater that I have started and ripped out twice and a scarf for which I have lost the pattern but it's just a simple feather and fan pattern that I think I can recreate. I think I am going to rip out the Cozy and start over. It has been in the same place on the needles for at least two years and I suspect i would be better off just to begin again.

Oh wait! I do have one more UFO that I finished knitting and piecing last summer on vacation. The only thing left is to weave in the ends. I think I will do that this week so i can wear it THIS summer on vacation. Which starts Saturday!

So, I won't compete for any prizes but I will participate to remain inspired. Can't wait to see what you all have going on!

Boot Sock UFO

I started this boot sock as my first pair of socks. What was I thinking??? I've never made a pair of socks so of course why not start with knee highs?! Perhaps I should have started with an anklet. Well I'm down to the lower calf and haven't touched this in months. It's time to pick it back up and finish at least one!

PRIZES

So what's the deal on the prizes? Each month we will draw a name from those who finished an item and posted about it. To win you must have made your first post about the item at least 2 weeks before the end of the month (we may be flexible about that in July). The idea is that we want people posting and sharing as they go through the process. Not just posting a finished item once in hopes of a prize. We are also welcome to anyone who wants to make donations to the prize stasy.

Definition of a UFO

I've been asked, "What IS a UFO?" There is no clear definition but here are some guidelines (like the Pirate Code). A UFO can be either knitting, crochet or spinning. It should not be something that you are currently working on which is simply taking a long time but rather should be a project that you started and then put down for whatever reason and have not come back to it for awhile. It can be as simple as a finished bag that you never got around to adding handles or a button to or a shawl that you started and never finished. It can be roving that you started to spin but never finished. You get the idea. We trust you to determine what is a UFO in your stash!

Hurray for the UFOs

This is going to be so awesome - my sad, neglected ufos will finally get some attention.

Welcome and the Rules

Sign ups for Summer of the UFO will be open throughout the summer. To sign-up just send an e-mail to UFOknitATgmailDOTcom and let us know your e-mail address. You will then receive an e-mail invitation to join. So here are the rules. This KAL is meant for us to support one another in finishing our UFO's so you are invited to do the following:

1. Post a list of your UFO's on your blog (requested but not required)

2. Post photos of your UFO's that you are now working on and let us know how you're doing.

3. Leave comments and encourage others to finish their UFO's.

It's that simple! We hope you will join us!