Inspiration
Documenting a Rare Case
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Dear Ann,
If you live long enough, you are going to go through some things.
In my long knitting life, I often have fallen prey to a condition known as startitis. It afflicts me most acutely when a new MDK Field Guide has just come out, or when I visit MDK World Headquarters’ bins and shelves of yarn, glorious yarn, or when I spend almost any amount of time roaming the pattern pages of Ravelry.com. (It can be a very short trip from Hot Right Now to Hot and Bothered Right Now.) Because knitting is all about joy for me, I do not deny the urge to stop, drop, and cast on something new. It will all get finished, mostly … eventually.
In the course of all our travels in the past couple of weeks, from New York to Nashville to Sewanee to Brooklyn to Chicago (where we are right now for the h+ h trade show), something amazing happened to me: I contracted a case of finishitis. Everywhere I went, I was seaming and sewing in ends and blocking like nobody’s business. I finished so many things that some of them did not even get their picture taken, Ann!
It was wild. And extremely satisfying. Two Tendril Necklaces! Six Sophie Scarves! And these two beauties:
A tiny pair of Blu baby jeans, and the ABC Blanket by Rüdiger Schlömer.
They are both for the same baby, whose early arrival and speedy growth motivated me to finally sew in the wee elastic waistband, so I could hand them off to her grandma before they were too small.
Both projects, amazingly, are in the same yarn, Rowan Creative Linen, so they’re easy care, wash and wear. Instead of blocking the blanket, after sewing in the (very few) ends, I ran it through the washing machine and dryer. I wanted it to start its life as a baby blanket as it means to go on, looking great and supporting literacy despite frequent spillings, draggings through dust bunnies and Cheerios, and launderings.
Twin mattress for scale
I had as much fun knitting Rüdiger Schlömer’s elegant slipped-stitch letters as I have had knitting anything in my life. More, Rüdiger, more! (Sorry if that sounds ungrateful. I mean to say a boldfaced THANK YOU.)
Other finishes yet to get their moment in front of the Kay cam: a Shakerag Skirt (also in Creative Linen), and a Yabane Cowl (in MDK Atlas).
I’m on fire! Must finish some more things real quick while this fever lasts.
Love,
Kay
“Looking great and supporting literacy” that’s it! More is coming soon, I promise!
Wow, what beauties! Those little Blu jeans are the best-looking pair yet. (Looks like Creative Linen needs to be on my list). I am hoping to be bitten by Finish-itis soon. One project in particular is giving me fits. I’ve decided the best strategy for me is to get projects started (needle size determined, cast-on completed, plus a few rows worked – sort of a head-start-itis), then go back to my current project calmly knowing that the next one -or two!- on my list is well in hand and already minus the first fiddly bits. We’ll see how that goes…best laid plans, etc.
That blanket is beautiful Ann. I had a case of finishitis a few years back. I had recently retired and the “yarn room” and bins got a hard-core going-thru. I swore I would not start another thing until I finished all the WIPs. Eleven projects later, they were done, including one Christmas stocking I estimate had been started 27 years prior. OMG, the sense of accomplishment! I was riding a high for weeks.
Well now I have developed a case of startitis! I have had that blanket in my queue since I saw it posted on here a few months ago, but I had just finished knitting a queen-sized blanket for my daughter and wanted to take a break from larger projects. Okay. I’m over that break. Now to choose my colors! ABC…
I am always amazed at the complexities of human beings and especially makers. My 86 year old mother is an absolute “one project at a time” knitter and it’s one way (of many) that we are wildly different. During a discussion about UFOs, friend once asked, “Peggy, you’re a knitter, you must have unfinished objects after so many years of knitting?” My mother politely allowed a pause to go by like she was actually thinking about it and responded, “No”. I knew the answer but my friend was shocked. I guess that’s one of my mother’s superpowers because I relate to both the castonitis and finishitis moments you shared. Good thing there is room for all of us!!! Thanks for the inspirational words.
I have had the loveliest pair of blu baby jeans just waiting for the elastic for two years. Now, I need to wait for another baby! The one I made them for is a growing toddler!
How may I get the blu baby jean pattern?
thanks
The pattern is available for free on Ravelry and Knitty.com. Just search under the name : Blu and it should come up.
The pattern is linked directly in the essay above—look for the bold red text. Takes you right to Ravelry!
Hi, Lucille. Here you go.
Funny, find myself in the same frame of mind. Wondering if it’s mindfulness, artistic guilt, or simply age… Nonetheless, there is something good to be said about this « getting it done » process, it is indeed good for the soul!
Congrats, Kay! I unfortunately am still laboring with castonitis and it has not subsided! So many WIPs so little time- but as you say- eventually some will be finished! Hopefully some for Christmas!! Hugs, Isabel
Both so very stunningly adorable!! Thank you
You ARE on fire!!! Inspirational!! I just finished my best friend’s Isabel sweater (Norah Gaughan), am knitting Brigantine (from Quince), for pallet cleanser, and now on to finishitis!
Onward!
It’s wild, isn’t it? The most satisfying KAL of my life (to date) was a KAL of UFOs!
Is this fever contagious? Boy, do I need to finish some things; I’ve run out of flat surfaces in my house to put unfinished projects on. Your blanket and baby jeans look gorgeous!
I have the pattern for those baby jeans but my grandchild grew so fast I never got them made. We refer to him as GB Giant Baby. I love them, however.
I picked up many UFOs at the beginning of lockdown and finished a few sweaters …
Love that blanket! Lucky baby!
Kay, your sweet words are such a validation for me. I didn’t ever think to just accept the fact that I have startitis! Yes! I have startitis! It’s ok! Go with the joy of the moment! Thank you so much for this permission. I knit with a wonderful group of ladies that usually knit one thing at a time. I’ve tried to conform, I really have. But now I’m just going to do me. I may cast on 2 things today. Lol!
I agree Liz! No need to conform, just be ourselves and start projects that bring us joy with reckless abandon!!! They’ll get to FO’s someday, maybe. But for me it’s the process that brings joy. (And apparently buying more yarn for my stash 😉
Oh my HECK! It IS one of the most satisfying feelings in the entire world when the FOs just begin to tumble off the needles…You go girl!
Rüdiger ‘s book is pretty brilliant. I checked it out from the library (as I always do to determine if a book is worth buying). Buying this one! Simply incredible.
I used to be a graphic designer in a past life, and rate the book 5 shining stars.
Just beautiful gifts, the love is palpable! Congratulations on finishing these 2 gorgeous gifts.
Inspiring indeed. Maybe even enough for me to give yet another attempt at the ABC blanket. Maybe. Of course I have *just a few* other UFOs. So when does a WIP become a UFO?
I think of a UFO as a rediscovered WIP. A project that was put aside and is then rediscovered when working on something else or cleaning out the stash.
Is it contagious? If so, please come a little bit closer . . .
I’m in total Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde mode. I have a pile that I want to start and a pile that I want to finish and they are both singing a siren’s song to me right now.
Wow! Best baby blanket present ever.
love this!! both the thoughts and the finished projects.
I take this writing as a permission slip to go ahead and cast on the two projects I have been wanting to do but have been plugging along on a project I really don’t need finished until Christmas. I have yarn, needles and pattern ready to go for a Shakerag top and everything ready for the ParagonPopover In the Field Guide 24. Casting on the Shakerag this afternoon!
Love it! Sophie scarves are SO addicting, aren’t they? (As is the shawl!) I have a bunch of things that need blocked, so maybe I’ll catch this fever!
My level of finishitis to startitis is all based on what project has a deadline for the recipient next and what yarn I have on hand vs coming. Recently finished a stocking that I was waiting for new darning needles to kitchner closed as I had misplaced mine, a hat that was comissioned for a goodbye in August, and a scarf that will be given to the recipient at her ordination later this year. Now back to my temperature blanket for October while I wait for the yarn to come for the baby blanket for September, and of course my at work knitting of blocks for the September baby. I have about 3 more things in the queue but those are heading for next summer so now to focus on these before their due date arrives.
Finishing fits can be so disconcerting, but I love the feeling of accomplishment! My Yabane cowl is blocking right now, too!
That blanket is amazing!!
I didn’t even know “Finish-itis” was a thing, until about a week ago! Suddenly my hibernating WIPs are the most compelling things. With this burst of inspired energy, my Ranger is now ABBB (all but buttons and blocking!), and my Gib is almost on sleeve island. Powdermill cardigan, I’m coming for you next! This has never happened to me before, but I’m going to quick-hurry-up-and-finish these WIPs before it goes away.
That blanket is a masterpiece!
I’m with you! I’m on track to finish the blanket from hell this week. I would have quit but it is very striking and it’s an accomplishment overcoming my wandering attention. Yay, my reward is getting to knit full time on the Penrose Tote! Waaaay more fun.
What a gorgeous blanket. . . And baby jeans. . . Now I’m feeling like I need to make the blanket also! And I’m definitely a fan of having many WIPs. . . Just gotta!
I had a case of finish-it virus strike me in late May…it was wonderful. 2 hats, a vest, a top that was in time out from last fall, and a 7 year old project (thanks Ravelry, for helping me know the timeline….) that no longer fit me. My daughter scored a nice tee — Insouciant. Sadly the finish virus ran its course in about 2 weeks.
Those knitted jeans are adorable, and the blanket is amazing! I especially like the way they seem to naturally go together. ❤
The blanket is a masterpiece- and the jeans are adorable!
So beautiful! What a great idea for a library children’s reading room.
I am reading a book about a small community that started a UFO( unfinished object) group. Anyone could bring any kind of unfinished project and work on it at the meeting. Groups seemed to cause them to be accountable. The idea was to not start a new project until you had finished an old one. I try to not have more than two projects on my needle. Have a fun day.
I like this idea, Betty!
I just started a Shakerag skirt based on your post about it a while back! So I’m eager to see how yours turned out. I am opting for the lace panel on the bottom.
Can you add any details about how machine washing & drying affected the Creative Linen yarn? (I noticed the label says hand wash, lay flat to dry, but am hoping to machine wash my skirt… if I dare after all that knitting!)
Very gorgeous x
Both adorable patterns!