First Person
The Tyranny of the Knitting Queue
What’s the first thing many of us do when we’ve finished a knitting project? Cast on a new one!
We anxiously go to our list of projects we want to knit (and may have already bought the yarn for in anticipation), and we barely take a moment to enjoy our accomplishment. Sometimes we don’t even block or sew together the projects—and when I say “we,” I’m talking about myself.
While there are many reasons why we do this, the one I want to address today is that taskmistress: The Knitting Queue.
Claudia’s actual Ravelry Queue
I’m not going to try to convince you that you shouldn’t have a knitting queue. I have one on Ravelry, but I couldn’t tell you what was on it (I think, actually, there are projects that I’ve finished still in the queue).
It’s more of a mood board for a specific time and a specific me, neither of which exist anymore (thank you, Heraclitus). I’d always thought it would help motivate me and keep me on track (never questioning whose track I was on), but the thing is, while there are plenty of patterns I want to make (and always more coming), I never know whether what’s next on the queue is what I want to knit at the moment.
A knitting queue freezes the knitter in time. It’s a little bit like a snapshot, and by the time you come to the next item in your queue, you’ve changed, and oftentimes what you want to make has changed as well.
Before you ask how I keep track of the designs that have caught my eye—despite the previous paragraph, I am a list-keeper (love them!), and sometimes I am tempted to order them in some way; however, the list should be a dynamic, not a static, thing.
Projects are added, fall off, or are reordered, only to possibly attract interest again later. For example, I started the Brooklyn Tweed pattern Charley a few years ago, messed up the patternwork, put it on a timeout, and thought I’d use the yarn for something else. Now Charley is back on my radar.
Back on the radar. Or is it?
I don’t, however, know when I’ll cast it on.
With the start of a new calendar year, there’s the temptation to make a resolution to “get through” some projects. While I might use a project as a way to get through something in my life, my knitting is not about performing for someone else or punishing myself for the audacity to change my mind or lose interest.
We are finite beings; we will probably never knit everything we want to. The author Oliver Burkeman addresses the overwhelming feeling one can get when looking at their “to read” list. What he suggests translates to knitting.
Instead of treating our knitting queues as a bucket that can only hold so much and needs to be emptied before more is added to it, we could choose to look at it like a stream that flows by you and “from which you pluck a few choice items, here and there.” It’s your stream; you can fill it with whatever projects have caught your eye and be okay with letting some patterns flow on by.
Don’t let metrics of productivity or accomplishment suck the joy out of your making. You’re allowed to fire your taskmistress; perhaps your project queue could turn into some kind of journal of your knitting journey, but you don’t have to stay true to it.
Dip your toes in the stream and wait to see what comes by and strikes your fancy. Being true to yourself, in whatever moment, seems like a worthy New Year’s resolution.
Header image credit: sonnyboyd
I love my queue, which is (mumble mumble) items long. I often browse in it for fun, since it’s made up of projects I’ve already screened, so to speak, and know I would at least enjoy thinking about. I know I’ll never get to all of them, but it’s less overwhelming than trying to swim in the open waters of Ravelry’s millions and millions of patterns.
And every so often I come across something in my queue that’s been discontinued and is no longer available, and I can delete it without guilt!
My queue is most certainly a mood board or a let’s try out this one list. I often knit the item and leave it on the queue so as to remember to make another. I wish I could figure out how to sort it in order I added it to the queue. That way I am sure I’d fool myself into knitting “in order”!
I tend to think like you do about the tyrannical queue so stopped doing one and am the happier for it. Although I do keep the beginnings of one around as kind of a memory board and for entertainment value. What haunts me is my UFO’s. Around every corner. I’ve found summer is the best time to tackle them. All that sun makes me feel more optimistic. Wish I had the skills to knit that Charley, though!
I love this! Sometimes my queue reflects my journey but it’s always changing and I try to keep any ‘should do’ guilt out of it!
I don’t use the queue feature – instead I use “favorites” which is definitely a mood board; or an interrupted space, like this year already where at the close of last year I had added sweaters to knit for me. I had had the thought that 2026 was “knit a sweater for me” year. Instead that has been set aside for “knit for new grandbaby”. When I circle back to the sweater perhaps other patterns will call to me – regardless no pressure from a queue – just an intriguing list of “favs”.
Yes! I have so many favorites. I use bundles to organize them so I can find patterns for specific categories easily. I only have one item in my queue, which is a definite next project. (Kitty Corner Blanket for a baby blanket; looks like a great stash buster.)
Absolutely agree. The Favorites Mood Board! Occasionally, I run through it and sort out a few, but it’s my inspiration. Sometimes, it’s the beginning of a shopping list for the next trip to a yarn store, but if I happen to already have what I need to start it, the pattern is (usually) there, and I’m psyched to begin. Pressure? NOT my thing, so the queue doesn’t really exist, though I’m good at starting something as soon as I finish a project. And, I do try to only do one thing at a time…yikes!
Yes, me too! And many of my favorites are for future inspiration, or a cool idea to try, or to support a designer. No pressure here!
I too stopped using the queue and like to put things in favorites. That way there’s no pressure to knit anything, just a bunch of things I’d like to knit…possibly, someday, or not!
I love this! Sometimes my queue reflects my journey but it’s always changing and I try to keep any ‘should do’ guilt out of it!
Great article and perspective. I definitely have a stream, maybe river, sometimes overflowing it’s banks. No guilt here. Happy New Year.
Love the concept of the knitting options stream ……. I will be dipping my toes in as often as I need with no pressure at all ✨
I keep list in a notebook of what I want to knit, but it’s generic with item types and not an actual pattern.
I once decided on what project from my queue to start to by asking my spouse to pick a number between one and “x”.
(I try to put into my queue only things for which I have both the pattern and yarn, so I could start whatever number he picked.)
I didn’t even know there was a queue option…I also use the favorites list which is like a grab bag of goodies from which I can chose my next project (or my old Vogue Knitting patterns I’ve saved in notebooks…I miss it!) I look at my lovely stash and cast on what the mood strikes at the time…feels much less like work:)
As someone whose Ravelry queue has recently topped 1,600, I appreciate the idea of queue as stream. At one point, out of embarrassment, I ruthlessly cut the queue back to under 700, but no more. Now I just let is flow.
Great article. Similar to you, I use my queue as an ongoing stream of ideas of what I want to knit from my stash (or maybe acquire yarn to make), that I periodically re-visit as I am thinking about a new cast on. I try to tag my items by category and I can see the evolution over time of what I am interested in making.
I do sometimes see my queue as a “to do” list, I love the stream vs bucket mentality –On the other hand, my queue has been helpful to remind me that I GOT that little knit toy kit in the first place. And I enjoy rearranging my queue to the season.
“All is in permanent flux”. Yes, I can relate
Ravelry is an amazing and powerful tool. I use the queue as well as projects lists for my multiple WIPs.
The stash tool is also amazing to help track all of the wooly goodness I have accumulated. I started inventorying last year and still haven’t gotten through everything. I love that when looking at a project, recommendations from your stash will be added so you can see what you have on hand too consider using. Stash also allows for exporting your inventory to Excel.
Next I’m planning to use the tools feature to inventory my needles and hooks.
All these interesting comments! I do have a queue, and it is patterns I want to knit and I have the yarn. In that respect, it is a to-do list, but I rearrange it frequently and have no problem plucking something from the middle if that’s what I want to knit!
I also use favorites to bookmark interesting patterns or ideas, but not something I want to knit, necessarily.
Ravelry is a database, and I worked with databases throughout my career. It makes sense to me to use all the tools it has to make my knitting experience a fun and positive part of my life. Databases are not rigid if your thinking is not rigid. They are powerful, flexible ways to access data.
I love the notion that our queue is a stream passing by that we can pick a few choice items from at any moment in time! Thanks for that image. It applies to so many things besides knitting!
I use it as a memory jog so I know where my knitting jones has wandered. I recently deleted all the discontinued patterns AND anything with 0-negative ease and I too feel refreshed.
Thank you for reframing the way I regard my queue as well as my WIP’s. I started using favorites on Ravelry instead of the queue to capture that flow of projects that pique my interest, if not my commitment.
Love Ravelry. I also do not use the Queue feature; I guess I use the library as my queue. I can totally embrace using Favorites as a mood board! I don’t have to commit to buying the pattern.
Queue?
I have one in Ravelry and think the one in the #1 spot has been there for a long time. Yesterday I found some that I’ve already knitted down somewhere near #250. Guess we should update every now and then, eh? If I like a pattern I often make more than one so those never leave the queue like I really need a reminder.
Thank you for the link to the Heraclitus article. Kinda heavy reading before I’ve finished my first cup of coffee, but I really enjoyed it. I’ve been thinking some really heavy thoughts and it felt good to know that others do, too. I have so many, many questions that (I think) most would think inappropriate to even contemplate. Life is simple. Life is complex.
Thanks for the article.
Love the idea of queue as a flowing stream
That’s why I don’t put in a queue. I save in a like/that’s cute list. I deal with it better that way. No pressure right?
My list is so long, but seriously – what’s the name of the pattern for the sweater you are wearing? It needs to be added to my queue. Thank you!
Our queues need not be static, mine certainly isn’t. I enjoy updating mine to add a great new find, remove items I am no longer interested in and re-order those I am excited to knit. In doing so, my queue reflects my current desires. Used in such a way, it is a great organizational tool rather a list of obligation. Favorites is a great place to keep track of patterns of interest for future consideration.
You had me at the title! No matter how many times I “free” myself with various methods, I am at heart a dedicated project manager – I love my lists, and I love checking things off them. Nonetheless, you named a touchstone of modern knitting, which is that there is more inspiration, choice of materials, options and beautiful things than we will ever be able to use. So I love your analogy of the stream, and plucking out the passing thing which strikes our fancy, living in the moment. Thank you!!!
This is exactly the reason I quit using the Ravelry queue list. It quickly became a to-do list instead of a ‘joy of anticipation’ list. I add anything I’m intrigued by to my favorites and the next project is completely fluid…what I want to cast on next is decided as I’m finishing the previous project(s). What I need to work on now is the celebration of the finished project.
I typically have 3 projects going at a time. One complex which requires attention, one a bit more mindless to watch TV and knit and one which is small, mindless that requires no need to refer to instructions-for travel. Depends on which one is completed first as to what is next in the cue!
I can really relate to this post. I go through my queue occasionally and I’m often surprised at what I’ve listed there. My tastes definitely change with time and often yarn that I’ve purchased for one project is used for another one that catches my eye. It’s fun to go through the list and clean it up as my interest changes.
I have found Oliver Burkeman’s books really helpful in thinking about time, work, and happiness (and “4000 weeks” was a great knitting/commuting audiobook–he reads it himself). I’m currently working through “Meditations for Mortals” and am getting a lot of thinking mileage out of Day 2 and the metaphor of kayaking in the river of time. Especially since I used to whitewater kayak, I love the image of making small adjustments in the moment (paddling) to get ready for the next thing (the next rapid) without trying to think too far ahead or control too much. Interestingly this idea has increased my knitting time by encouraging me to “paddle” a few minutes here and there rather than think about Completing Big Projects. Anyway, I highly recommend Burkeman!
Thank you, Claudia, for this inspiring take on projects. I have a mental queue that often needs updating, but no pressure to “ have to complete “ unless it’s a timely gift.
I love your idea of plucking from the stream and will use it often! Thanks to you,
Charley is now in my pattern stash! You have wonderful words of advice to star the new year ……with JOY.
Just what I needed to hear. You put it precisely – the queue is a snapshot of the creative journey we are all on . Thank you for this!
“Thank you Heraclitus.” That was my moment.
I use favorites.
My addiction is buying patterns and yarn and treating them like a queue. I love the planning and kitting up of things. Not so much the execution. I have a queue of things I have started and abandoned. Like the dining hall at ms havershams, my table is full.
I am curious as to how you “keep a list” and how you order it. Is it by clothing category or yarn types or what?
Well said.
I use my favorites on Ravelery like others. But what I really need is a way to keep track of interesting yarn that I read about or hear about. I would love to hear ideas from this group
What a lovely subject to read and think about for this ‘New’ year! I view my queue as a record of my knitting evolution. I truly wish I could knit just a bit faster because there are patterns that I fall in love with every time I see them. However there is no internal push to do more than what is reasonable for what life is throwing at me in the moment. What does make me just a little crazy are too many WIP’s. So once more I am intent on completing my WIP’s so I can happily start a new project and feel a little less crazy.
When I moved from Denver to Eugene my yarn stash was out of control. At one time I used to finish a project and then create another. When my life came crashing down around me, daughter had leukemia, I went through a divorce, my father died. I bought yarn for comfort. With my many moves, the moths destroyed most of my knitting and now I’m starting to plan again. After 40+ years of knitting, life is only getting better.
Definitely needed to read this today. Thank you.
I definitely treat my knitting as a flowing stream: and have to admit there are about 16 items ready to be picked from that stream. These are long term objects that I enjoy: lace, blankets etc. When I want to gift someone something, I throw the long term project back into the stream, finish my gift item, then go fishing again. Works for me.
Thank you! This was very refreshing. I now feel a bit free from the Knitting Taskmasters spell. Wishing you a year full flowing inspiration. Cheers!
I use favorites. I tag each one by item and weight so that when I go back I can pull up all Dk sweaters or fingering hats, for example.
Thank you for saying my knitting is not a performance or punishment for changing my mind. I’ve felt so guilty for limping along on a cowl with so many sweater patterns passing me by. F**k em.
This is such wise advice and the unspoken implication is something I really need to hear: don’t pre-buy yarn for any of those items in the queue because when you’re ready for a new project your attention will likely have redirected to a completely different pattern.
Applause, applause!!! Freeing, yet defining thoughts here. THIS is what a new year feels like. Thank you!!!!!!
I’m glad you wrote this!
Giving oneself the grace to grow and change that we would to others is a difficult gift.
We may be just transport for the fiber/pattern in our queue. And keeping our LYS in business is a civic duty for future generations.