Episode 43: Startitis

Episode 43: Startitis (36:42)

Pictured: Jenny's Aria Scarf from Lynne Barr's Knitting New Scarves.
 

Casting On
Nicole's strategy:

• the bus knit
• the weeknight project
• the weekend project

Jenny's abandoned projects:

• Vest from Knitting Classic Style
• Shedir
• Green socks in Regia Stretch
• Green socks in Shelridge Farms heathered sock yarn

Mystery Project
peplum in the back that gathers
a deep stash yarn

Knit Ramblings
patch pockets versus side pockets versus afterthought pockets....
pink lace leaf cardigan in lush

Music:
Dig Me Out: Sleater Kinney
Kuzanga: Cosmas Magaya
Phantom Limb: The Shins

Comments

[Cirilia]

I fucking love you guys.

Whoops! Bleep!

[Jenny Girl]

Like Nicole, I always have an easy knit-while-watching-TV project OTN. Except when I watch Lost because I might miss something.

But I also, like Jenny, get bored with some projects that have been hanging around for a while. I would suggest doing some quick gratification projects like hats or bags. Then go back to your OTN projects. I have made myself finish stuff, and I felt better when I did. Except for my poncho which has been OTN for over a year. You are not alone Jenny :)

Great show as always.

[Deborah]

Nicole - I had the same idea as you about what "yo" meant when I first started knitting. My stitch count keep coming out wrong, and I was wholly convinced there was something wrong with the pattern. So much so that I contacted the publisher of the book I was working from (Exquisite Little Knits) to let them know I thought I had discovered errata that wasn't on the book's website. They passed my message on to the designer and Iris Schreier herself had to explain to me via email what a yarnover was. Ugh. I laugh at myself and cringe at the same time to think of it.

[Lauren]

All my knitted scarves are too short because I got bored and every time I figured it was "good enough." And every time, it wasn't.

[melissa]

what is that cute scarf??

[bells]

The bleep moment was hilarious. Love it!

What the Bleep is a peplum? I missed half of that conversation because I was sitting on the bus trying to work out what on earth one of those is! ha ha ha

Great episode guys.

[Susan Lowell]

Thanks for another pleasant, inspiring show. I think that exploring the reasons for UFO's is important. Probably there are sweater UFO's because sweaters are big projects that don't always turn out as attractive, well-fitting as the magazine photo. Take one of those popular sweater patterns and see what a different yarn and body type do to the final look of the sweater by using Ravelry and the internet blogs.
Small projects(socks) are easily carried and one keeps the numbers for the different sections in one's head after a certain number of socks have been knit. Perhaps the answer to second sockitis is to cast on immediately after sock 1 and carry the project around with you when you go out. But, this also assumes a fairly easily remembered pattern.

Thanks again for the podcast.

[Ariel Luria]

I too like to have many projects going at once. Right now I have an easy-knit stockinette rectangular shawl (Comfort Shawl from Lion Brand) and a lovely (speaking of lace ;o) lace cardigan called Oblique (Veronik Avery pattern). If you love lace but don't like to fiddle with a shawl, try it! (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/oblique ). I have started 3 projects in the last week, socks, Touch of Whimsy Scarf and something else which I can't remember right now :oS.

[Lara]

I guess the train station at Cahill (across from HP Pavilion, right?) is a bit less than a mile from Commuknity, but it's kindof a crappy walk past construction, etc. Yuck.

If you just walk up to the main street and wait for the #22 (or 522 express) bus in front of the HP Pavilion, you'll get dropped off right at the shop basically. Look for the Andy's Pet shop on the right and get off there. Cross the street to Peet's and walk just a few yards father to Commuknity on your left. :)

[Leslie]

enjoyed the latest episode, as always. although i do agree with the "knitting should bring joy" philosophy of starting new projects that excite you, i would feel toooooo guilty about abandoning something already on the needles -- especially because at one point, i probably had that excited feeling about that project as well. i've learned to try to live with that excited feeling about a new project while finishing up something else. otherwise, it would be akin to what my father experienced when he was a smoker in his teenage/early 20's years -- he realized he had a smoking addiction when he started craving another cigarette WHILE he was already smoking one!!! :) thanks for a great show! by the way, as a fellow san franciscan, i need to know where i can buy those vegan donuts!!! :)

[Jen]

Great show - I started listening recently. Wanted to ask - what is it that you're making with the fibre company terra yarn? You mentioned knitting leaves.. is that how the colors work out or are you doing a leaf pattern? Very curious :) Thanks

[Jasmin]

I have no qualms about "benching" a project that doesn't make me happy. Knitting something that you don't enjoy makes your knitting punishment and kills your knitting mojo. I have a sweater I started knitting for a previous boyfriend SEVEN years ago sitting in my UFO pile. I'm only now finishing it (for myself).

Two years ago I started knitting an Einstein jacket out of Noro. I finished everything but the sleeves, but was so determined to finish it that I just stopped knitting for a month. My mom finished the sleeves, and I gave the jacket to a friend- who wears it all the time.

As far as staying motivated and getting excited about new projects, I blogged about my methods here:

http://betterthanyarn.blogspot.com/2008/01/carrots-and-knitting-lace.html

[Jen]

I love your podcast - look forward to it every Tuesday! Your discussion of startitis was definitely thought provoking - and what I realized is that startitis can stand in the way of completing any project - and don't we get a rush from both the starting and the finishing? I agree that slogging through a project you've fallen out of love with isn't worth it - life is too short. But starting new projects when we're bored or looking for a quick fix will ultimately not be as satisfying as sticking with a project we like - and will love once it is off of the needles.
Thanks again for a great episode!

[Evelyn]

What a great episode! Personally, I can justify at least 8 WIPs based on mood/location. (There are actually far more than 8, of course.) When I find a WIP has really started to languish and I'm dying to start something new, I try to put an old WIP in the "hot seat" and make myself do 2 rows of the old WIP each night before turning to the new darling project. Seems to work for me.

FYI, I was standing in a yarn store yesterday and although I spent plenty on patterns and little bits of luxury skeins, I managed to avoid "volume" by chanting "no sweater quantities, no sweater quantities, no sweater quantities."

[Suzanne]

I'm listening through back episodes (currently on episode 11!), and I really love you guys!

Keep on rocking the stash!

[Sally Villarreal]

I think my biggest problem is being honest about the projects that truly are in hibernating. Some are just waiting to be washed, felted or have a button sewn on.

Also, I beat second sock syndrome by never stopping between socks. Either don't cast off the first sock, or I cast on the second sock right away. I may stall in other places, but I'm not stuck in that deep ditch between socks.

I have a similar philosophy to Nicole, just less specifically. Basically, I need one complex project and one easy one.

Also, when you fall out of love, some things just have to be ripped. I firmly believe in this.

[Diane]

I must have a variety of projects going like Nicole (and yes, one is *always* socks). My current dilemma is should I allow myself to have more than one pair of socks OTN? I can't decide. They're such incredibly satisfying projects. As for the comment on 2 socks at the same time, OMG, it ROCKS! That said, I *hated* it the first time. I b*tched and moaned and wanted my dpns. Somehow I have switched 180 from that. Now all socks are toe up, 2 at a time on 2 circs. No exceptions. I'm even working on a 2 at a time on 3 circs so I can work cables at the inner join. It's a sickness, honestly. :) Thanks you two. you are my FAVE 'casters.

[Sonia]

I love Nicole's idea of location/activity appropriate knitting. It's a great way to get different things done at the same time, as well as justification to start new projects...I think I'll go cast on a new sock for travel knitting!

[thorn]

re. 2 sox @ once --

that's how i do it; but i do two at once on 2 sets of dpns. so i don't alternate between rows. i do cuff/other-cuff, part-o-the-leg/part-o-the-other-leg,

etc.

there are a *few* cool things about this method. 1. 'graft-toe/graft-other-toe' - done! two clothed feet! 2. if something's tricky, or you've kludged, or you've done an elective variation on the fly, you can do the other one right away before you've forgotten just what you did. and 3. obviously - no sss! i will never knit socks any other way again. (i always divvied up my yarn first thing anyway.)

- just my 2 bits ..