Now that Little Sir's party is over, and the thank yous done, I feel at a loss for a "big project." So obviously I thought, "well, let's get back to the knitting." It seemed like a good idea; and then I pulled out all of my projects, all of my knitting "in progress", which really isn't in progress at all. Yes, knitting at rest stays at rest.
Inert.
I was really excited about these mittens until I wasn't. Mitten knitting mojo gone, poof.
Stagnant.
Remember this? I was going to finish it and wear it on snowy days... Well, not so much. Monogamous knitting, indeed.
Dormant.
This was supposed to be a quick knit. I was supposed to give it to a baby when I went to California (3 weeks ago!). I just lost interest. Knitted toys? Ho-hum.
Incomplete.
I started this sock in California and have worked on it here and there, but not in the excited way I thought I would attack these socks with the STR yarn. Sock knitting mojo, where art thou?
Unfinished.
Unifinished is totally inaccurate, this project is barely begun. That is the start of a baby sweater, can't you tell?!
So inert it was forgotten.
I started this blanket/shawl thing two weeks before Little Sir's due date. I would have finished it, had I not been surprised by the necessity of a C-section due to the bigness of Little Sir. It got buried under piles of unfinished knitting and new yarn aquisitions. I honestly forgot about it.
I think that I might have gotten blue-d and white-d out during the first cycle of Project Spectrum. I had good intentions (in hindsight, I would say "unreasonable," there, I said it); but clearly, I need to mix things up a bit. The fact that there is so much green and a little yellow to work on in my inert knitting pile for the next cycle does not completely comfort me either. I think I need more color in my life. I need to think outside the box of my own comfort zone and even the parameters of Project Spectrum (which I joined because I wanted the challenge of working with and exploring more colors).
When it comes to color, I am not the most exciting or daring person. I see colorful things on others and I usually think, "oh, that is all well and good for him/her, but no, just give me my plain old monchromatics, lets focus on the browns, greys and blacks please." Should I want to be daring, I will throw in a little red (with a hint of burgandy or a tad bit of maroon, if you please). As you can imagine my wardrobe isn't exactly an ambassodor for Roy G. Biv.
And then I saw this and this and these. But this one won me over completely. So then I went here and bought this and this and this, oh and this too. And all of a sudden, I am excited about the knitting again, even the unfinished stuff waiting in piles. Oh what a little color can do (and charging your card for Koigu purchases, same difference).
Besides talking about color and my new found love for it, I also wanted to say thanks. Thanks for sharing bits and bobs of your childhoods (or the childhoods of others). I enjoyed reading the birthday memories. Birthdays are big in my book (anniversaries too!) and I think it's important to celebrate them. Thanks for celebrating Little Sir's with me!
there are quite a few bland colors in the WIP list - maybe knitting a little with some of the GREAT koigu you just got will pump you up to get back to them?
Posted by: stacey | March 29, 2007 at 03:12 PM
You know what's really funny is that every time I wear my Chevron, someone is guaranteed to say something along the lines of "wow! That's really colorful....for you."
Your Koigu looks great--can't wait to see how all the colors combine!
Posted by: Ashley | March 29, 2007 at 04:29 PM
Oh Nova! You must get your mojo back because those projects are so awesome. I want to see them finished, pretty please?
Posted by: tiennie | March 29, 2007 at 05:28 PM
I know what you mean... a month ago I hit the wall during my Mother's Christmas... birthday... ???? socks. I switched to a scarf, climbed on the baby wear bandwagon and VOILA!!! Mo Jo returns. I abandoned the socks, but found better yarn and I'm knitting away. NOVA -- YOU MUST DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY to retain the mojo... it's too much fun to read about :~)
Oh, and I told my folks about your birthday fun. My Dad said his favorite birthday memory for me was just a couple years ago... when my brother forgot my birthday... yeah, that's right, MY TWIN BROTHER...
Posted by: Kathy | March 29, 2007 at 05:46 PM
I completely sympathize about the project specific knitting mojo disappearances. I have too many projects in progress hidden away in my closet, all of which I just went from yay to meh about. I so glad the koigu brought the knitting mojo running back. The colors you chose are fantastic! I can't wait to see your scarf! (By the way, I loved the file name for your turtle in progress...I have many UFO filed in my mind under the same adjective. :) )
Posted by: Marie | March 29, 2007 at 06:53 PM
i lose the mojo on occasion too but i swear, don't sweat it. it'll come back. and since i'm in *ahem* a slight slump, i must know what pattern are you using for the blue sock you started in CA...love the texture!
Posted by: amanda | March 29, 2007 at 10:41 PM
Seeing all those projects I almost wanted to volunteer to finish them! They are really great BUT I know it's new to me and old stuff to you. Then I had the same thoughts towards the end of my reading your post, "This girl needs some Koigu!" And what does she do? You haven't even touched it yet and you're cured of the knitting blues! You'll have to check an earlier post on my blog, I did a Koigu scarf as well. A chevron but a different pattern. You'll love it! Of course you know that a Koigu shawl is perfect for summer in the AC!!
Posted by: Diana | March 29, 2007 at 11:47 PM
So have these WIPs officially become UFOs? Be easy on yourself and save them for next winter.
Posted by: Felicia | March 30, 2007 at 12:30 AM
Glad to hear you're excited about your current project. A little :) koigu always seems get the knitting mojo going.
Posted by: brooke | March 30, 2007 at 01:05 AM
Yes, the chevron scarf cures, well, pretty much everything. Can I just say that I'm having withdrawal from finishing mine? I don't know how I finished it so quickly?? I want to start another one. Can't wait to see yours!!
Posted by: knittingphilistine | March 30, 2007 at 02:00 AM
You ordered beautiful colors! Can't wait to see how they knit up! Your WIPs look great. I hope you finish them! I bet your chevron scarf would look great with the cabled sweater.
Posted by: Brenda | March 30, 2007 at 03:39 AM
Ack! That red/orange/black one is making me drool. I hope you get your mojo back...especially b/c I want to see the finished Arwen...and the scarf.
Posted by: Christy / Not Hip | March 30, 2007 at 05:20 AM
I really think those icy cold colors of Project Spectrum helped so many of us to lose our mojo. You saw the extreme that I went to to get my mojo back. Yeah for Koigu (though I've never knitted with it)!!
I can't wait to see your scarf.
Posted by: Beth | March 30, 2007 at 10:40 AM
Yup, those Chevrons will get you!!
Brave girl, airing your UFOs. Good Luck.
Posted by: Kirsten | March 30, 2007 at 11:10 AM
Oh yes, I am terribly entrenched in the subtle monochromes myself, and I must admit I was captivated by Ashley's scarf. An excellent choice for a foray into bright colors, I say!
Posted by: Rachel | March 30, 2007 at 11:19 AM
Nice! I'm looking forward to seeing progress on the new scarf.
Posted by: diana | March 30, 2007 at 04:43 PM
I LOVE reading your posts!!!
Those are 4 beautiful skeins of Koigu ...I can't wait to see your combo for the Chevron scarf!
Posted by: Pat | March 30, 2007 at 05:04 PM
Koigu. Good for the soul. Did you set up a lightbox for those photos? What's your background?
Posted by: Theresa | March 31, 2007 at 06:47 PM
Chevron did it for me! The mojo is back, and I'm eyeing that little toy you're knitting. Thinking a toy might round out the trio of knitted gifts I'm making my nephew, who's due soon, soon, soon! Is that Shine Sport? What's the pattern?
Posted by: JulieFrick | April 03, 2007 at 02:19 PM