Getting Started...... Again

Getting started again. For me this feels even worse than all the prep work that goes into initially starting a new project. At least then there is excitement. Something new is being formed. How quickly will I learn the pattern repeat. Is this the right yarn for this project? All of these questions add to the excitement.

Even when the pattern takes time to understand. When mistakes need to be taken out again and again. I try to be patient. I tell myself "This always happens with something new. Give it some time. Everything will click at some point and it will be smooth sailing from then."

Except sometimes it is not smooth sailing. Sometimes a half done project will sit neglected for a time. Maybe it was set aside because of time restrains, lack of yarn, those dreaded finishing touches, abandoned to work on something else, or I dropped it into the black hole that is my knitting bag.

I always have good intentions when stopping a project. I'll say something like "I just need to work on this gift for a birthday or Christmas. I'll pick this back up when I'm finished." Or maybe I'll think "I need more yarn for this and I'll get it the next time I'm in the craft store." More often than not the stopping is not intentional. I put a project down for a day which ends up turning into a week, a month, or even longer. But, no matter what the reason for setting something aside I always find it harder to start it back up again.

Just last Fall I finally admitted that I wasn't ever getting back to the huge yarn eating blanket that I ran out of yarn for over three years ago. I decided that since it hadn't see the light of day since before I was married it was time that I look at it again. Time to admit that I would never be getting the yarn to finish it. Time to take out the stitches and let the yarn have a new life. There is more than one way to end a project. This is why I shouldn't let a project sit abandoned for this long.

A few months ago I was working on a new scarf. It was a Brioche pattern that also used increases and decreases to make an intricate design. I've just started to learn Brioche (see my post on Brioche Knitting to find out how that process went). So, the the project was a little slow getting started. I had to watch and re-watch some videos to remember this technique again. I felt like I had to relearn Brioche before I even got started on the more advanced pattern. But, finally I was getting it. I had the pattern memorized and everything was working out nicely. I had gotten into my groove and it was coming along smoothly.

Well it was until I decided to put it in my knitting bag and take it with me somewhere. And that is where it sat. From that point on there always seemed to be one excuse or another as to why I wasn't pulling it back out of the bag. Excuses such as "I rearranged some furniture and haven't decided on my new knitting spot" or "I'll get back to it when I settle into my new position at work." And maybe for a time those were the real reasons. As the project sat in my bag day after day, there became more and more little reasons for me not to get back to it.

However, the largest reason was my lack of motivation. I didn't want to have to go through the process of starting it again. At this point I had left the project so long that I would have to relearn the stitch repeat. I would have to sit there and read the pattern for each row. This always makes each row take ten times longer or at least feel that way.



However, it had been more than a month since I touched the project. I decided that it was now or never. I needed to find some motivation to get started again. Now for some people this might not be the right game plan. But, for me I tend to be more motivated to finish one project when I have another that I want to work on.


I tend to try not to have more than one project going at a time. So, the excitement of getting a new project started will give me just enough push to finish the old project. And I'm glad that I it did. The project that I was dreading to pick up a second time turned into a lovely reversible scarf. I also proved to myself that I could do a more complicated Brioche pattern. If you are interested in making this scarf yourself you should check out this issue of Kitty®.


Anyone else have problems picking an abandoned project up again? If so what are some tricks you used to get started again? Leave your tips and tricks in the comments here or on my Facebook page Joywithyarn1.

Finding Joy with Orange Variegated Yarn

I was gifted this gorgeous orange and white variegated yarn from my parents for Christmas this past year. When I saw it I thought that it could be an option for a top that I had queued. However, after looking more closely at the yarn I realized that it would create stripes. Immediately I decided that this was not the right yarn for that pattern. Stripes, especially horizontal ones, are just not for me. Nothing against stripes or people who rock them. I just knew that this would mean that this top would sit in a drawer and would never be worn. I would still like the top, but would never actually want to wear it.

Disappointed, I set the yarn aside and worked on other projects. Sometimes when working on other projects is when my mind wonders and I end up looking up even more patterns. Does this happen to anyone else? I just can't seem to focus on the task at hand. It's almost as though I can't finish one project unless I have found the next in line. God forbid that I actually spend a whole day without knitting or at least planing a knitting project. As I am typing this I have two WIP, at least ten patterns that have been saved, one original design in the planning stage, and one finished project that I am planning to frog (rip-it rip-it). What makes my mind wander even more is when I am working a simple pattern. One I've done so many times it's muscle memory or maybe it's a simple repeating pattern.

Finished Project

At this point I had already used the yarn for a couple of smaller projects, and I knew that it could not go as far as initially intended. With this in mind I had a couple of ideas and knew where I wanted to browse for a pattern. But, the project I was in the middle of was a gift. Since it was a gift, I restrained myself and practiced self control for once. See, knitting does teach valuable life lessons. Soon after that project was completed I jumped at the chance to go pattern browsing. This might be one of my favorite parts of knitting. All the possibilities and ability to envision this yarn turning into a finished item.

Most of the time when looking for patterns I will go online. Sometimes I will go to my big pattern binder, but most times I am looking for something new so off to the internet I go. At times I will just Google for ideas, but over the years I have found a few favorite sites. Different sites are good in their own ways, but right now my favorite for browsing is DROPS Design. I can and probably will as some point do a whole post about DROPS and the many different reasons to love this site. However, I want to get back to the topic at hand.

On the site I selected three options to narrow my browsing: knitting, accessories, the yarn group. Using this filters I was on my way to browse some lacy knitted scarfs and shawls. Having previously giving it some thought I had come to the conclusion that this yarn would make a nice pop of color scarf to brighten up a day at work. I tend to wear a lot of scarfs inside and out all year round. They are an easy way to add color to any outfit and make it feel more polished. After spending way too much time skimming through the different options I settled on two or three designed that I thought would work. Liking all of them I asked my husband to be the tie beaker. This is how we finally came up with Opaline (see picture on right).

This pattern is easy to follow and has a repeating stitch work that is quickly remembered. With most of the shawl being worked in a garter stitch it knits up fast. I was able to complete the project in about a week or so. The shawl is knit from corner to corner. This made me feel as though I was making quick progress. Also this allows the shawl to be a triangular shape without casting on or binding off a large number of stitches. One can easily modify it to be wider or thinner by increasing or decreasing of pattern repeats.

Stay tuned to see this finished project 

I kept the number of repeats as the pattern states. This gives it a good width without being too bulky. However, if I were to knit this design again I might make a change to the non-patterned side of the shawl. I would want it to have a smoother edge. This would make it lie flatter and give it a more finished look. To achieve this effect I would purl the last stitch on the wrong side row and slip it as to knit on the right side.

On the left is an example of this technique from an original design that I am currently working on. I hope to have the pattern posted before Thanksgiving as a quick men's knit perfect for a last minute Christmas gift. Stay tuned for more information on this pattern.

At work

Everyday 

A Wedding

Overall I love my Opaline shawl and the various ways that I can wear it. It can be dressed up or down and wrapped it different ways. I would be able to wear it to work, a wedding, or just out and about. It is easily integrated into my wardrobe.


The variegated yarn is able to shine. As you can see below, all of the diamonds are different colors. This was done naturally without having to join new yarns and all the weaving of lose ends that happens with stripes. This pattern worked perfectly with this yarn to produce this interesting color work with less effort.

Colors vary with each diamond

Happy knitting everyone. May you find some joy with yarn as you go throughout your week.