starting over .... or again ... or whatever

I really am one of the shittiest bloggers ever.  I have a hard time because I can't think of what to say (which seems odd for someone who really doesn't have that problem in real life - as in, when I'm talking).  But I guess I just haven't figured out what I should be blogging about.  Who am I writing to?

And then I had an idea .... maybe I could just be writing to myself.  I was thinking about how I want to conduct myself a little differently in terms of my knitting. Basically, I've started watching several knitting video podcasts and it's made me think how those ladies seem to use their podcasts to help keep them focused.  Now, I don't really see the need for yet another podcast (as in, doing one myself) but I'm very drawn to that aspect of getting focused with my knitting, so I thought maybe I could use my long dormant blog, a little bit like a podcast for myself.

Here's the thing - I used to think I was a big time polygamous knitter.  But watching the podcasts, I realized I'm not very good at working on several projects simultaneously.  I'm basically monogamous, but I have a short attention span, so I work on something and then I get bored with it, or I have problems, or I just start hankering after a specific new project and I set down what I'm working on and start something new.  And too often, I don't go back to the last project, unless it's socks.  The UFO challenge that SKA holds in August has really helped me there.  In August of 2012 I finished 8 pairs of socks that had been sitting around for a while.  This past August, I finished 7 pairs.  I still have a bag full of old, unfinished pairs of socks in my office for August 2014.  I would really like to NOT add to the pile over the year.  What I want to do is finish at least as many things as I start, so that I'm not adding to the huge pile of half finished knitting projects.  And the reason for that is because it causes me guilt and stress.  Not placed on me by anyone but myself, but it's there and it takes away from the fun and relaxing aspect of knitting.  The plan is to try to go back to at least one unfinished thing and compete it before any new cast on.  And hopefully to finish the things I cast on without letting them sit in the pile.  Following on how good it felt to finish those socks in August, I tried to finish my Pashmina Sweater.  But it's still sitting.  The knitting got done, which is good,  but there's still some sewing up left (reminder to self - seamless sweaters are a MUCH BETTER idea for me).  And I blocked it and I think the silk made the sleeves really grow and they're too damn long.  So now I think I should rip back from the cuffs by about 5 inches and make them shorter, which doesn't seem like fun at all, so it still sits.  But closer to being done at least. 

Then I cast on an Austin Hoodie out of some of my gorgeous Skein Merino Cashmere Fingering.  So far, I'm really loving this knit, and I've been sticking to it.  I did take a break in the middle for a few days, and I dug out the Different Lines shawl I started for Patti last spring and finished it, so that I could give it to her while we were still rehearsing Shopaholic.  Mission accomplished there, so yay me!  One thing off the WIP pile.

I want to finish my Austin Hoodie without letting it languish and then I want to finish at least one more UFO, probably the sweater I started for Charlie in July.  And I need to do the September/October SKA socks that only have one cuff so far.  Then I will do some Christmas knitting.  I ordered some skeins of various worsted from TLE for Windschief Hats and I'm also doing some  little slipper socks.  I plan to take yarn for a couple of hats and a couple of slippers with me to Cabo and work on them that week.

So, that's the plan.  Maybe if I can blog about it here, I can help myself stay on track.  There are several things I really would like to cast on - A Hitchhiker, an Atelier, some of the Cookie A socks from past club shipments, etc ... but I need to wait until at least the Hoodie, the SKA socks and Charlie's sweater are done.  And I probably should pull out and finish the Skein shawl I started last year as well.  It's a simple striped garter stitch pattern, so other than the high stitch count it's pretty easy.

I will check back in here next week and report on progress.