New projects, old projects

The cuff of a sock knitted on four double-ended needles, lying on a photograph of a sock.

Look! A new sock project! But this got started because I finally finished an old sock project, a pair I started for Mr Robot literally years ago and then never got round to finishing.

Sometimes I wonder whether I really need all my notebooks – the one tracking my knitting, the one recording my sewing projects, this year’s one where I note my working hours and self-care – but honestly, I’d never have been able to complete those socks if I hadn’t noted the leg shaping down in my knitting notebook. Notebooks are good. And with those notes to hand I finally finished that pair, and Mr Robot’s been revelling in how warm and comfy they are while I’ve been enjoying not having them nagging at the back of my brain.
A pair of grey socks lying on some floorboards.
He likes plain socks. 

I didn’t do a ‘Make Nine’ at the start of this year. I didn’t finish 2019’s Make Nine, and I certainly didn’t complete 2020’s, and decided to not set myself goals for this year because I’m trying to live more in the moment and not plan out every part of my life – overplanning feeds into anxiety. However, I did finish a few things last year, including a pair of skully mittens for a friend for Christmas. My friend's a big fan of the Gideon The Ninth books, and the symbol of the Ninth is a jawless skull – hence the skulls on the back of the hands are without jaws. I'd wanted to decorate the eight skulls round the cuff with the symbols of the other eight houses, but ran out of time and had to get the mittens in the post. Given my December deadlines it was an ambitious project getting them done at all.

A pair of black and white mittens with a pattern of skulls on the back of the hand

I’ve spent the first part of 2021 slowly finishing off things, or at least getting a little closer to finishing off things, telling myself that every stitch done is a stitch closer and counts and is important. Instead of focussing on one big end result and seeing completion as the only thing that matters, I’m looking at the progress and enjoying the process of doing things. It feels good to be creeping closer to the end of things.

Of course, now my head is full of NEW THINGS I could be doing, and I’m having to hold myself back from racing into them. No more fabric till I’ve sewn more of the stuff I already own. I do have one thing I can start without feeling guilty; my lovely friend Andrea bought me an online goldwork embroidery course for my birthday.

Do you ever get the urge to start a load of new things all at once? Maybe it’s spring and the promise of brighter days; this always feels like an energetic time of year. I know some of my blogging chums are also struggling with being worn down and burned out… all I can say is, keep on creeping along. We’ll all get where we’re going in the end, and even if we’re moving slowly, better days are rushing forwards to meet us.

Comments

  1. Wow, you knit socks!? I'm astounded - I can kind of knit a scarf, and I once made a sweater from a pattern, but socks are beyond me. Those skull mittens are amazing! What a sweet gift.

    I'm a dabbler when it comes to crafts: crochet, beading, zentangling...I do it for a while then get tired of it. I stopped beating myself up about it in the last 5 years. It's okay to do a lot of things, and then not finish them!

    Brighter days ahead, for sure. We're now allowed to have outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people, woo!

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    1. I envy you your gatherings!

      I tend to have a few half-finished things around the place. I will complete them eventually. But not today!

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  2. Those socks are gorgeous, you are so clever! A very kind blog reader handknitted a pair of socks for Jon and he loves them to bits.
    Those mittens are amazing, they look very Scandi.
    I always say I'll record my makings in a notebook, I've even bought a book but didn't want to spoil it by writing in it. Thanks goodness for a blog to record them! xxx

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    1. Yes, I think the mitt pattern is based on a traditional Scandinavian style, though I'm not sure which one.

      Use the notebook. Then you can buy MORE NOTEBOOKS.

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  3. You are doing the right thing in not setting yourself any goals, to take it slowly and live in the moment. Who knows, you might even achieve more if you don't have to stress about finishing things and ticking things off a list. I've been struggling too and was feeling completely stressed out, until I gave in to the inevitable and accepted that it would be better to work an extra day a week. Far less stress at work, so I'm more relaxed at home as well. Also, having a new pussycat in our lives has been a serious stress buster!
    Those skully mittens are absolutely stunning, by the way. Your friend must have been well pleased! xxx

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    1. I'm glad things are more relaxed for you, I was quite worried at one point as you seemed to be having a really hard time. Work is a good anchor for the week.

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  4. Those gloves and socks are excellent.
    The only proper notebook I keep is a gardening journal which gives me a record from year to year of what was successful, what brand of seed, weather conditions, etc. I try to keep that data in mind when planning a garden, but like everyone else am easily distracted by what's on offer at the garden centre.

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    1. Yes, there's nothing like the lure of something different. My main worry is "Is this going to get demolished by slugs?" (We're putting down nematodes this year.) I always remember what the slugs eat and usually don't bother trying it again.

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  5. Mim - you are a brilliant knitter. I am in awe of people who can knit socks - 4 needles and I can't even manage 2! And as for the mittens; they are so lovely and what an intricate pattern. I think it's very good to finish projects even years later. It gives you such a feeling of satisfaction. I recently finally sewed together some surplus crochet hexagons I'd had hanging around for years and made them into a very small throw for a footstool.

    It's interesting what you use your notebooks for - and good that you do re the socks! I have notebooks a plenty. I used to write in one regularly all the books I'd like to read; based on book reviews and recommendations I came across; since lockdown I haven't bothered as the libraries have been closed. I was only thinking the other day what would I do with all the notebooks I have all in a range of sizes. I will probably donate them to a charity shop when they reopen.

    Not buying any more material until you use more of your stash is good idea and the gold embroidery course sounds fascinating. What a super present!

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    1. Ah, there's a secret to socks - you only ever work on two needles at a time, and the others are just holding stitches. It's way easier than it looks.

      I'm so looking forward to the goldwork! I might book a day off work to do it.

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  6. Always getting the urge to start new stuff this is how I end up with embroidery kits for 25 years! I love the sound of goldwork, I'd love to see what you do.

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    1. My brain immediately went "Once I've learned the basics I can make myself a military-style coat."

      NO. NO I CAN'T!

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