Yesterday afternoon I was in a mad rush to get out the door for my Prayer Shawl meeting and realized I didn’t have my dishcloth project. I groped around in my knitting bag for that large ball of dishcloth cotton, hopefully attached to two straight needles and nope. no luck. I ended up dumping the entire contents of my knitting bag on the floor, grabbing the dishcloth project, and rushing out. Once I got home I had the brilliant idea to take a picture of the tumble that came out of my knitting bag (that’s the photo up top, without the dishcloth of course), tidy it all up, take another photo,
and then spend a decent portion of today’s knitting time finishing up that blob of white (just above my toes), taking more photos, and updating Ravelry. It was a helpful pause, and for the first time in many months, my Ravelry is up-to-date (save for a few FO photos that I hope to have by this Friday), and I feel like I have a good handle on the various WIPs.
In spite of the inspiration I felt last Friday, I haven’t knit another stitch of SSP (pictured just right of my toes above). Instead, I spent a few hours Saturday afternoon figuring out another Lindy Chain leftover project (pictured just left of my toes). This time it’s a cowl using four colors and right now it’s my go-to social/TV project (case in point, since I took the photo above, I’ve added another stripe!).
The blob of white is my test for Sille Slipover in Knitpicks Comfy Worsted. When I saw the pattern I was excited about a sleeveless pullover, but there’s no schematic; I wasn’t sure the armhole depth would be good for a pullover. I finished the body ribbing and bound it off this afternoon. My initial try-on is encouraging – it fits! but I’m not at all sure the armhole depth makes it a sleeveless pullover (I think it’s a vest). I need to finish the neck and armhole ribbing to be sure, but my mind is already trying to venture off into modifications.
Those two projects are getting all my knitting time right now, so it was nice to see Umaro pop up in that toss out. I started this project last month and it got a lot of attention until it didn’t. I was actually pleasantly surprised with how big it was (that’s the 3rd of 8 skeins so it’s just a bit past the 25% mark) … and Kym’s post today reminded me how much I enjoy the pattern. So – it will be coming back out … soon!
Here’s the summary – if you click the images you can see my project pages on Ravelry.
and here’s that dishcloth 🙂
I used to pause to document things a lot more often, and now I find myself just wanting to be doing the thing instead of writing about the thing. My book journal suffers this even more because there are a lot more books than knitting projects in my life right now. Today’s pause not only sparked some inspiration for projects I hadn’t worked on, it also reminded me how much I really do enjoy documenting the process. which is – for sure! – a good lesson in being present.
Do you find it hard to balance DOing the thing with DOCUMENTING the doing?
mere-et-filles 
I am in a pause now because I am going to be starting a test knit soon and I don’t want to put anything else on the needles. I do have a bit of sock knitting to keep me busy until the pattern arrives but I am deliberately staying away from starting anything else. I am working at sorting out my creative life so that I give attention to all the categories weekly instead of letting them sit.
Umaro is gorgeous! What a very beautiful pattern. I (finally) finished (and felted) my 2nd French Market Bag and am plugging away on my Guernsey Wrap. This week and next are extremely busy at work, so not much time for fun things…
I love seeing these piles! A pause can be so helpful when we work ourselves up to it. It’s nice to feel like you know what’s in all of those bags and make a semi-plan for them!
I definitely struggle with balancing the documenting and doing. I ENJOY documenting what I’m working on as I go but fall behind very quickly. And then regret not taking the time to document in ways that are meaningful for me. I’m sure you saw the email from Anne Bogel a few weeks ago that said, slow down, you’re not in a hurry. — about taking the time to journal the books as we read them. Well – actually, I AM in a hurry! So much to do! So little time!! But of course, she’s right. Things are much more meaningful for me in the long run when I take the time to reflect on the process as I go.
(PS – I’ve been meaning to tell you for a while that I love your Sew Together bag. Did you make it?)
I find documenting everything to be quite tedious but do document my projects in my knitting journal, that’s important to me. I think sometimes we put too much pressure on ourselves when in reality we shouldn’t. Reading and being creative should be enjoyed, and for my own personal opinion who cares if it gets documented because your time is being spent doing the things you love, and enjoy. I love your pile of projects and the tank looks lovely.
Oh boy. Well, I have stopped using Ravelry entirely… except for the random test knit project that I need to put there (and I really don’t want to use it then, but if MJ Mucklestone asks me to test knit for her, I will not say no!) I am using my blog and Notes to keep track of projects… it works much better for me. I don’t keep a book journal… I find that Goodreads fits the needs I have for book tracking.
Also, for me… having too many projects in the works means that not much gets done on any of the projects but one. so I have limited myself to 2 or 3 projects going at once. I have a basket like Kym… with projects in “time out” and every so often I cull the basket. Sometimes the project is frogged. Sometimes it moves into the 2-3 project rotation.
Your summer vest though… so cute! (and I agree… it looks like a vest with those arm holes!)
I know I am much better about documenting the stuff I am making than the stuff I’m reading. It’s easy to click a few times to add a book to Goodreads, but to take the time to write it down (and write about it) in my book journal is more challenging. I’ve gotten better at recording the basics (title, author, date started/finished, etc.) but still struggle with writing any thoughts or any kind of review.
I like the documenting, but I try not to be a slave to it. I love Goodreads because it’s easy. Same with Ravelry. I jot notes on my phone as I read books, which I turn into reviews. I use KnitCompanion on my iPad for all my knitting projects, and it features an easy-to-use, built-in notes feature. I do best when I can document on the fly. . . I don’t do well when I have to “go back” and “catch up.”
My knitting bag for once has just 3 WIPs and 2 of those are socks! I have more trouble documenting than doing. Don’t even know the last time I added a project to Ravelry. I only use it now for pattern storage and when I need to substitute a yarn.
I use Goodreads and Ravelry because I do a cursory nod to documentation. A picture or a star review is usually all I want to take time to do. It’s pure laziness on my part, but that’s how the cookie crumbles.
Umaro is lovely, and I think those Sille armholes would be a bit deep for me for a pullover. Glad you found your dishcloth and it started a whole cavalcade!
I don’t have much trouble documenting and I think that’s because I was trained that documentation was an essential part of the process. When I worked in the lab we were taught to label and keep track of everything precisely so somebody else could step in and finish the test we were performing if we dropped dead. It sounds weird, but it got the point across! I document fairly simply on Ravelry and write a review on Goodreads within a couple of days of finishing a book, but that’s really all I do.
I’m very good about documenting the books I have read and want to read and GoodReads really helps with that. I’m not as good bout documenting knitting but I’m trying to be better and Ravelry is a huge help.
Your projects are all lovely. That cowl pattern is such a classic for scraps and leftovers. I’ve made several, all with modifications. I enjoy documentation but keep it fairly simple. I like to use Ravelry for my knitting and spinning projects. My Goodreads account is rather slapdash. I do better with an analog journal and comments for reading. I had to smile when I read about how you dumped out your knitting projects to find what you wanted. Tidying up is comforting to me. I’m sure it has to do with control and working as an educator. I do much better with order.
that is the most beautiful dump photo ever!! all of my projects are in individual project bags in my knitting bag because Holly is a nibbler of yarns and I just can’t take that chance!
Okay I love the project dump photo! It looks like mine. I’m in a similar boat with documentation. The hassle with getting pictures on Ravelry really slows me down. I need to improve, even if I leave off the pictures. My handwritten notes sometimes get away from me. Plus, I always appreciate good notes from other knitters. Goodreads and I had a difficult relationship. For at least the last five years, I have kept a list of completed books in the Notes app on my phone. If it is a really good book, it gets documented in my personal journal. I also have a TBR list in the same app. It’s very helpful when I drop by the library or bookstore.
Sharing your documenting/doing dilemma – I’ve been in doing mode but missing the documenting … Finding a balance is really tricky.