Life's a Stitch

And more recently life’s a creative adventure with some travel thrown in.

So, lets look in my knitting basket and see what’s not finished and why. I have my Master’s in counselling from way back when, I’m supposedly skilled at figuring out behaviour and motivation. And I can talk to myself in ways you could never talk in a counselling situation. There’s:

1. Marina – I love Marina, the colours I selected, the art of fair isle. What’s keeping me from progressing is the fact that I’m not happy with where the underarm steeks have fallen, making it more of a cropped look than I like. It’s not something that can be frogged back, the yarn acting like velcro, marrying and not wanting to be torn apart. Reality check: there’s nothing wrong with continuing, making it a little longer bodywise, and sewing up the armhole steeks to an acceptable place. For heaven’s sake, we’re talking armpits here.

Dsc01600 2. C’est la Vie – both pieces are complete. The problem, mattress stitching them together and the prospect of picking up 884 black stitches for the ruffle. Reality check: you spent how much on Ott lites so that you can see your stitches? Pick up those stitches and ruffle on.

3. Sirdar Ultra Denim bulky sweater – Probably within three inches of finishing the last sleeve, then the dreaded sewing together part. Reality check: I’ve told you I’ve birthed three babies, two with no drugs, and now I’ve stayed awake for knee reconstruction, and I’m too chicken to finish a sweater that took all of a weekend to knit? Buck up, lady; feel the fear and do it anyway!

Dsc01275_1 4. Devan – baby sweater made from sock yarn. The problem – I just don’t want to sew it together. And did I mention buttonholes? Reality check: this is a recurring theme. Want some cheese with that whine? Time to get out the I Hate to Finish Sweaters book.

What’s stopping you from attacking those UFO’s? 

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11 responses to “Self talk”

  1. Marina Avatar

    I love you too 😉
    Picking up 884 stitches and boredom will definitely stop me.

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  2. Beth Avatar

    What a fabulous idea – if the steek is too low just sew it up! OMG. This is one of the problems I’m stalled with on a sweater of my own – where to place the armhole steeks. I’ve just been paralyzed on it because I couldn’t decide when to start them but now I see it’s not the end of the world if they’re too low. Thanks Li!

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  3. Dorothy Avatar

    I know where to come when I need a reality check of my own! You show no mercy. Sometimes it just pays to face things. I did that last year with several projects and the feeling of freedom I got when I finished them was well worth it!

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  4. Karen Avatar

    Oh I can definitely relate to the finishing issues. I really really hate that part too! And zippers…lets not even talk about sewing in a zipper. Blech!

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  5. Chris Avatar

    Oh, I could have those sewn up in no time! I love to seam!!! Wierd, huh? Have you ever taken a finishing class? It will change your outlook. Once I learned I no longer feared the seaming. But then I also like hand quilting and Cross-stitching, so maybe it’s just me. I have a friend who hates finishing too. I am almost to the point of going to her house and just taking her sweater pieces hostage. She has 3 sweaters waiting for seams. Poor things.
    You can do it!! Think of the goal, lovely hand knit things that you can actually put on your body. Seaming can be your friend.

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  6. Nadia Avatar

    I overmod out every pattern or just make up the pattern, leaving me totally confused by the time I’m halfway through. But knit night is just three days away, so I want to try and finish something.

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  7. Christine Avatar

    The fear of putting them together. I have two sweaters waiting… and waiting… Your stuff looks great! Your post was especially entertaining!

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  8. eyeleen Avatar

    884 stitches, oh my! Good luck with all the knits. I hate the finishing as well, something about all those seams…

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  9. Rosie Avatar
    Rosie

    Why not knit like I do. Start the knitting and then delegate to those that love to knit while you socialize with the knitting group. It is great, you will come home with a completed project without the misery.
    Rosie

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  10. michele Avatar

    wow…I loved that poem on your february 3rd post…I’m finished with my scarf and I’m loving it. I just need to carve out a few minutes to post a picture of it on my blog and send you one. Thank you again for sharing such a lovely pattern! Hope you’re having a good week.

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  11. Rowan Avatar

    Marina,
    You should write a finishing book (that everyone would buy~but,no would read) “Finish that already!”;). Love your self talk, I personally needed that kick in the pants.
    Rowan

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