My most epic abandoned wip was a baby sweater I started for a niece when she was born (she’s 21 now 😂) my MIL saw it finished and decided I had finished the neck seeming incorrectly and ripped it out. I was so discouraged I abandoned it until 2021 when I fixed it. As an experienced knitter I was able to pick it up. 😊 waiting for my next baby to give it too.
I love that you actually did the things you said you were going to do and took the action you needed to move forward with each project! Not everyone does that on these videos
Loved seeing the little clips of you enacting your solutions after talking about it ! Talk about commitment, aha ! You've made me have a think about my WIPS and i think I'll also feature them in a video a little later down the line, to motivate me to take some actions ! Excited to see those projects come to life for you :D
I too have several WIPs that need to be evaluated. One tip that I use for patterns where I can’t memorize or that I want it to be portable or want them to be “stupid” easy: write each row/round on a separate index card. Label the cards 1 through x. Put the card of the row just finished to the back of the pile. Place a paper clip to keep the cards together. That lets me know where I am when I pick up the project again. Start with the row from the card on top. Maybe extra work up front, but it makes the knitting more enjoyable.
On your Whitmoor Cardigan, and all the changes you’re contemplating…. Firstly, I applaud your thoughtful approach to analyzing and diagnosing the situation! As a follow-up, about needle size and your current gauge, I would ask: Do you *like the fabric* your’e getting on the larger needles? (It’s a separate question from what needle size gets a specified gauge.). If you like the fabric, then sticking with the larger needle and gauge and choosing a smaller sweater size, like you’re planning, makes total sense! Go, girl!! If, OTOH, you think the fabric at 5 st/inch is looser than desired, and you want gauge closer to the original pattern specs, you could start over with the smaller needle. Downside is, you wouldn’t know whether you’d want the Small or still the Extra Small at first; it’d be starting totally over. But if you get a fabric AND a size you like, with whichever needle, you’ll end with a win all the way around! It looks like such a great cardi. I hope you find the best solution for you. ❤
Thank you for the insight! Luckily I do like the fabric with the larger needles. I think it would be too risky to change both needle size and garment size at the same time when I start over, so I'll stick with these larger ones! But definitely great points to think about.
I'm doing a new thing where I go through all of my unfinished projects (not just knitting) in July. My yearly goal is to finish or frog everything i started before July 1st by the end of the year. It really makes me rethink and helps me have a better understanding of my current likes and style. Love this video and i am happy for you clearing out some WIPs. Lots of love from the Pacific Northwest 🧡
having more than 2 or maybe 3 WIPs makes me anxious, so i just don't. but maybe 20 years ago, i frogged 2 whole sweaters bc they just fit weirdly an re-knitted them, and still wear both. so i'm really looking forward to seeing your perfectly-fitting card whenever it arrives 🙂--i think it will look great on you!
You mentioned using a larger circular needle with your green garment knit. Knit your hubby's socks two at a time with the magic loop method or just start them together at the same time and knit on two separate circulars, rather than putting back in the WIPs pile.
This was exactly what I needed as motivation to look at my WIPs. Your process seems very thoughtful, considering the reasons you put a project on hold. I've been feeling less motivated starting new projects and I believe it's due to feeling the pull to complete more of the WIPs that have been sitting around. I had been doing art with clients and several projects started during sessions more as something to do with them vs. truly intentionally patterns, so that's something I need to consider and possibly frog the yarn to begin with more intention.
hey amy, regarding the barbara shawl - I also didn't memorize the pattern repeat, but looked at the pattern all the time in the beginning, but now I'm just reading my knitting! It's always the same amount of knit sts and then the purl sts and if you remember the start and beginning, this has really worked for after really relying on having the pattern closer for the first 15-20cm
I enjoyed how much detail you went into (>2 months = an abandoned WIP) and how you took immediate action. It’s very inspiring! At the beginning of this year I assessed my lingering projects and nearly all of them are done now! Just one sweater that I’m building up the courage to frog because I don’t like the fit and I’d rather try the yarn in something else. As for printing, I second the library comment! Or try an office supply store, like Staples.
For the shawl, I recommend you print the pattern and use highlighter tape to move while you complete each row. I fold mine up and always have it in the project bag so I remember where I left off
So I'm getting back into knitting (which is why I'm just watching this video now) and I'm currently knitting the streamlined tank while watching. It was so great to see it done and on someone while I'm knitting it!
I am in the process of a long move but you have motivated me to pull out those abandoned WIPs when I get to my new location and only keep what I love. I enjoyed your video and will be watching again. Thank you!
Really enjoyed following your reflections on your WIPs. So interesting to seethe variety of reasons that can lead us to stop working on our WIPs. Love that you implemented the measures you came up with immediately.
I recently frogged some projects and i am really happy that I did! One of them was a scarf, the Windchill Scarf by Darlingjadore. It's a beautiful pattern but I was just starting out with knitting so I had no clue about yarn choice and things like that so I just made it out of the wrong yarn for that project. Then in on of your podcast episodes I saw your Whitmoor Cardigan and I really wanted to make one, too, but the sweater version (even though I never made a lace design before 😅)! So I decided to frog the scarf that I wasn't very happy with and use the yarn for the sweater instead. I just finished the lace yoke part of it and I absolutely love it! As I'm quite new to knitting it took me a while to reach that decision but I am very glad that I did! And thanks to you for the pattern inspiration ☺
I have been slowly going through my wips over the past couple of years. I even frogged some completed items (2 shawls) because I never wore them and the colours weren't quite right. It's been a process and it started by doing a short self-study on my style/colours. I figured out I don't really wear shawls much, but prefer cowls. I am still procrastinating on ripping out the cardigan I mentioned in a comment on your Instagram post. I just need to measure the gauge and frog the damn thing, so I can wash the yarn and start re-knitting it. I will probably do that in the next couple of months, when I've finished the two summer tops I have on the needles. September re-knitalong? 🤣
I love this type of video! I love seeing makers organize their projects. I have been pondering something lately about WIPs, too. What constitutes a WIP? What are the rules? Does it just have to be something you've worked on for a long time, or is it something you pulled out of timeout? How does something get classified as a WIP?
I just saw on another episode where the podcaster used a length of Barber cord to connect the needles. She did it to hold the stitches until the next time she worked on it. For your first hat, you could have connected a length to both working needles and tried it on before even moving it to a larger needle. I cut too short a length….about 4”…..now, I’ll cut a length, maybe 16’, which would have allowed me to try a hat on. Hope this helps for next time. I love your approach and have so enjoyed this channel. 😊 I got a ‘tag’ or index card, where the pattern is written. Then, use a lightbulb marker to pin it to the project while you’re not working the project. 😊 Your Whitmore is stunning! Did you think about knitting it with a strand of ?? Mohair?? Knitting it in the round?? I have been (binge) watching a podcast, Mostly Knitting, and she tries her garments on often!! It’s a podcast I think you might enjoy. 😊
Thank you for a very interesting episode, I love the colour of the wool that you choose for your projects, my favourite WIP is the cardigan with the lace yoke, I'm really looking forward to seeing it in a smaller size. ☘☘
Interesting. Yesterday I determined it was my tool that caused me to not enjoy my knitting project. For the ver same reason. I was struggling to keep my stitches from jumping off my needles. In my case changing ftom metal to wood solved this issue. Fortunately my tension/gauge did not change as it sometimes does from metal to wood or bamboo.
Fun to see this podcast today. I am asking myself those questions about my WIPs and made a decision about which to keep and which to frog. Frogging one as I am watching your podcast. It feels good to finally make a decision with these projects. Still left with many WIPs I want to finish.
I am organizing my studio today especially my stash and wips so this was very timely! I'm so glad to have found your channel and I def just added the Oslo and Whitmoor patterns to my make list.
I really enjoyed this episode. The thoughtful way you worked through each abandoned project and came to a solution or a decision to frog, has inspired me to work through my hibernating WIPs as well. Thank you.
I love a printed out pattern and really love to work from a chart. I use coloured markers to outline the stitches on the chart - orange for ssk, blue for k2tog etc.
What a great topic and I love your approach to each project! You've inspired me to do a 'deep dive'. I have a winter hat as a WIP since about 4 or 5 years ago. Ya know...the reason is probably that I wasn't using a pattern, just 'winging it' and it was turning out to be too big. I'm going to frog it, find a pattern and re-start, because I do love the yarn. Thanks!! (And I really like the tank top you're wearing - beautiful!!)
I don't know if you already frogged the cardigan with too much positive ease or not, but if you didn't already it would be super cool if you kept it and continued down with increases and made like a capelet with the design. Not sure if that's your style or not though. 😅
You can email pattern to local copier place of business like FedEx & they send you a code to print it off there for a nominal fee. I put my pattern in sheet protector which helps keep the pattern in good condition.
I do not abandon any project. I usually have an easy going project and another one that needs more attention to the pattern. I was unhappy to knit with Lion Brand Truboo, and wanted chew on it every time that I split a stitch. The other day a podcaster said something like "Buy the most expensive yarn you can afford, if you are going to put on all that time" I think that will be my motto from now on instead of trying to find the cheapest one🤫
I love your streamline tank! That's the one I've set to the side. I messed up over and over, the count and the design in the middle on one panel. I've gone back and I'm reluctant to rip back again because of how splitty yarn is. It's been pretty discouraging. I now think I will either frog whole panel and start that one over or just frog both and move on. Fishermen's rib is hard to fix!
I also have a cardigan that I've lost interest in. I'm not a fan of the colors and I don't love that it's acrylic. I keep working on it slowly, telling myself that when I finish I can work on sweater I want to knit. I also don't know what I would do with yarn if I frog it. It's Lion Brand heartland. Could be good for baby blankets or something....
A baby blanket or other home item is a good idea for that yarn! I can definitely relate to discouragement from messing up a pattern, hopefully one day you can get back to it, or decide to move on!
you don't need to frog it completely! why would you do that? It is a circular top-down. you literally can split for sleeves whenever you want, no need to follow the pattern at all after the yoke is finished
I'll be going down 2 whole sizes which changes my cast-on stitch count as well as the lace chart (this pattern uses a different chart for each size!). It will fit best if I completely start over!
I see. The neckline looks absolutely fine though... Maybe just try ripping back to one less repeat and try it on? You don't need to follow the numbers on the pattern from there if it fits you anyway 😊
