how many projects do I have on my needles?

TEN!!!

Yep - that's right, I finished three projects yesterday, and I'll be blocking shortly.

Project #1:  an earflap hat and mittens, ready for the next impending baby I hear about.

(It has long been a knitting fantasy of mine to have finished baby projects ready to go at a moment's notice.  This time I've got one.  VIB Jr.?  Are you on the way???)

Project #2:  my Rhinebeck socks - simple stockinette socks for me, cause I am addicted to socks now.

Project #3:  Mod on Mod!!!  A whole blanket!!!!

 

As you can see, it is the perfect length to cover me while stretched out on the couch. Only problem is, it's made of cotton.  So, despite its heaviness (which would seem to imply lots of warmth), it actually doesn't keep you very warm.  It will be nice later in 2008, but right now, I am wishing it were wool...

Now that it is complete we have Perry posing with the blanket.

Something doesn't seem right... - Perry

It smells funny, right here on this spot. -P

Weird.  It smells like plants or something...-P

I'm not sure about this blanket, but I don't want to leave either.  Soft...  so, so soft...-P

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New Ridiculously Overambitious Knitting Plans

Okay, now that I have successfully abstained from casting on anything new until I got my WIPs down to ten, I now want a plan to get my WIPs down to six.  Six, you see, allows me to make sure that I always have a variety of projects on the needles:

1. a social knitting project - something super easy like garter that I can always do while chatting away with the grrrls
2. a pair of socks
3. a sweater
4. a gift project - whether for someone I know or for charity
5. a technical challenge
6. a crochet project

I think that's a good variety of projects.  Problem is, my current distribution of projects is a bit off of the ideal.  (For example, 5 of my 10 remaining WIPs are sweaters.)

So, with the goal of getting to this ideal set of six WIPs, I propose the following:

• Starting today, I am allowed to cast on two new projects* - and only two new projects - each time I reduce my total WIPs by one.
• That sounds confusing, so let me illustrate:  I am at 10 WIPs.  This means I am allowed to increase to 12 WIPs. However, I am not allowed to cast on any more new projects until I get the total WIPs down to 9.  (Then once they are down to 9, I can cast on to 11, but no more new projects until I am down to 8, etc. until I am down to 6 total).
• Since my current WIPs are biased towards sweaters and gifts, I am going to prioritize getting those done.

Sufficiently confused?  Then my work here is done.  (Well, except for those ten WIPs...)

*I am allowing myself to cast on two new WIPs because most of the projects still on the needles are complicated and will take a while to finish.  I envision only casting on for relatively easy and small projects until I reach my goal of 6 WIPs to try to balance out the kind of knitting I am doing.

Comments

[Chris]

The blanket looks great! And whoa, Perry, May says "W00t w00t - check out that leg!"

I am so confused by that system... I need a nap.

[Anne]

I think it sounds like a good system as long as you have some fun!

[Wanda]

Congrats on finishing the blanket, it's so pretty! I like the system, even if it's confusing, but it does make sense to me. Perhaps I am as convoluted as you? (teehee!)

[Jeni]

The blanket looks wonderful, I almost want to make one. Almost. I love your idea, I need to find a way to get my WIP's under control as well. See you soon!

[Kelly]

Your Mod on Mod is gorgeous!! Those are totally my colors.......Hint Hint. Hey a girl can try.

[bellamoden]

I love mod on mod!!!!

Your system hurts my brain. Excuse me while I lie down.

[olga]

oh yes, that blankey looks so de-vine! The colors work great together!

[JayJay]

Mod turned out fantastic! I'm sure the cotton aspect of it will be a positive in a few months. The socks and baby gifts are also lovely.

I think the system sounds good, and I like that it's a little mathy. Perhaps I should create a regression equation to determine the perfect number of skeins to have in one's stash (just teasing).

[Alarming Female]

that sounded kinda Fibonacci to me--maybe reverse Fibonacci. . .maybe not.

I love that you have so many WIPs because it makes me feel better that I have fewer. Don't get rid of too many, for my sake. Heh.