Butt-Kicking Craft-Alongs!

Many of us have already talked about those dreaded works in progress, better known as WIPs. Another common word for them is UFOs, unfinished objects. You know those projects you start, get almost done, and then stop making for a reason or another. I must say my house is filled with them. *bows head in shame*

Why are there so many UFOs in my house? Really, I don’t know. In some cases, projects are unfinished because of sheer frustration. That would be the case for a scarf I made out of some sort of fun-type purple yarn. Very pretty yarn, but it takes almost five times longer to make a row, let alone knit the scarf. In other cases, I made one item for someone, but then thought of something else I wanted to send with it and which I haven’t finished, which means that I have a finished object sitting on my shelf, next to a UFO waiting to be completed before being sent on. In other cases still, the item seems my inexperience just makes me anxious, and I get too scared of the thing I’m making and drop it as though it was on fire.

One very good example of this last point is the Ravenclaw scarf I made for myself. I started it back in 2006 as my first ever knitting project. I wanted one, and so went to visit my grandmother so she could teach me how to knit. The scarf itself was relatively easy to make, what with it being knitted in the round. When I finally finished that part, I did the whole binding off thing. It all looked very pretty, and I was pleased with myself. You can even see a picture of my scarf here, along with my Ravenclaw tie and part of my HP books collection. Then, just as I was about to start adding the fringe, I heard of blocking¦ and that stopped me. Why? I don’t know¦ fear of the unknown maybe? In any case, it’s been sitting, neatly folded in a box in my cupboard.

Well, lately I’ve decided I would conquer the dreaded pile of doom, and the scarf is obviously high on my list. And now, the perfect opportunity just presented itself: our September Craft-along! For one thing, I’ll be able to request advice from experienced knitters. For another, seeing the other people’s finished objects will motivate me to finish my own craft. And last but not least, I’ll be able to keep warm this winter AND display my Ravenclaw pride (though the Muggles of this world probably won’t understand about the whole navy blue and bronze striped scarf!).

So if, like me, you have some UFOs lurking in a corner somewhere, challenge yourself to finishing them one by one. And if, by a lucky chance, one of those happens to be a House scarf, come and join us in the forum and request friendly advice (and butt kicking!) from the talented knitters and crocheters over there!

*runs off to find a stool to take out the scarf box and get to work!*

Crafty Witch Josée

-xxx-