Color Me Happy

I've finished the Clappy.

Ok, I still have to drop the stitches and decide if I want to block it or not. But I do not need to knit another stitch, so I'm considering it done.

I love the clapotis, it's a great scarf for so many types of yarn. But oh the getting there. In this case I think I could have used a bigger needle and sped things along. I knit a ridiculous number of straight sections to get enough length. I blame it all on the needle size. I'll know for the future.As the piece is blocked here it's 19" wide x 59" long. I'm not really "blocking" it. I was hoping pulling it taut would encourage the dropped stitches to run. Didn't work.

I'm About to Cast On

I have a feeling this weekend there could be two more projects on the needles. Robyn's Stulpens feel a little like they could bring quick satisfaction. A small, simple, but impressive project. Cables are so cool, much simpler than they look.

I am holding myself back from casting on MOM's Red Emperor. Don't ask me why because this yarn/pattern combination is a match made in heaven. I think it's because I already have four large projects on the needles. But here's the thing. I really don't like to cast-on projects so if I'm in the mood, I should really go for it. It's makes no difference whether you store a project on the needles or store the yarn and a pattern :-)

Right now I have to go clean. Yuck!

Project Versus Process Knitting

I read Grace's Blog the other day and she was talking about being a project knitter versus a process knitter. I started to wonder which category I fell into.

In many aspects of my life, I like the planning as much as the doing. Whether it's painting a room or taking a vacation, there are hours of research logged before any action takes place. In many cases, during the action, I'm really enjoying the process. I like to watch a room come together when I'm painting. I love the end product, but I also love getting there.

I'm not so sure I feel the same way about knitting. I love to plan. Ravelry lets me play and plan to my heart's content. I put items in my queue, re-arrange and reprioritize anytime I want. I love to plan projects and I'm most happy when the yarn and the pattern are the perfect fit.

Once the project is cast-on, the mule is headed to the barn. It's all about getting the project off the needles. That's why I'm generally a monogamous knitter. I currently have 4 active projects on the needles. One is close to being finished, another is a gift and needs to be finished. I can't help but favor these projects over the others because I keep thinking, just a little more and I'll be done, just a little more and I'll be done. This is not a process knitter, this is a project knitter, a project knitter who wants a finished project.

I'm not sure if knowing this will change anything, but thanks Grace for a thought provoking blog entry.