Out, Out, Damn UFO!

Thank you for the accolades on Ribby.  It's such a comfortable sweater, one I'll enjoy wearing all winter.  Phyllo, is another that I enjoyed knitting (same type of construction as Ribby) and also love wearing.  I'll be warm and well dressed this winter.

Many of you were surprised that only one UFO resides on my needles.(I have several projects on the needles (WIPs), but all get attention during the week.)  I'm a firm believer that if the process isn't enjoyable and the project isn't getting anywhere, a decision must be made (in the short term) on its (long term) future. Case in point, Flotsam Jetsam took a frog pond dive when I realized the process was work, wasn't enjoyable. Without that decision I wouldn't have lovely Phyllo.

The process of the Shockwave sock hasn't been that much fun, but nothing would be with this overspun handspun. However, when the sock was on my foot, I could see its potential and it was saved from ripping.  It's now or never with this UFO.

UFOs are obligations and obligations just are not my thing.  (I do have a long time, secret UFO but that's a post for another day.)   As Pat K said in the comments, "Too much stuff laying around unfinished can be a drag on the spirit."  I so agree! 

The DailyOm horoscope for Tuesday also agreed.  First it gave a little advise (excerpted)...

Try to make certain that your projects are things that you are motivated to do and not merely things that you know you should complete but have been putting off. You can look over your list and choose the one task you feel most compelled to start. You may find that by doing something that engages you, you could feel more capable and ingenious as a result.

And then hit the nail on the head...

Choosing to do things that we are interested in helps us make full use of our creativity. In our lives there are so many things on our to-do-list that we tend to overlook the things that are truly gratifying for us. Our efforts usually go into things that we feel we have to do rather than want to. But if we set aside time to do something that appeals to us, we make way for our creative process. Our desire to do such projects fills our spirit with delight, which in turn enhances the quality of our lives and the lives of those around us. By engaging your creativity with a project that interests you today, you will fill your life with enjoyment and satisfaction.

That's exactly why there are no UFOs around here. In that vein, if any obligation is just that, an obligation with no enjoyment attached...it goes, out, out, out. After reading my post Beverly  made the decision to dropped out of NaKniSweMo.  Her list of UFOs was already too long and she new she had to take control.  It may be tough to give up something you'd like to do, it may be tough to face the facts, but a little self discipline in your knitting life will get you back to the process...the process of knitting we all love so much. 

*Stepping off soapbox.*

This UFO is now officially a WIP.

Comments

[Carol]

I believe we all share your feelings on this subject. So very well said! And you have and almost done beautiful pair of socks to show for it!

[Carole]

I agree with all you've said. That's how I approach my knitting, too.

[ruth]

I made Shockwave based on your sock. Came out really pretty. I hope your socks get finished because the yarn is gorgeous, the pattern is lovely, and because you're almost there.

About 3-4 times a year, I rip out most of my UFOs because I know I'll never finish them. And most of them I like very much. I think it's the boredom factor.

[beverly]

Thanks for your encouragement! I'm already planning what I'll cast on for when I've finished my list, and I feel like a burden is lifting with each stitch I knit or frog!

[susan]

I'm glad to seek you're plugging away on the sock. I know how much you were enjoying it Tuesday night.

[Marcia Cooke]

Thanks to bloggers like you, I've gotten much better about the UFO's and have NO trouble frogging if something isn't working! I do seem to have a couple of pairs of unfinished socks hanging around, but socks almost don't count as UFO's!

[bellamoden]

You know, I completely agree with you! The true ufos I have are from when I was very sick - I don't remember knitting most of that stuff. I'll finish them all, though. They're 4 (mate) socks and the Veste Everest vest that's nearly done. I can do that. :)

Everything else does get attention, just like you. You're so right. It's the process.

[Liz K.]

I, too decided to opt out of NaKniSweMo. I was way too ambitious, and I really prefer not to knit on a timeline. I don't want stress in my hobby!

[Kirsten]

Yay for soapboxes. I have been working on my UFO's quite a bit lately. There are so many that are very close to being done.
We've got a Flickr Group, "UFO Knitters Unite" if you're interested.

[Kathy]

Agreed. I've made a conscious efforts to keep my UFOs, and WIPs as well, under control. I really, really like the sock -- keep plugging along!

[Wool Winder]

From UFO to WIP to FO(very soon, by the looks of it).

[Chris]

When you put it that way... Hmm.

[Linda M]

Thanks so much for this post. It is helping me rethink lots more than just my knitting. The rest of my life is getting the way of my knitting and I've been looking at things on my big to-do list that have become obligations. I'm re-prioritizing and trying to finish loose ends so I can focus on the things I still want to do but can't get to. This will also help make time for my knitting and I'm hoping to be able to move forward on all fronts soon.

[Kelly]

You're so right Margene! Too many wips on the needles actually gives me a little bit of anxiety and knitting is supposed to be about relaxing and enjoying. Now I'm off to finish up some of my wips.

[CindyCindy]

Grasshopper has much to learn from you, wise Master;)

[Tonia]

Oh I so agree. Now to put it into practice myself.

[Cindy/Snid]

Great attitude about UFO's and WIP's. I will have to consider that one! And of course I now face the issue of UFO's that are no longer suitable to the climate I will be in... sigh. I shall have to make some decisions soon!

[Kim]

Thank you for introducing me to OM! I so agree, that life if full of so many things we HAVE to do, our hobbies should be the things that give us joy.

[Heather Joins The Round]

You are so right! SO RIGHT!

[Roxie]

Oh yay! Strawberry Fields has a second chance. LOVE that yarn and pattern combination!

[Ann]

No matter how well I hide them, UFOs find a way to stop up the chi in my house and affect my psyche. If I let a project sit for more than a week or two, I feel the drain. Nice post.

[Kim D.]

I love your approach to limiting UFO's. In reviewing my list of UFO's I had felt so torn between finishing some of them, even though I didn't want to. Obligated! But, am slowly working my way through deciding what is and isn't going to survive the frog pond.

There were even a couple of items that are finished but not sewn together. I've stalled for two years on one of the sweaters. I gave in and dropped it off at my LYS and am having her sew it together. I decided it was worth the investment. I loved knitting the sweater, but really didn't want to sew it together. Rather than force myself and feel badly towards the sweater, I chose a different path.

Glad to see that you're feeling better.

[Sharon]

please don't stay away from your soapbox too long! You have the nicest way of helping me 'wake up' about my numerous UFO's -without feeling beaten down by my self-generated guilt trip!

[Beth S.]

It's kind of eerie how well your DailyOm reflected your current reality, isn't it?

I'm glad you're working on the socks. Overspun just means they'll be more durable. (Er, right? Or is that flawed logic?)

[Sharon]

So your last UFO, is that Shock Wave? I tried that in one incarnation of the sock yarn that I just finished with the fourth pattern I tried on it. I had a hard time with Shock Wave. It wasn't fun to knit and I wasn't sure how the the bias fabric would feel as a sock in my shoe. If that's what you're working on, I'd like to hear how it fits, feels and wears.

[Pat K]

Right now I'm not so much concentrating on knitting up the UFOs I've got as going through my pattern leaflets and magazines and passing on those that I know I will never make anything out of. All that "clutter" is a drag as well. The reality is that I will never be able to make all the beautiful things in the world that I would like to if I had all the time in the world; taking a good look at reality means that I should pass on to someone else the things I really don't need. Then my bookcase will be filled with the patterns and books that really fire up my imagination and desire to create, and I won't get bogged down by all that excess. What I knit or create ought to be something that I really want to spend my finite amount of life-time doing, and not fritter that time or space away on projects that really don't fulfill my creative needs. Frogging UFOs and letting go of things that don't feed that ultimate creativity should lead to a greater enjoyment of "the process" and the finished product, as well as a greater sense of personal accomplishment.

So much for my mini-blog posting to your post!

[Birdsong]

Great self-reflection! I love the pink and green sock and am glad it made it past the scrutiny of flaws.