Jenn McKinlay: If you saw yesterday’s post, you know that my oldest spawn graduated from college. I had on promise to myself before he crossed that stage and received his diploma and that was that I would finish the bloody scarf he asked me to make for him when I first taught myself to knit in 2010.
Yes, this project was begun 15 years ago!!! 15 YEARS!!! I am so close to finishing but alas…I didn’t get it done in time. Why? Why am I such a fabulous starter but I can’t seem to close the deal. It is not only Hooligans scarf that lies waiting.
Here’s a throw I started and stalled out on:
Here’s a blanket also neglected:
And another scarf that I recently had to try crocheting because the yarn self argyles (although it took me 27 tries to get the count right) now sits gathering dust.
I’ve heard there’s a non profit called Loose Ends that will take the projects of crafters who have passed away and finish them for the crafter’s family. I think this is wonderful and I was thinking I might volunteer and shift my starter enthusiasm to full finisher (that’s what they call the volunteers - finishers). We’ll see.
Crafters, how are your projects going?
Alas, I am lacking in craftiness. On the other hand, I guess I don’t have unfinished projects giving me the side-eye.
ReplyDeleteI generally finish my craft projects, but I don't often start on a project in the first place . . . .
ReplyDeleteWith no new family babies on the horizon, my remaining craft of quilting is languishing. I gave my daughter-in-law all my knitting stuff a couple of years ago, and I haven't crocheted since college. Right now just getting my garden underway is taking all my "spare" time.
ReplyDeleteBut my sister in Ottawa is a quilt finisher in her retirement! She finished two quilts our mom started and didn't finish, and she finishes quilts for families whose quilter passed away. She also makes baby quilts for the NICU.
So nice that Janet finushed your mom's quilts & makes baby quilts for those little ones in the NICU.
DeleteLike LISA, I am not a crafter at all.
ReplyDeleteNope to knitting, crochetting, quilting, painting etc.
I made feeble attempts at knitting/crochet in my tween years due to my mom's nagging.
But what I made was so horrible, she was aghast. And never pushed me to try again!
My edible balcony garden is my non-reading hobby.
I once knit my mother a wool cardigan which she wore loyally despite the sleeves being far too long (they're too long on ME, and I have arms like an orangutan!) I can sew but only well enough to mend. I am not a crafts person. Both my sisters are. All my girlfriends are. My daughter is. They are all both talented and patient. As for me, give me a cordless drill, a shovel, a hammer, or some other tool. I'm not great with them, either, but I enjoy the work. Last summer I replaced the blown head gasket in one of my old lawn tractors. Today I have to pick up a new drive belt and figure out how to take off the mowing deck to replace it. (Selden)
ReplyDeleteWhen I was inn high school, my sister took up knitting and decided to knit me a pair of socks for Christmas. This was in July. That Christmas I got one sock. Christmas two years later I got the second sock. They never fit properly but I cherished them.
ReplyDeleteMy wife used to tat. Her great-aunt was a tatting fool and, by the time my wife entered first grade, every bit of her underwear was festooned with homemade lace. Her great-aunt's antique ivory tatting shuttle is still around here, but it has not been used for nearly half a century.
I have a baby blanket for a kid who probably just turned 45 somewhere in the house. In my defense, he arrived very, very early and for some reason, I never knit anything again. I empathize with you, Jenn. I love the idea of the finishers.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a crafter myself but my mom was and my sister is. In fact, my sister is the opposite of you Jenn, she not only finishes her projects but she makes enough that she occasionally goes to craft shows and sells her products.
ReplyDeleteAlas, the talent for doing any kind of crafting project is beyond me. Though from years of fandom for Bob Ross, I wish I could paint all those happy little trees of his. But who has the time these days?
I'm a terrible finisher (generally in life), but I do tend to finish my cross stitch projects. I have one I did about 25 years ago that I never framed, so it's sitting in my craft drawer. It's irises in various shades of lavender with two ducks. I like the picture, but not enough to pay to frame it or hang it anywhere. If anyone wants it, I'll happily mail it to you. I have another kit that I bought 30 years ago and never started. It's done on linen, over two threads, so it's a bit different from the easy aida cloth. Now I think my eyes may be too old. It will probably sit in the drawer for awhile longer.
ReplyDeleteAfter mom died, we found a half knitted red sweater. I'm not sure who it was meant for, but it made us sad.
Sadly, I suffered from the same syndrome as Jenn. But at least now I know it has a name.
ReplyDeleteOne crocheted scarf? Not finished. Multiple quilt tops? Not quilted. The scarf will definitely get finished. The quilting? My back doth protest loudly at sitting and bending over the quilt frames. But I want to finish one as a wedding gift, one for myself (!). So maybe I'll figure out a way I can quilt again.
ReplyDeleteI love this post, Jenn. So real. And that 'self-argyling' yarn is amazing! My advice: Pass along the unfinished projects to the 'finishers' and head out to your garden to weed the tomatoes. Do what you love and leave the rest to others.
ReplyDeletePS - my craft is collage art. I have boxes and shelves with finished pieces stacked up; what to do with them all? It's sort of the mirror-image problem of not finishing -- is it? Anyway, either way, lots of evidence of my 'craftiness' lying around...
DeleteJenn, that scarf was your first knitting project?! I'm massively impressed! Your other projects are even more complicated.
ReplyDeleteMy oldest daughter used to introduce me to her friends as "my mom, the sewing goddess". But knitting is a tiresome pursuit for me, and despite my many attempts, all I've ever managed to produce was a very simple scarf or hat.
I love the idea of a project finisher. I have two needlepoint projects I started in the mid-1970's. In my defense, I used to love to learn new processes for handwork, but as soon as I learned the technique my interest waned. So I decided that made it okay not to finish. It was like taking a class.
We will draw a veil over my unfinished writing projects.
Karen, I saw the weather radar this morning--here's hoping the Cinci area doesn't get hit with the worst of the storms heading up the Ohio Valley! Stay safe!
DeleteActually Jenn in your defense, the work you did on those projects looks beautiful and COMPLICATED!!
ReplyDeleteI grew up sewing and really enjoyed that. Knitting, crocheting, etc. not so much. I think it bores me. A friend recently gave me a felting kit and I am working on not being intimidated by making small, furry creations. I know once I dive into it I will love it. It is the initial dip in the craft that paralyzes me. Also, in this instance, I don't want to disappoint my friend who has so much faith in me that he is already talking about me setting up an Etsy store! No pressure there! AGGHH! -- Victoria
ReplyDeleteI used to do counted cross stitch. When we moved last summer, I went through my cedar chest and gave away 90% of the kits, aida cloth, etc. (I also gave away the cedar chest.) I might look into finishers for some projects I kept for sentimental reasons.
ReplyDeleteI am very impressed with people who can knit; I tried it but couldn’t get the tension (?) right. I can’t imagine you raising two kids, writing three series (not including the ones you’re branching out to now), doing the home “projects” you take on, etc. having any time for craft projects. Good luck! — Pat S