Sunday, June 15, 2008

Summer of the UFO

With the power vested in me (a.k.a none), I hereby declare this to be the "SUMMER OF THE UFO!" I have been trying to clean up my house - a project which I must admit is not going very well - and in the process have realized that I have waaaaaaay too many unfinished projects. They range from felted bags which simply need the handle to be attached or a button sewn on to scarves which have only a few inches on them to baby blankets that are 3/4ths of the way finished. So I am declaring this the official Summer of the UFO as my commitment to try to finish as many UFO's as possible. I plan to build a UFO list on my sidebar (give me a bit of time - I'm afraid it is going to be a long one) and I pledge to do my best to finish off as many items as possible this summer. I commit that I will not start a new project without finishing at least one UFO. To reflect my commitment I finished this Odessa hat which I started for my niece probably in January. It's made out of some stretchy yarn so it looks a bit odd when it's not on a head but when it is stretched tight it will look better. The truly pathetic thing is once I picked it back up it only took one evening to finish! Odessa is a very clever pattern. I love the way it spirals in on the top. I chose to make it without the beads but may try the beaded version next (that is AFTER finishing a UFO of course!) I tried to put a link to the pattern but it no longer seems to exist. It used to be on MagKnits but since they pulled it down I can no longer find it. That seems tragic but if you want a copy let me know (since it used to be free I'm guessing that would be OK).

And now for a contest. Please join me in the Summer of the UFO Challenge. Let me know what UFO you plan to finish and let me know when you finish it. I will draw winners in each of June, July and August and anyone who has finished a project during that time will be eligible to win. The requirement is that it has to be an old project that you have let languish. You can either finish the project, decide to finally frog it and start (and finish) something new or put your project up for adoption! To adopt out a project you can mention it in the comments and see if there is anyone who wants to adopt a UFO you no longer plan to finish. If they are willing to give your project a new home you will send it to them and they must send you a little something fun in return. Let's the games begin!

6 comments:

Jknits said...

I am here for support should you need it! I will also join you in the challenge - I just have to figure out what I have outstanding. I have a few that have been cast on, but more in the embryonic stage - yarn bought, pattern picked out but not actually cast on yet.

km said...

If you look at my Summer Knitting Goals (a few posts back) you'll see that this is exactly where I'm at. 2 hats to felt. A purse that needs handles. Really...they should be done by now.

This weekend I did finish the wedding afghan, and load photos to Ravelry of stash. Next up...clean my WIP corner.

Janice said...

Oooh, what a great idea. I really need to finish up some projects before I cast on anymore. I'll have to so through all my bags and start listing them out... how scarey!

smariek said...

What a great idea, but I'm scared to learn the true number of UFOs I have. I suppose having a list in the sidebar, STARING back at you, is a good reminder that they need attention.

Anonymous said...

UFOs are useful things: sometimes they tell you, in their own good time, who they were meant for all along, and when they do, you only have to knit so much and it's done because it was already started!

The purple shawl I blogged a few days ago is on my will-get-done-this-summer list.

Brooke Knits said...

Sheez! shame me into getting my UFOs done! My list is long too. I was thinking of putting all my UFOs on slips of paper ("socks" "scarf" "sweater" etc.) and put them in a bowl in the stash closet - and then just draw a slip out - whatever I draw I must finish! How crazy is that?? I'll enter your contest, but I guess I have to go home and really make a list. Does un-spun fiber count as a UFO?? or just knitting? (Brooke)