I have Second Sock Syndrome. It's bad. Really, really bad. I have several socks in progress right now, and I don't know if it's going to get any better anytime soon.
Here's a list of the yarns that are currently being used in projects:
Miss Bab's Yummy sock in Bluegrass
Merino/Angel in Smoke
Unique Sheep in Joy
Mini Mochi in color 107
Artyarns Ultramerino in Navy and Aqua (shown)
Pagewood Farms Alyeska in Peaceful
And I have a ball of the Crazy Zauberball set aside and am really having a hard time not casting on tonight.
Is this sad or normal?! I ususally have just a couple projects on the needles, but for some reason I'm just casting on and stopping halfway through after being seduced by another yarn. All of these have one sock complete, well, except the Fleece Artist Merino/Angel as I just cast that one on and ripped it out twice alread to find the perfect pattern. I keep trying to adapt a pattern to my wider leg, and it's just not looking great. I'll likely take one more stab til I give up and try a different pattern.
Even though the Mini Mochi socks and the Pagewood Farms socks are the ones that are the nearest completion, I think I want to complete the Artyarns socks (shown above) first. What's your criteria for ordering your projects? Do you complete those that you most want to? Or do you complete ones that may have a gift deadline? Or do you first complete those that are nearest to completion so you get that momentum going? Or what about projects that are taking up much-needed needles?
So many questions... give me your advice!
Great question.
A few years ago I resolved to limit myself to three project on the needles at one time. Knitting is supposed to be relaxing, but when I had too many projects going at once, I was finding it to be stressful.
At first, it was very difficult. But now I enjoy finishing things within a reasonable amount of time. Most surprising, sometimes I frog a half loved or unloved project in order to be able to start something else. There hasn't been one yet that I regret frogging. If I had wanted to finish it, I would have wanted to knit on it.
I do allow myself to not count swatching as one of the three projects. So when I can't resist casting on some new yarn, I am allowed to swatch (although I never swatch socks.) That solved another of my knitting problems - wanting to cast on without swatching.
Posted by: Marguerite | May 12, 2009 at 01:31 PM
I am one of the rare knitters - the monogamous breed! I don't even speak the language of several projects OTN!!! I would go crazy! 99% of the time I cast on one project & finish before going to another.
And - my solution to SSS, I knit 2 socks at the same time, sort of. I don't like knitting 2 socks on 2 circs or magic loops, therefore I knit my socks on 2 circs the same way that I did when I used dpns - I have a sock on it's own set of needles and I knit the toe on one, then the other, the foot on one then the other (or cuff, then leg, etc). I have an embarrassing number of sock needles, LOL, but I don't know if even I have enough to knit 2 socks as I do with 5 or so pairs of socks OTN at one time!
Even though I'm a monogamous knitter - I can kinda understand where you are coming from because you have that HUGE amount of gorgeous sock yarn in your store!!! I would probably be tempted to do the same thing!
With all that said, I suggest knitting 2 socks together and/or perhaps casting on a lesser # of socks @ the same time :0)
Have Fun!!!
Posted by: becka | May 12, 2009 at 03:16 PM
I am not entirely monogamous but tend to be closer to that than to the have-20-projects-at-a-time knitter. I generally have a pair of socks & one other project at most (sometimes just the socks). Currently that is a Wonderful Wallaby; I just finished a top for my granddaughter. Sometimes I have only socks on the needles. I do have most of one sock that I started earlier but I'm afraid that it will take more yarn than I have so I'm holding off on that pair for now. I find that, if I have more than a couple of projects going at a time, I never seem to finish anything. Maybe it's because I'm a fairly slow knitter but more than 2 projects makes me feel unfocused. But I have had periods where I start several projects & NOTHING seems like fun to knit. Nothing is satisfactory. Usually that feeling doesn't last for more than a couple of weeks. But it is a couple of weeks dithering around, starting several things & never getting more than about 5-10% of each done before abandoning it.
Posted by: mwknitter | May 12, 2009 at 07:17 PM
Sounds like spring fever!
I often get myself into your situation, and then when I regroup, I look at what NEEDS to get done (work knitting, gifts), and then figure out what I WANT to get done - if the ArtYarns sock is making you happy, do it - ultimately, it's supposed to be making us happy, not stressed...
Posted by: Deirdre | May 12, 2009 at 08:14 PM
I hate second sock syndrome so I cast on and do the rib for one sock then cast on the second rib and finish that - on to the leg and the second leg - and so on. It is so great NOT to have to wonder what I did on sock one! It is fresh in my mind and usually spurs me on... and when you are done - you are DONE with a pair. Trust me - it is worth the second pair of needles. I read about this years ago in a magazine and it works - Good Luck!
As far as projects - I currently have two sock projects (and #3 in a knitting bag ready to start when I need something new), 1 sweater for my grandson - which is high priority - so he won't outgrow it before I finish, a sweater for me, a pair of mittens for a friend and a project we worked on during a knitting workshop through our guild. I personally like having several items in progress. Some need more thought, etc. Just don't kick yourself...it is suppose to be FUN!!!! I do set priorities when it gets out of hand.
Posted by: Renee' | May 13, 2009 at 03:20 AM
oh, I must admit that I have many projects on the needles. From socks to sweaters, to scarves and a cowl. I get so excited about a project and then can't wait to get started and cast on the yarn. I do prioritize by gifting and then also by how much farther a project has to go. I am always amazed when I pick up a project I haven't done for a while and there is not much left to do, why I stopped? It's usually the lure of another yarn..
Posted by: natalie | May 13, 2009 at 09:36 AM
Three projects...and a half. Shawl (Ulmus from Through the Loops) is getting the most attention as I intend to gift it as soon as it is finished - 10, no I just counted, 8 rows to go! Pi Shawl which needs edging finished - sitting while I work on the first one. Tofutsies socks - also sitting at the moment. The half is either the toe of a sock started in Panda Cotton, or the finishing work on my Sandrine sweater. The sweater might win, I could wear it on Monday if its done as the weather will be in the low 60s...hmmmm. O.K., five projects!
I tend to have 3 to 4 projects in rotation at any given time, and I do sometimes pause on one (or more) projects to finish a particular other project. Or just because I'm tired of that project at the moment, and want to do something else. I rarely do anything with a firm deadline, as I'm usually knitting for myself or family members - although sometimes I want very much to finish a hat or mittens or such to wear - it helps to be working on something appropriate for the season!
I also sew most of my shirts (in the interest of having them fit) and do a bit of quilting and a bit of sewing bags - so sometimes those projects are "in front". But I try not to stress over any of it - the knitting and sewing are a combination of stress relief and product - so I usually avoid hard-and-fast deadlines. I love playing with the colors and materials, and I also really enjoy wearing things (that fit better) that I have made! I vote for enjoying your knitting - so do what pulls you, the rest will be there when you are ready for it.
Posted by: Jean Marie | May 14, 2009 at 10:34 PM
I'm going to have to try the suggestion of doing two socks at A time. I usually start with A sweater and then when I need gifts I put the sweater aside and start knitting mittens, scarves,booties etc. A quick knitting project is fun to work in during A long sweater project. I agree that when you are knitting for A little one you don't have time to procrastinate!When I start something new I always swear I won't knit anything until that piece is finished ...sigh..that has never happened!
Posted by: Beth | May 18, 2009 at 10:02 PM
SSS has not been a problem for me. When doing socks one at a time the second one goes so much faster b/c I know the pattern and zip right along. But my real salvation is two at once socks on two circulars. Finish one and in a few minutes finish the second one. Makes for efficient knitting. I also knit sleeves and sweater/vest fronts two at once. Takes a little bit longer than one and both are done together with all shaping and patterning aligned. Multiple projects are the bane of avid needle folks. Sometimes I get on a finishing spree and usually can whittle the projects to one or two before the need to start a few hits again. I've been this way since my 20's and I'm 62 now. Guess you just have to find your happy medium - enough to keep you happy; but not enough to make you crazy, eh?
Posted by: Kathleen | June 08, 2009 at 04:46 PM