Project Queues

I've received my Kersti in the mail. It is color K139, and not as green as I originally thought, but here is a picture. It had enough green to where I didn't fear grass stains taking the picture on the grass, but enough of other colors so it wouldn't blend in:

As others have said, it is soft. Actually, it's a little less velvety than most wool I've used, but not as smooth as silk. It feels to me more like a cotton/silk blend than a wool. I can now hear loud protest from the cotton nay-sayers in Blogland, but I don't mean it as an insult; I actually like the feel of some cotton blends. I'd almost be tempted to make something summery in it. But I must remember it is wool, and I will stick to the gloves and beret. At least it's not a raspberry color, because I am nothing like the girl in the Prince song "Raspberry Beret," and I am not close to anyone who is. :) I may eventually get more Kersti and knit a pullover like I see others doing. Unfortunately, I am not yet done with the Shapely Tank. It is going quickly, but I promised myself I would finish it before I start on Kersti.

I've noticed something funny lately about my "project queue," the way I have lined up my not-yet-started projects. When I set my WIP limit at 5, the projects I hadn't started seemed to file in like at a bank. I would have "next project" which would start after I'd finished any one of my current WIPs. That reminds me of the the single line at the bank, where the whole thing leads to several tellers, and when you reach the head of the line, you just go to the next available teller. Now my project queue more closely resembles supermarket lines, where each checkstand has its own line, and you choose a line and wait for the cashier of that particular line to get to you. My projects now feel like that; I'm thinking in terms of "When I finish X, I'll begin Y," instead of "I'll start this when I've finished one of my current projects."

I think the reason partially has to do with needles; I don't want my five WIPs to all use, for example, size 2 dpns, or size 8 circulars, because I don't want to have to run out and buy more of the same size and type, nor do I want a clutter of duplicate needles when the projects are done. Another reason is that I like to have a mixture of challenging and mindless projects. I take a mindless project or two to work and work on them there, and I work on the more interesting ones at home. When I'm at any kind of crafts-based meeting, I usually like to have something in between, so I can socialize, but still have something in front of me that keeps my interest. If my queue used the "bank method," I may end up bored out of my skull with 5 "work" projects, or frustrated at work because they are all "home" projects.

Here is my current queue:

Kersti is waiting for Shapely Tank

Making Waves Socks are waiting for Flickering Flame Socks

Cloverleaf Baby Socks are waiting for the matching Cloverleaf "Mommy" Socks

Charlotte II is waiting for Charlotte I

Everyday Cardigan does not have a specific project right behind it, but I'm sure it will when I'm closer to finished.

For those of you who also have multiple works in progress, how do you usually decide when to start a new one? Is it the "supermarket" method or the "bank" one. Or do you usually start it right away, no matter how many WIPs you have going?

One project I forgot to mention in my last post is a crochet cat blanket for Critter Knitters. It is single crocheted on the diagonal with Lion Brand Homespun in Mexicana (click the picture for more detail). I can easily see some calico cat sleeping on it, but no matter what animal gets it, I hope (s)he finds it comfortable. Maybe I'll make another in the Sierra color by July 31. I put aside other projects to make this one, because I noticed how closely the end of the Critter Knitters is looming.

Comments

[Margene]

We ALL have a queue like that! Never be bored...never stop knitting...always have fun!

[Susan]

You never know with the Kersti until you start knitting -- I was scared when mine arrived because it looked awfully red (and I'm not a red person), but when I knit it up the other colors (especially green, which I love) were more visible and the red was just an accent.

I love what you've said about the project queue, because I've just run into the situation where the needles I need for the next projects are currently in use and I'm trying so hard to finish my WIP's and not buy new needles.

[MJ]

You got it right on the head about the needles! I have #2-13 in straights and I've been tempted so many times to buy circulars, but that's a whole 'nother animal!

Lion/Witch/Wardrobe and Magician's Nephew: thanks for the clarification! When Lucy met Mr. Tumnus in the forest he was wearing a "red woolen muffler". I may have to knit one too!

[Sharon]

Interesting question. I try to keep only one project going that requires complete concentration, and several others that can go out with me in public. Always a pair of socks. And one so completely mindless that I can do it anywhere no matter what. Notice I said "try." Sometimes a certain yarn and a certain pattern come together at a moment in time, and they just have to be started.

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