Stuck!

sakura-panda · 03-12-2012, 09:25 AM

I finished the scarf I was working on and don't know what I want to do next.

I have lots of yarn and project ideas, but just can't decide what to start next.

Do you ever get this lack of direction between projects? What do you do to get around it and get inspired to start something new?

Antares · 03-12-2012, 10:42 AM

My problem is I have TOO many things I want to do, and I can't seem to narrow them down to the next thing.

However, looking at patterns, considering how much time I will have to knit, and thinking about what I want to wear or give to someone else can help me decide.

Yours is a great problem to have, I guess. At least it's not this problem: I really really want to do X, but I don't have all the supplies I need to do it!!

salmonmac · 03-12-2012, 10:58 AM

Most of the time I have projects queued up and waiting patiently in line but every now and then, I�ve found myself with the same wonderful problem. My solution is to browse through pattern books or Ravelry pages until something jumps out. Good luck and enjoy looking for that next project. And congrats on finishing the scarf!

fatoldladyinpjs · 03-12-2012, 12:47 PM

I'd suggest a visit to the yarn store. It might inspire you. My problem is I have lots of ideas but no decent yarn. I think that's going to be one of my trips this week. I've got little scraps of this and that which I can't seem to throw away. Most of my stash is junk anyway. And I quit smoking regular cigarettes. Went to e cigarettes with just a water vapor and cutting down on that. Everything smells like smoke. I'm noticing it more now and rewashing all my clothes and airing out the house. I think I'm going to throw out all the smoky junk yarn and start over.

Jan in CA · 03-12-2012, 05:31 PM

What I do when I can't decide what big project to do is make hats. I've been using my stash yarn to make hats for charity. I get to knit, someone gets hats, and it gives me time to think about what I really want to do next.

sakura-panda · 03-13-2012, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by fatoldladyinpjs

I'd suggest a visit to the yarn store. It might inspire you. My problem is I have lots of ideas but no decent yarn. I think that's going to be one of my trips this week. I've got little scraps of this and that which I can't seem to throw away. Most of my stash is junk anyway. And I quit smoking regular cigarettes. Went to e cigarettes with just a water vapor and cutting down on that. Everything smells like smoke. I'm noticing it more now and rewashing all my clothes and airing out the house. I think I'm going to throw out all the smoky junk yarn and start over.

Congratulations on getting rid of stinky cigarettes! I once got some scrapbooking supplies as a RAK from an online friend once and had to leave the papers spread out in the garage for a week before I was able to bring them in the house. (It seems to me I threw away all the non-paper supplies -- I didn't have a lot of space to spread things around to air out and decided to only salvage the paper.

)

I think a trip to the yarn store is an excellent reward for you.

I'm the type that has to have a project in mind before I make the trip or I end up petting everything and buying nothing.

GrumpyGramma · 03-12-2012, 09:30 PM

Dishrags. Oh, excuse me, I mean dish cloths. I think about what I want to be doing next while I'm knitting. They also come in handy when I feel like I'm ready to frog something and know I should give it some time before I decide.

Jan in CA · 03-13-2012, 12:37 AM

Originally Posted by GrumpyGramma

Dishrags. Oh, excuse me, I mean dish cloths. I think about what I want to be doing next while I'm knitting. They also come in handy when I feel like I'm ready to frog something and know I should give it some time before I decide.

I do that with cotton when I have it. Unfortunately most of my yarn is wool/acrylic blends which make nice hats. I like to play around with design on them because they are small and fast.

Antares · 03-13-2012, 08:41 AM

If you've got the yarn (and it sounds like you do), you can also swatch some of it up to see what it might want to be.

GrumpyGramma · 03-13-2012, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by Antares

If you've got the yarn (and it sounds like you do), you can also swatch some of it up to see what it might want to be.

So I'm not the only one that listens to the yarn! I was beginning to think I'm totally insane! I got yarn for a sweater and it just wasn't going to work out, the yarn told me so, but then I found some that would. It just screamed at me, "I'll work up nicely in that sweater pattern!"
Well, maybe I am totally insane. You didn't say the yarn talks to you.