Why can't I finish?

McKnitty · 11-16-2007, 11:52 AM

Do any of you have problems with finishing a project once the knitting part is over? I love to knit, but once the knitting part is done I have a tendency to lose interest and want to move on to another project so I can start knitting again.

I have several projects that I have completed the knitting but there is still something that needs to be done: sweaters that need to be seamed, a purse that needs the handles sewn on, a Christmas stocking that needs to be lined, etc.

I don't get to knit as often as I'd like, so I feel like I'm wasting my time if I'm seaming something when I could be knitting! Silly, I know.

cdjack · 11-16-2007, 05:13 PM

I feel the same way. I just finished knitting and then felting a bag. I picked the pattern because it was knit in the round. No seaming! I have a couple of sweaters still in pieces as well.
I know that there are a few yarn stores up here that will seam your projects for you. I don't know how much it costs though...

bip · 11-16-2007, 05:32 PM

I never thought I had any particular problem finishing projects until I put them all in Ravelry. I have 7 UFOs right now!!! I had no idea. And that's not even counting the adorable A-line skirt awaiting a zipper. I finished it 2 years ago then gained a bunch of weight. I offered to give it to a friend ... but still haven't put that dang zipper on. I guess I'm hoping I'll lose weight and I can take back the offer to give it away!

I have no idea what my excuse for the rest of the projects is. Well, ok, my Avast is complete except for blocking and zipper (I assembled the pieces w/o blocking because it was mostly made in 1 piece and only required hemming). I plan to send that to a tailor for the zipper, sewing is out of my comfort zone and I don't want to ruin a gorgeous cashmere sweater w/a sloppy zipper.

My log cabin blanket is awaiting more yarn. I started it about 3 weeks ago, but the yarn has haunted me in various incarnations of projects for over 2 years. It is Kureyon, expensive and I don't really like it and I hate the project only slightly less than the three projects this yarn was before. Not real excited to spend MORE on it. Especially since I am supposed to be cutting down on yarn-buying, not increasing it...

My Pearl Buck Swing Jacket (started in July/August, finished in September!)...I'm just afraid isn't going to fit well, so it is sitting there w/one sleeve on and other sleeve 1/3 of the way on...

My brother's Skully (started last Feb) needs a gusset in the armpit (to compensate for the pattern being for lady chest and biceps), and I have to weave in a billion little intarsia ends (way to double strand the intarsia bip!!!)

I finally picked up my 2-mittens in the round on one set of DPNs again (started in Sept, and at that time I got them all the way to the finger tip decreases), but the decreases are precarious when done 2 at once so I'm sandbagging... plus I have to figure out how to put the thumbs on.

Oh, and I started some lace socks while my mom was visiting. In SEPTEMBER. Finally picked it up at the beginning of the week. I can't tell you how long it took me first to remember where I was in the pattern (though the notes I'd left for myself had made perfect sense when I wrote them!) and then to get up to speed w/the pattern again. I'm thinking I hate the pattern, but all the sock patterns I like are toe-up and I really can't learn another technique right now, I need something I can knit on my commute to/from work.
I'm actually a bit overwhelmed by it at the moment. That, and the overwhelming urge to START ANOTHER PROJECT and BUY MORE YARN.

mhansen · 11-16-2007, 06:29 PM

Yes I have a real problem finishing up too. I absolutely hate to weave in the ends. Most of the time I cannot do it so that you cannot see where the thread is woven in. I have tried and tried. I've taken my time to get it into the middle of the yarn but you can still see it. I do not like seaming. I just like to knit.

Plantgoddess+ · 11-16-2007, 06:45 PM

I can sympathize. I also have to force myself to do the finishing touches. I have a finished afghan that just needs the ends woven in. I also bought a book on designing your own sweaters that uses knitting in the round from the bottom up. I love it! The only finish work is small openings under the arms and weaving in ends. I hate seaming!

McKnitty · 11-16-2007, 06:46 PM

Originally Posted by cdjack

I know that there are a few yarn stores up here that will seam your projects for you. I don't know how much it costs though...

Oh, that would be a dream come true! I am going to call around town and see if I can find a place.

McKnitty · 11-16-2007, 06:51 PM

Originally Posted by bip

I'm actually a bit overwhelmed by it at the moment. That, and the overwhelming urge to START ANOTHER PROJECT and BUY MORE YARN.

I feel the same way! I'm overwhelmed with what I should be doing, yet I still want to look at new patterns and yarn.

McKnitty · 11-16-2007, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by mhansen

I do not like seaming. I just like to knit.

EXACTLY! I guess I keep hoping the little seaming faeries will come one night and I'll wake up to completely finished projects.

GiddyKnitter · 11-16-2007, 07:01 PM

I think this problem is more common that we realise! I dislike finishing off garments and sewing in the ends...I just can't wait to start on my next project. I only have a pair of socks to finish and a sweater for myself which I started in the summer even forgot what the pattern is like! And then I have the cabled sweater that shandeh is knitting...so not too bad at the moment.

Rorshach · 11-16-2007, 07:20 PM

So I would guess that most of you would be process knitters, not project knitters, i.e. you enjoy the actual knitting, but dislike finishing it up. Nothing wrong with that in my book, but as I see it, finishing the project is part of the project too. I too dislike it, but I dislike it not being finished more.