I’ve been knitting for about 35 years and I don’t like to have too many WIPs at a time. It makes me stressed! I usually have one sweater, one easy stockinette project, one sock and maybe one more if I am trying to gift knit or something. But no way would I have multiple big projects. About your mitts: I would not try the surgery, but would just rip back to below the thumb gusset and reknit to the same length as the other. You said the other one only took you a couple of hours to knit. Trying to pick up, cut, rip back, then bind off again all seem like a lot of work for the size of the project. Now, if you want to do the surgery because you want to try it - that’s another story. 😊

I definitely was a monogamous knitter when I first started. Now I have 6 or 7.. But that's because I have a different project for different knitting situations. 2 evening projects. 2 portable projects and 2 remote meeting projects. 😊

The longer I’ve knit, the more I realize I have different kinds of time. Riding in car, sitting with people, totally alone and focused, late night, airport/planes. I have projects for each and overall, get to knit more. Multiple projects can work!!

@AliMakesEverything

21 күн бұрын

This is so smart!

My sweet spot is 2-3 projects and I max out at 5, at that point it stresses me out. Right now I have a shawl that I’m slowly working on in between larger projects, a hat, and a shawl I’m focusing my energy on. I like having my one shawl that I do a repeat or 2 on after finishing another project. Or if I get frustrated and need a break, doing a repeat is an easy reset. Both my shawls are lace/cables so the hat is nice for the knit night I go to because I don’t have to focus. It’s just 1x1 ribbing the whole time until the decreases

❤ the funny knitting steps clues you gave your nephew! He definitely needs his own yarn and needles to explore and play with. He’s lucky to have you as his Aunt. As for number of projects - I’ve been knitting for 20+ years. In the beginning it was one project at a time. Now I usually have 2 or 3 WIPs. I like having a variety - to use a reading metaphor - 1) easy mindless knit/read 2) pay attention knit/read and 3) challenge my brain and learn something new knit/read. I also find the older I get, I need to have projects using different yarn weights to give my hands a break. Too much fingering knitting and my hands eventually start to hurt.

@AliMakesEverything

2 ай бұрын

I love this comparison because I tend to also only read one book at a time so this really tracks 😂

my knitting mentality is very much “ooh that’s sick, i wanna make that” while having 7 other projects on the needles, and starting it regardless of if i should. i think it’s really freeing because i do finish my projects eventually- but i don’t want to feel trapped by my hobby into only knitting one thing at a time. i’ve been knitting for a long time, for about- 6 years on and off? and this has definitely developed over time, especially as i have gotten older and more experienced. also copper is an angel and please give him a pat for me 🙌🏻

@shllybkwrm

2 ай бұрын

Very much same here!

@AliMakesEverything

2 ай бұрын

The idea of not wanting to be trapped by your hobby makes so much sense! And Copper appreciates the pats 😂

Congratulations 🎉 on your query getting a positive response. That's beyond exciting. 💚✍️💚 And your gloves are so smart! As someone who lives in a cold climate, these look amazing. And your cardigan looks almost done, even though there's a long way to go. So many things to be proud of. Happy knitting 💚🧶💚

So funny about number of WIPs - I've recently figured out that I think I do multiple projects in waves. I'll have 2 or 3 or 4 or sometimes a few more on the needles, and you're totally right - it gets to a point where it feels like everything is SO FAR AWAY, and nothing is ever going to be done. When it starts feeling that way, I typically get motivated to finish something, and that sort of kick starts pushing to the end on everything on the needles. Then as I'm casting off, I get excited and start swatching and end up casting on like a million projects again haha! I have no problems with this, I think I just end up with long stretches of no FOs and then a few FOs within like a month.

I learned to knit as a child and used to always have only one WIP going at a time. Much like I currently don’t know how people can have more than one book going at a time, I didn’t get it… but since knitting more regularly over the last decade, I become very easily excited and usually end up casting on something new. So at the moment I think I have about 4 active WIPs (2 cardigans, a slipover, and a pair of socks) one long term (scrap blanket) and one in hibernation (a lace tee) 😳😂 Also, I just found your channel, but I also grew up Toronto-ish, although I married an army man and now live in a lot of different places!

Congratulations on your query getting a positive response!

@AliMakesEverything

2 ай бұрын

Thank you! 😄❤️

I've been knitting for about 7 years. When I first started, I was a one project at a time kinda knitter for sure. In the middle, I started knitting many things at once, but now (partially also due to my life being a lot busier) I have a "home" project and an "out in the world" project (right now, the blanket I'm working on stays at home, while if I'm out commuting or on a weekend trip - out of the house for any reason - I'll work on my current sweater WIP).

@AliMakesEverything

Ай бұрын

I like this, you've tried all over the map so the place you've ended up is well-researched! Hahahaha

Your duster is coming along so nicely!

@AliMakesEverything

2 ай бұрын

Thank you! I can't wait to be able to wear it, I love it no matter what else I'm wearing when I try it on 😄

I do think people move in both directions. Usually, it's a process of having too many big projects that didn't work out but didn't fail enough to get frogged that you may return to later vs. a desire to declutter and officially end projects one way or another.

I’ve been knitting for some years now, all in all. I love having multiple projects going, and you mentioned yourself, it’s often like a stockinette project and a more intricate project, beside that I might have a smaller project going as well😅 currently counting 4 projects, finishing one of them up at the moment😄

@AliMakesEverything

2 ай бұрын

I love that approach! Happy wrapping-up on your latest project! 😄

I like the concept of your gloves. Wondering if you could essentially knit a mitten with a regular gusseted thumb, but add a hole for your index finger. That way, everything would be attached, and you could just pull your index finger back in with your other four fingers for warmth when you want to. BTW - the cardigan is fantastic!

@AliMakesEverything

21 күн бұрын

Oooh that’s a very interesting idea, so many possibilities! 😄

I almost always have more than one project…. And generally it’s 2 knitting a simple and more complex and 1 crochet usually, occasionally more but it has a lot to do with my capacity at the time

For now, I like to have varying projects going based on how I’m feeling lol. For example, I have two garments on my needles at the moment however on is fingering weight and the other is bulky weight. This way I can feel like I’m finishing projects (bulky) and also enjoying the process (fingering). Now because these garments aren’t easily movable, I like to have either a sock/scarf/hat project that I go to when I just want to zone out or go for walks.

@AliMakesEverything

2 ай бұрын

Oooh the very different weights make a lot of sense to me! I like that!

@jaimedill2467

2 ай бұрын

I'm the same: varying weights and project types. Currently working on a long cardigan in worsted, a dk cable knit sweater, beanie and socks in fingering. Yeah they each take longer than if I focused on just one, but the weights and types keep them finishing at different times from each other, so I'm always near the end on something.

I find that my amount of projects really varies seasonally! In the winter I tend to not have a lot of projects (1/2) because everything has been finished and gifted during the holiday season, I take that excuse to cast on almost every idea I have during spring (right now: 9), during summer I’m just working away at completing some of those so nothing feels like it’s changing (7/8), then during fall I start to prepare to gift things so I must finish all my own projects and start new ones (5/6)

@bellas535

2 ай бұрын

also congrats on your query ❤

@AliMakesEverything

2 ай бұрын

Ooh interesting, I like that there’s an annual cycle! 😄

Such exciting news about your query! Congratulations! Also, the footage of your nephew learning to knit is absolutely adorable. I never heard the “stab it, strangle it” thing before, but it’s great! Does he know how to purl? Is there a garter stitch scarf in his future? Like you, I do best as a monogamous knitter. Generally speaking, I only have multiple WIPs happening if there’s a time sensitive gift involved. That said, there comes a point in every project when something goes wrong and I get frustrated, and I occasionally cast on something new to help my mental health. Even then, I try to finish the new item while keeping the frustrating old thing in time out. Trying to work on both projects at the same time means that the frustration multiplies and both stress me out. I will say that I am a very slow knitter, and am totally fine with that. I also don’t keep a large yarn stash (mostly because of space constraints). These factors probably play a role in not wanting to work on multiple projects at once. But if I were a super fast knitter with access to lots of yarn, I could totally see myself wanting to cast on new projects constantly. There are so many inspiring new patterns on Ravelry all the time!

I've been knitting consistently for over a decade and I still prefer to only have like two, maaaaybe three wips at any given time, 'cause yeah I like getting to the finished object! I like having one more involved project and one no-brainer so I can alternate. A lot of knitters I follow have SO MANY WIPs going and I could never. I did have one project on my needles for like a solid two years once, because I kept putting it in the corner of shame because I DID NOT enjoy knitting it. I finally got stubborn and finished it because I wanted the finished object, and I was tired of it taunting me. Also re: books vs movies, I have one example where the movie is better than the book: The Horse Whisperer. The book ending is... bad. I gotta disagree with you on The Martian though, the book was my favorite book I read that entire year, AND I adore the movie. But different people different tastes! I hated Catcher in the Rye so we clearly have different tastes 😂

that autofocus on the phone is so good. I love The Princess Bride book, but the movie is better! I also think Stardust as a movie is better than the book. If you like travel content at all, Parts Unknown is nominally food focused but also just in depth into the travel and political and historical context of the places he'd go. He was really a singular voice.

@AliMakesEverything

2 ай бұрын

The phone is truly working better than anticipated 😂 I definitely need to rewatch The Princess Bride, I've only seen it once and wasn't even paying full attention but every person I know loves it 😂

Right now I'm knitting to fill out gaps in my wardrobe, so I'm currently only knitting socks and sweaters, though I've been eyeing a shawl patten I really like. I don't think I'd do more of one type at a time, I like to blast one piece out at a time so I can wear it as soon as possible. I imagine that might change with longer term projects, who knows!

@AliMakesEverything

2 ай бұрын

I love the idea of knitting to what your wardrobe needs! 😄

Not better than book but just different enough. Howls moving castle by Diana Wynn jones is the best when Hayao Miyazaki does it. He gives nods to the book throughout so those who read it appreciate him sneaking them in, but the movie itself is it’s own thing and people don’t feel confused or like they’re missing anything by having not read it. 100% would recommend.

i try to be a monogamous knitter but i like to have 1 vanilla sock on the needles at all times for an easy travel project. but i do sometimes get to a point where i lose all motivation to finish a project and would rather start something new lol. but i’m trying to keep to only 2 garment projects at a time.

@AliMakesEverything

2 ай бұрын

Hahahaha this sounds so lovely, it makes me wish I liked knitting socks more 😂

@wigglymoose

2 ай бұрын

@@AliMakesEverything my desire to have handknit socks beats my (lack of) desire to hand knit them every time!!

I’m a completely non monogamous knitter- not 27 at a time but probably 4-10 and definitely a couple sweaters! I feel like, yes, it might take longer to finish a project from start to finish but you are still consistently finishing projects if that makes sense? I also don’t work on all my projects at the same rate, so I might cast something on, get hooked, and finish within a week or it might take me months of off and on knitting. Just depends on the project. I also have adhd and need a lot of variety in everything I do lol

@AliMakesEverything

2 ай бұрын

Oh that makes sense, once you've been working on multiple projects for long enough, you could end up with a good spread and always have something close to finished! I like it!

I love the color and been looking for it forever! If you have extra and looking to part ways- Im interested in purchasing it off of you (im in Toronto too)

@AliMakesEverything

2 ай бұрын

Oh awesome, I'll see how much I end up with and let you know if I'm looking to offload! Thank you! It really is such a good colour 😄

Side note... I love your teal stools, do you know where you got them?? My dining room is yellow and teal just like those too!!

@AliMakesEverything

2 ай бұрын

I wish I could remember! It was an online modern furniture shop based in Quebec...that's all I've got, unfortunately 😂

When I started knitting (in my adult life) back in 2018, I started with one project at a time. Then I discovered KZread, and threw myself into many projects because I thought that's the way "real" knitters do it. Now I know better. I wasn't really finishing anything well. And I didn't think enough about whether I would like all those projects, so now, I knit one big project at a time, with the occasional extra knit for variety. Pretty much what you described!

@AliMakesEverything

2 ай бұрын

Hahahaha I feel like it’s harder to limit the projects when you can see what everything else is knitting and be exposed to so many more options!

@kimmyk3640

2 ай бұрын

@@AliMakesEverything Yes! Agreed!

Practical Magic, the movie adaptation is far superior to the book.