Mission: Possible

Finally, halfway through the month I get around to this.  I'm not very good at keeping resolutions, but I do value the annual ritual of checking in with the self.

Self, I say.  How we doing?

We're good. Self says.  Could still do with a little less sugar.  It makes us look puffy.

And how much knitting did we get done last year?

Oh, lots.  Lots and lots.  But can I point out something?  There's not much that we finished. A couple of sweaters at the beginning of the year, one that finally limped over the finish line in September, but mostly, we started things and then started others.  And there's that Poetry in Stitches sweater that has been loitering around for, how long now?   ::game show music while I go check:: Two years.  First blog post: January 27th, 2005.  Hard to believe.  Two years for one sweater?

Damn.

Jen of JenLa and BavgirlClaudia have something going, you may have heard by now.  The Mission Possible challenge is to take 12 knitting things over the next 12 months, and finish them.  It can be yarn, ufos, untried skills, whatever.  To each their own, but it's the list that is the point.  So here's my personal Mission Possible pledge.  12 UFO's by the end of the year.  Here they are in no particular order:

1. Arrrgyles (yes, I am the only person who started them who hasn't finished them yet.  And they're my pattern)
2. PS136 (two years in and only six inches to go)
3. Stupid Hat (you'll know it when you see it)
4. Ancient Teddy Bear (the baby I started this for is now in kindergarten)
5. Stained Glass Bag (lining and handles.  that's all!  and yet, that's enormous!)
6. Marina Piccolas
7. Tree Jacket (momentum on this one.  I have momentum)
8. Arwen (six inches to go)
9. Mystery Stole 3 ( as written.  Two clues left.  See a pattern here? I love that so close and yet so far moment)
10. Morning Glory Stole. (I'm way intimidated by this one)
11. Bird in Hand Mittens (must. cast on. second. one . . . )
12. That thing I'm knitting out of the pink egg yarn.  I'll tell you what it is if it turns out that like it, but the thing may be a bit of a foolish thing. What was I thinking?  But then again, it might be fine.  But then again, it might be like a moose in a miniskirt. I might frog it and return the untouched yarn, or I might, well, we'll see.

I'll post the list in the sidebar when I am more organized about this and keep track over the year.  2008: the year of the UFO.  Here I go.

Comments

[PumpkinMama]

6 inches seems to be a sticking point for you. Morning Glory is a b*tch, but you can do it - I'm right in there with you on that one. My goal is by April so I don't pass the 1 year on the needles mark.

[Kathy]

Keep on plugging -- all seem really do-able.

[Danielle]

Wow! This is a lot of WIPs. I don't have that kind of patience -- mine would have gotten finished or ripped by now. Then again, when you turn your mind to them, you'll have a lot of FO's that we will envy!

[liz]

Ooo, that's a FABULOUS idea! I want to see PS136 in all it's glory!

[Marcy]

I'm think that once you start finishing things, you'll get on a roll, and just knock them all down, one after another.

Me? Que sera, sera. That's me. I've got me a houseful of UFOs. However, *I* have cast on for Bird in Hand #2. :P

[Lynn in Tucson]

I, too, am a member of the "6 inches to go" club. And I find, time and time again, that that last little bit was not nearly as heinous as I feared, nor did it take as long as previously thought.

Not that that makes any difference.

I think there are some perfection issues there as well, but we don't need to go there this morning....

;-)

[heather]

Good luck! It is nice list, no. 11 is definitely worth it.

[Laurie]

Good luck! Will watch with interest and encouragement. (I flunked last year's finish it by December 31st....)

[Cece]

I did this to myself last year - I finished a lot of WIPS and it felt AWESOME when I was done. One was a sweater that I was just intimidated to do anymore than the sleeves on because the construction was different than anything else I'd done. I finished it, felt like a rock star and people follow me around in yarn stores commenting on how cool it is.

Finish that stuff up! You'll feel awesome! I'll be your cheering squad, I promise.

[Kelli]

I have faith in you. :) I just have two sweaters that have been lingering that I would love to finish up, but I keep getting distrac . . . oooo, shiny!

[Mary K. IN Rockport]

Do gloves/socks/mittens count as 1 or 2 items........?

[Rachel H]

Dude. I totally need to do this, as my Self and I had a similar conversation about the starting but not finishing thing recently. Sigh.

[Madge]

I'm rooting for #3. And # 1 (of course you know that already). Oh, and #2, too. What the heck, why not include all of 'em...great list. Think of the satisfaction waiting for you as you knock them off, one by one. It'll be heady, indeed. Good luck!

[Hayley]

12 projects? That's it? I have like 20! You can totally finish those by the end of the year. That's only 1 a month! And with most of them mostly done it will be a snap!

[AnaMarie]

I'm just blocking my MS3 just this moment. Actually, I'm taking a break to have breakfast because when you knit it in much smaller needles than it should be, it WILL NOT block out to a large stole. No matter how hard you try.

I too like to start things and then start something else when they get boring/just take too long.

[Beth S.]

Go for it! 12 projects, one finish a month, that's completely within your grasp.

I'm rooting for PS136, obviously. ;-)

[Kathy]

Thats so cute, Mission Possible, I love it! I enjoy working on several projects simultaneously too and have a few that I haven't touched in over a year, and so close to the finish line too!

[Lucia]

I might have to get in on this one...

[Kathy]

Wow, you have the nicest cheering squad! I left a post earlier and wasn't sure if it came through. This time around I came back and read all the comments, how nice to have so many nice people cheering you on! Love seeing your finished work!

[Amy]

I put this up on craftster, but I figured you would want to see it as well!

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=220050.0 - Arrrgyle Hat

[Rachael]

Morning glory is beautiful and really, after about 8 inches or so of pattern rows it stops seeming overwhelming and gets a rhythm going. (really!)

[Maia]

Happy Blogiversary!

Good luck with Mission Possible!!!