UFO's are Unfinished Fiber Objects that seem to appear in every
UFO's are Unfinished Fiber Objects that seem to appear in every knitter's life! While there are lots of reasons that these UFO's occur, dealing with them is often diificult.Reasons for UFO's are many. The pattern can be too difficult or the knitting just takes longer than expected. The texture of the yarn or the color of the yarn is not pleasing. You have fallen in love with a new yarn or pattern that has stolen your attention (sometimes referred to as yarn harlot behavior). Health, family, or job issues have interfered with progress on your project. You ran out of yarn. And my favorite excuse, projects are liked well loved books, you just do not want it to end. So many memories are knit into each stitch that finishing would be like the death of a well loved friend.
As your knitting skills increase, those difficult patterns become easier. Local yarn shops can put you in touch with knitting groups where members will be glad to help. Sometimes the shop has knitting sessions that provide assistance. (Please remember that a yarn shop is there to make money. Free lessons do not help them stay in business and did you even purchase the yarn from them.) The internet is an excellent source of help.
If you just do not love the yarn, try knitting for five or ten minutes, or one or two rows every day before switching to a project you like. It is amazing how much progress can be made with small amounts of time!
When life throws you curves, look for wasted down time. Sitting in doctor's offices, waiting in carpools, even long stop lights can provide a few minutes of progress. Treat yourself to a few minutes of your favorite beverage with your knitting to relax body and soul.
If you are out of yarn, check with the shop where you bought it. While the yarn manufacturer cannot sell yarn directly to you, they can give you a list of shops that purchased that line. Make some phone calls. Look online for shops that carry that line, often there is over stock on a shelf somewhere, Ravelry is a great online site for knitters. Join and ask in the forum.
Different dye lots can be integrated by knitting every other stitch or row for a number of rows. Texture changes like stockinette to ribbing hide dye lot changes. Different dye lots also go unnoticed when a different garment section is knit - one sleeve of the original lot and one sleeve of a new lot will never be noticed. Consider a design change and use stripes or color blocking.
I now store UFO's in clear containers and try to keep them all in one spot. Sometimes just seeing them will inspire me to pick them back up!
The beaded bag that is pictured lays claim to being a UFO twice. With four daughters and two step daughters, my Dad knit lots of girly things. While I do not know who the intended recipient was, my father's health declined and he did not finish that bag. When it was passed on to me, the bag was only half done. I easily finished the bag and part of the cord. Because I enjoy seeing it, the bag has spent several years in a decorative bowl unfinshed. I really should take my own advice!
