Sunday, March 1, 2015

Overwhelmed with the Number of Unfinished Projects? Take Heart . . .

Today I had a wonderful time learning how to knit 8 very, very short rows of lace.  The lace will be the edging of a lovely spidery looking neck scarf. Knowing how things go with me, tonight I decided to knit another 8 rows to cement the new knowledge and create muscle memory. The first row went very well so I merrily started another, and as so often happens to all crafters, I made a mistake.  I thought I had corrected it so I knit on.  By the fourth row, I knew I had not corrected anything; instead I had simply made it worse and far more obvious.

I stared at it for while; there was no "gift" except the experience in knitting and the experience I will gain by re-knitting everything.  Ah well,so things go.  Tomorrow is a new day, albeit a busy one, and I will start this project again.

Which brings up another point.  How many projects do I now have "in progress"?  I don't even know.  At least I can count the number of knitting projects I've started (I will include the one I tore out completely today) - a grand total of 2 sweaters, one pair of mittens, and a lace scarf.

The number of quilts I have started that I do plan to finish?  I have no idea.  Suffice it to say, a lot.

Then there are the paintings.  Those are probably quantifiable, but I'm not sure of the number.  Let's just say 7 more or less.

And you know what?  It doesn't bother me.  Oh maybe a little when I look around and feel momentarily overwhelmed, but it doesn't last.  This is one of those things with which I have an made an uneasy truce.  My explanation is that creativity isn't static; it keeps moving, searching, growing.  We are all constantly enticed by new ideas, new ways to do things, a new technique to master, a new craft to be mastered, a new representation of the pictures in our minds, and so much more.

It's the way it is, it's the way I am.


1 comment:

  1. My things in progress are too numerous to list. It would definitely give me a headache. But I can't just work on one thing at a time cause then I get bored. It's where my ADD comes out! Now if I could just find the H that goes with that ADD, something might get done!!

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