UFOs—how are things looking for you?

I’m sure everyone is familiar with the problem of UFOs (unfinished projects).
I’ve been doing handicrafts for decades now, so I know this all too well. With a lot of discipline and willpower, I got into the habit of working on no more than two projects at a time. That worked out pretty well because I saw it as a “reward”—once I finished a piece, I’d start something new, buy some yarn, and get to work.

Now I’ve also been designing things and writing patterns for commercial purposes for some time. But now I find myself starting new projects again, and at the same time, my mind keeps coming up with new ideas that I simply MUST tackle right away. Maybe that’s what they call creative chaos??

How about you? I can’t be the only one who feels this way, can I??

I look forward to hearing about your experiences.
Warm regards
Petra

Hi Petra, it's exactly the same for me. When I start a new project, I'm always already thinking about other things I could crochet in between.
My head is overflowing with ideas, but my hands and my time don't allow me to get everything done as quickly as I'd like.
I also force myself every time to finish one project first and only then start the next one.

And I'm quite proud: I only have one UFO lying around at home, and I'll probably never finish it because it was too big a project :(

I think it's like that for many of the designers; the ideas in your head just bubble up while you're working on a project.

I found your expression "creative chaos" very fitting and really lovely :)

Best, Carola

I feel exactly the same as you, Petra. I always have 2–3 crochet projects started on my desk, and the next idea is already floating around in my head, and then it has to be implemented and tried out right away. Creative chaos is a lovely way to put it, so let's stick with that.
Best regards,
Luise

Yes, creative chaos!!
I’m working on a pattern—a new idea pops into my head—I start something new—thinking, “Oooh, I don’t need to write that down for the old one right now, I’ll just keep it in mind…” and then:
GONE! Were those 8 or 10 or 12 rows, stitches…
 

Haha - exactly! Unravel everything again and write it down straight away next time - nice to know I’m not alone!

...it’s nice to know there are so many fellow “UFO sufferers.”
I work in a yarn shop with a truly huge selection.
So I’m right at the source—and especially when new yarn arrives, or when customers tell me something, show me something, or ask a question, that’s when my “imagination really takes off,” and I often bring new project ideas home with me after work...
Ideas alone just take up space in my head—sometimes on paper too—
but in many cases, the materials for those ideas are already filling up the living room... ;-)
Well—I guess the only thing that helps is realizing that the clatter of knitting needles can
also be an “addiction,” and I’m definitely wool-crazy!

As for those notes I haven’t written down—like needle sizes, number of rows, and/or number of stitches…
unfortunately, I’ve experienced this very often in my
still-short career as a designer… it seems to just be part of the deal! ;-)

Oh, and right now I have at least 10 ongoing projects—some of which are about to be “published” here on CP!
I’ve realized that writing the patterns and photographing the individual steps, etc., takes much more time than I initially thought—but it’s still fun!

With that in mind:
to all my fellow sufferers and fellow designers, as well as to all crafters who aren’t quite so “infected” yet, here’s to many more happy clacking needles!

Angela


 

Oh oh—I think that’s the lot of every knitter (and/or designer).
I feel the same way. I do try not to have more than one project on my needles, especially because it needs to get finished, and it always takes quite a while to write up and test the pattern. But sometimes so many ideas pop into your head that you can’t help but start a second or third or… project.
I also have an incredible number of ideas, and if I don’t write them down right away, they’re gone—deleted from my “internal hard drive.” ;-)

We just need more arms—and more time ;-)))

I feel exactly the same way, and it’s reassuring to know you all feel the same. Right now I have one UFO, but only because I’ve finished two others. To be honest, I ran out of yarn on every single one and didn’t have that color anymore, so I had to get new yarn first.

Things are made “more difficult” right now because I’m also going to a market next Sunday to sell my things. So right now, the patterns I’m writing and the items for the market are competing over which will be finished first. There’s just never enough time. But crocheting is still better than housework :-D That’s why I’d always rather pick up a hook than a vacuum cleaner.

Of course, I already have new ideas in my head, but by the time I have time for them, I’ve already come up with something waaaay better. It’s a real vicious cycle.

Since I started writing patterns for my projects, I’ve become much more disciplined. Up until two years
ago, there were times when I had lots of half-finished pieces lying around here and nothing ever got finished. I basically deprived myself
of the reward (the finished piece).

Now, though, I still sometimes have two or three half-finished pieces lying around, but it’s not nearly as much as it used to be. I always call it “creative chaos” or call myself a creatively chaotic person :-).
Because when I’m really creative and trying out different patterns, chaos quickly ensues—chaos that I don’t
even notice at first. Eventually, I do notice it and then have to clean up.

 

Oops—I’ve started something new again...
...I just can’t seem to help myself! Whenever I see yarn, ideas automatically pop into my head... and then my fingers get so itchy that I simply can’t resist.
This time it’s a fluffy yarn that I’ll use to crochet a large shawl—or, to be more precise: I’ll be doing Tunisian crochet with it!
This type of crafting has really hooked me....

It’s a mix of joy and addiction! ;-))

Woolly greetings to all my fellow sufferers and the disciplined among you!
The main thing is that you’re all having fun with your projects!