I’m a knitter who always has multiple projects on the needles, and over time, I’ve found a system that keeps me both productive and inspired. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by too many knitting WIPs (works in progress), I choose them intentionally based on how, when, and where I’ll work on them.
If you’re juggling multiple projects, consider categorizing them by attribute and having different projects to cover each one. Think about what you like your knitting projects to be. Here are some ideas:
- Location: car, waiting room, desk, arm chair, couch, bed, etc.
- Type: socks, hat, sweater, shawl, mittens, blanket, etc.
- Activity: knit night, sporting events, zoom meetings, evening chill time, morning reading, etc.
- Color: neutrals, brights, variegated, etc.
- Difficulty: mindless, brain-burning, or somewhere in between
- Weight: lace, fingering, DK, worsted, bulky, or anything in between
If any of these categories are how you think about your knitting projects, try to plan your WIPs to minimally repeat attributes to keep it interesting.
I categorize mine like this:
- A Portable Project: Something small and easy to take on the go, like socks or a hat.
- A Mindless Knit: Perfect for TV time, social knitting, or zoom knitting.
- A Free-Time Knit: Something cozy and engaging, ideal for focused knitting at home, and winding down at the end of the day.
- A Design Project: If you create your own patterns, having a dedicated design WIP helps keep you motivated.
By selecting multiple WIPs with different purposes, I always have the right project for the moment—whether I’m running errands, relaxing, or working on something creative. Below, I’m sharing my current WIPs and latest finishes!
WIPs
I'm basing this one off of the colors that I used for my aunt's (below), except I switched out English Rose for Orchid. I like the orchid better than the english rose on its own, but in the hat, english rose might be better. I plan to modify this one to be a bun hat, binding off after the first couple of decrease rounds instead of closing it. I usually wear my hair in a bun, so I think it will be more practical. If it works well, I'll add it as a variation to the pattern!
This is a design in progress. Should we start calling those DIPs? I was inspired by the sleeves on Galinda's spiral sleeves in her popular dress. I am using an Emma's Yarn Mo-Slub bundle. So far this 'shlanket' is lighter than air. The 'blanket' part of the name might get dropped. It might just be a shawl. Stay turned!
Update 2/23/25: I'm about to bind off and can't wait to block it. It is lighter than air!
I LOVE to make my own unique yarn by holding multiple strands of yarn together, and I LOVE shopping my stash, and that's exactly what I'm doing with the Turtle Dove Cardigan. I had enough Malabrigo Lace in Blue Surf to hold double and add 1 strand of Brooklyn Tweed in Snowbound. But I'm playing yarn chicken with the Brooklyn Tweed on the sleeves...
Recently Completed
I'm knitting another Merrily Marled beanie! I'm partial to this pattern (I wrote it myself) because it fits everyone and it is SO MUCH FUN to play with the colors. I'm going to re-release the pattern based on this version for my aunt. I am so in love with the colors. If I have enough yarn left, I may make an exact copy for me, which I NEVER do. I've settled on fingering + lace + lace as my favorite combo, so I want the pattern to reflect that.
I made mittens for my toddler since it was so cold and she only wanted to be outside. I had enough yarn left from her newborn mittens, so they match, and I can't get over it. I plan to make myself some from the same pattern, but I haven't decided the yarn yet.
Pattern: Tinsel Mitts by Andrea Mowry
Yarn: Western Sky Willow DK in Beam Me Up
