Finishing the Unfinished Project

With its longer days or perhaps because many people take vacations this time of year, I’ve decided that now’s the perfect time to get back into my crafting. I’ve had a lot of ideas for projects, including some design ideas for Jewish-themed projects. (More about that another time.)

But first I’ve made a deal with myself. As much as I love new projects, it’s time for many of the old sewing, knitting and yes, quilting , projects that have been languishing in plastic bags and bins to finally see the light of day. (I can't possibly be the only person out there with all these half-started projects can I?) I will still sew some new items, like a new cotton blouse and a deep purple outfit I've already bought fabric for.

My goal, rather, is to try and find a balance between what I’ve already started and made progress on, and the shiny, new project. Because, honestly, who can resist buying new fabrics (especially now that Joann's is stocking up on their fall selection) or a great new yarn (have you seen some of the new patterns)?

Given the time that some of my projects have spent in bags (think years, not months) my original plans for some of them have changed. Take, for instance, this planned cable-knit sweater that I started about two years ago.

 

It looks OK, right?

I actually got pretty far into the project before I put it down, got busy with other things and  forgot about it. Unfortunately, the sweater doesn’t fit quite the same way it did when I first started knitting it. That’s why I’ve decided to make some modifications to the design and refashion it into a cable-knit vest with two side-ribbed insets and a rounded neckline. So far it’s progressing pretty well as you can see.

 

I’d love to tell you what kind of yarn this is, but I’ve long since lost the labels. I bought the skeins – quite a number of them I may add - many years ago on a trip to Israel.  The first thing I made from them were a pair of socks. I used the socks so much I wore right through the fabric and no longer have them. (I know I probably could have fixed them, but I didn’t think so at the time.) 

After the socks, I used some of the remaining yarn to make a sweater that completely didn’t fit. A total fail with no hopes of re-imaging as another project.

Will my plans to alter this version of the sweater work? I sure hope so, otherwise I will have to reimagine this yarn yet again. Pillows, anyone?