As knitters, I think we all know that sinking feeling . . . when a project just isn’t working for us the way we imagined it would. Maybe . . . it ends up being no fun to knit. Or maybe . . . we chose the wrong colors. Maybe . . . it looked better in the pattern photos. Or maybe . . . we’re just not in the mood for this particular project at this particular time.
And sometimes . . . it’s ALL of the ABOVE.
When you know you’re not loving your project, and you avoid working on it for long stretches of time, it’s probably time to put it down and walk away. But here’s the question: Is for now? Or is it forever?
I mean, you might be in a better mood for the project . . . later? At some point in the future?
That’s where I landed with . . . this particular project at this particular time.
Ready to let it go, for sure. But do I need a break from it (for now)? Or am I finish-finished with it (forever)?
I spread it out on the dining room table over the weekend to assess. The yarn is really nice. It has that nice, hazy look. And it feels downright luxurious.
But . . .
Ugh. Those colors are not really working for me. Like not at all.
What I was thinking . . . was that I wanted something to go with “denim-y” stuff; 
something a little “different,” something that wasn’t black and/or gray. For a change. But now, of course, I found myself wishing this was . . . well . . . black and/or gray. Maybe with a little gold? I think I’d like that better.
But I’m not starting over. Because it’s also . . . not so fun to knit, truth be told. And I don’t know that I’m sold on the shape of the shawl.
I never like quitting a project when I’m this far into it. But I’m not loving those colors at all. And I haven’t knit a stitch on it since Thanksgiving. But I also . . . really don’t want to unravel all that Kid Silk Haze, y’know?
I decided to officially give up . . . and pack it away.
I did it carefully and mindfully. I pulled out the needle and put the stitches on some waste yarn. I made good notes about where I was in the chart, and I jotted down some of the little things I was thinking about doing, a few concerns I had about moving ahead.
And then I put it all together in a bag.
So it looked like I was answering my own question with . . . for now.
But. . .
There was one thing I didn’t do (and it’s a kind of major thing):
I left one skein OUT of that bag!
Yeah. So I intentionally pulled that skein out of the bag as I packed the rest of the project away.
You know why?
Well . . . because I have it in mind for (ahem) Something Else.
And that, my friends, is a Dead Giveaway: I’ve just put this project away . . . forever!
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How about you? Do you have a hard time letting go of project you’re not loving?
I love how you work your mind through a ‘maybe finish’ project. I do the same, first it’s the dilemma for me, then the head talking, I will finish at another time, then , I look at you for awhile, yeah, Ill finish you another time and pack it up. My clue that I will never pick said project up again, I bury it really deep in my stash, meaning next time I see this bag is when I move out of house, last house I lived in for 30 years.
Oh boy. I hate when that happens… but wise you to make such good notes. But that little burgundy-colored KSH… mmmmm, yummy! I can’t wait to see what you do with that!
I’ve learned from weaving that it’s really hard to make colors sing on a white or natural colored ground cloth. It just washes out those lovely jewel tones.
I was wondering if there was one zinger color you could add to make those colors sing….but I don’t think so…not on the natural colored wool.
Good luck with your new plans for that KSH
I’ve knit many sweaters and I finished a cardigan in 2022 using expensive yarn in a beautiful color. I had doubts about the sweater neckline and button band…the beginning and the end… as I was knitting. I did not like how the finished project looked on my body, although it was a perfect fit. I never wore the sweater!
Last week, I unraveled the entire sweater, rewound all the yarn, then made it into skeins to wash and hang to dry before I rewind it into cakes. I’m going to use it to knit a pullover in a pattern I’ve previously used with great results.
I’ve learned to be more discerning with my knitting and reading and it’s made my hobbies more enjoyable.
I don’t have much trouble letting go of a project that’s not working. If that happens (most recently with a two-color Hitchhiker and a sweater I started) I just rip it out and put the yarn back in my stash for another day. I’m not the one faced with ripping that KSH, but I do really like your project-that’s-no-longer-working. The colors are great and I have a soft spot for shawls with i-cord edging. But the real question: what is the Something Else you’ll be knitting? Inquiring minds …
I’m pretty good at letting go or unraveling although this post reminds me on one project that probably needs to be repurposed. Seems like you gave it a fair chance.
I have never had to frog kidsilk haze but I’ve frogged a couple of big projects in my time. And I’ve eventually gone back and finished a couple of things in spite of misgivings. I’ve been glad to complete them and then given those away.
I kinda like the colors. But I can see that the pattern pictures were very flattering to the pattern. I think if you wet blocked it it would change in appearance. Blocking does amazing things. And I think that the KSH would bloom. That said I have done what you just did. Put a project in time out. Most of the time it stays that way and I don’t go back to finish it but to rip it out. I did a purge on time out projects last year. It was a relief to not have them hanging over my head any more. Will be waiting to see what you do with the purple? yarn!
It’s not quite as easy as quitting a book you’re just not loving…! Which is what came to mind at the start of your post. Maybe if that Kid Silk Haze wasn’t such a pain to frog it’d have been an easier call. (My own feeling is that if I’m not going to wear it and love it — forget it.) Looking forward to what’s next with that deep plum!
Oh the thought of unraveling it… That’s a task for another time. Perhaps when you’ve found the perfect project for the yarn and so you’re motivated to do it! Very insightful though – if yarn has come out of the project bag, it’s unlikely to go back in 😁
I am NOT good at not finishing, but I’ve done it once or twice. There’s a Honeycomb scarf that has been languishing off and on for years. They only thing that might save it is that sometimes it becomes default airplane knitting. The colors that I thought were subtle just seem blah, and the fabric is a bit limp, but I feel too far into it (and don’t love it enough) to knit it over. Someday maybe I’ll finish it and find it a home. And somewhere there MIGHT be an unfinished pair of gray socks unless I’ve already sent them off to goodwill just as they are. If it were me, I might frog the whole thing, just because Kid Silk Haze is so lovely, but then, also a pain. Looking forward to seeing what becomes of that purple skein.
Usually if I have left a project sitting for a really long time, it’s an indication to me that I don’t really want it. My recent sweater was the lone exception to that rule, of course, and I really have no explanation as to why I let it sit as long as it did. But I totally understand and appreciate your process in analyzing whether it’s not for now or just not for you. So will you give away the shawl in progress? Or just put it away until you feel ready to tackle unraveling and untangling?
Just wondering–why is it not fun to knit? Is it the dropping and the picking up? I like how it looks but I hear ya on the colors.
Oh dear. Sorry about that. I’m another one wondering why it is not fun to knit this. It looks like it would be fun. I like the design and I also like the colors, but if it is not working for you, it is wise to put it aside. And another inquiring mind here – what is the idea for that lone skein you pulled out of the bag?
Santa Fe (a Carol Sunday cardigan) has been hibernating since December 7, 2015. (Another date that shall live in infamy, apparently.) I can’t reuse the yarn because each color is snipped at the end of the stripe to make the fringe. I want to love the sweater, but I cannot face doing those same stripes in the round for sleeves. Which, if I recall, are picked up and knit rather than sewn on later. Which means I’ll also be tossing that full cardigan around for two whole sleeves. Ugh ugh ugh! Maybe it’s a vest… In fact, it might just be a vest!
I don’t have a problem with abandoning a project but I wouldn’t put it away. I would (gasp! horrors!) tosh it in the trash. I realize that’s ridiculous and an awful thing to do with expensive yarn like KSH but I’d do it anyway.
If I know I’m not going to finish it and I also don’t want to undo it, I’ll donate the bag (and pattern) to a charity shop, here in England. We have so many. Someone will like it and complete the knit. I’ve done that with sewing, knitting and crocheting, I like to think it’s the perfect pick up and complete project for someone else.
No problem giving up on a project … rip, rip, rip, and find something else for the yarn. I have decided a project would be perfect for someone else, and then finished/gifted it (as I type this, I realize that’s my preferred method to deal with a things I end up not liking … of course if the making is no good, I’d just rip it).
Maybe you could make it into a cowl at the length it is? If you use one of the colors to close it with a 3-needle bindoff and it actually worked you could present it as a gift or charity donation. That burgundy/purple KSH sounds like a perfect zinger color but why waste it if you will never wear the end result (those subtle colors sound perfect for a redhead who already has the brightness built in!
I totally hear you and I applaud your thoughtful approach. I think you reached the right conclusion ; if it’s not working, it’s not working! Good on you to recognize reality.
And a ps: a decade or so ago, I knit a lace shawl (“Upstairs”) as a gift from that deep purple ksh. It was wonderful to work with and the finished project: magnifique, if I do say so myself!!😍
I have put a project in the garbage can and not looked back because when I’m avoiding something and it isn’t going to easily unravel it’s time to say bye-bye. I never think of it again, because there are many more projects that I will love. Hope you find your answer and feel good about it.
The decision to let a project go takes awhile. Last year a shawl hibernated from May to December. When I pulled out all the WIPS of 2023 to access them, I knew I’d never enjoy knitting that shawl. So I frogged it and put the yarn back in my stash. Once made, the decision was a big relief.