The Snowball Effect

There's no doubt about it, the excitement of casting on a new project is difficult to resist. Many of you have commented on this phenomenon, and it certainly helps explain why I'd planned to use this cold and snowy weekend to start an afghan. Or a sweater. Or both.

Instead, I'm launching my own version of a snowball knitting strategy.

What's that you ask? The term "snowball" refers to a popular technique for reducing debt. You focus first on the smallest balance, and once it's eliminated you tackle the next-smallest until it's cleared. And so on. Over time, these actions snowball until you're debt-free, but it only works if you stop adding to the problem by accruing more debt.

The key words there are "stop adding to the problem." On the knitting front, a recent flurry of activity had buried my knitting work table under layers of test swatches, new projects, varied WIPs, and countless design notes and sketches. With growing piles perilously close to teetering out of control, it was time for a self-guided intervention.

Whew, finally! Rather than cast on something new, I'm applying the brakes and working to regain some focus. To accomplish this, I'm targeting one project at a time.

The smallest one in the lineup was a pair of serviceable use-up-the-stash mitts. They languished for weeks at the almost-but-not-quite-complete stage, while I busily cast on other things. They're done now, and as an added bonus they're especially warm and cozy. In fact, the moment they were finished, I popped them on in their unblocked state and have worn them daily since.

The next-smallest project was a cloth and towel set. Like many of you, I'm desperate for the slightest hint of spring. Since mother nature refuses to cooperate, I took matters into my own hands and decided to make a collection of finger towels and wash cloths in saturated colors. They would brighten the guest bath and as an added bonus use up a mix of cotton blends from stash.

The full towel-cloth set may eventually get made, but the immediate goal is to divide and conquer. I opted to break it into a series of smaller efforts, and that one decision has already made a difference.

The turquoise cloth is completed, the pink one is almost finished and a variegated version is underway. By the end of the weekend, I'd like to have all three off the needles and on the blocking mat. Whenever that occurs, this part of the project will be done. 

What happens next remains to be seen. I may tackle another portion of the towel-cloth set or turn my attention toward something else. With several afghans, cardigans, shawls, wraps and various small knits in the queue, there's plenty to choose from.

There are, I think, two snowball effects where knitting is concerned. One type gains mass and momentum until it turns into an avalanche of half-finished projects. The other produces a steady stream of FOs and gradually whittles the WIP pile to a manageable size.

Many knitters are happiest when they have lots of active projects on the needles. It's a concept I comprehend but can't quite master, as this recent bout of startitis and blizzard of knitted bits have clearly demonstrated. Yet again.


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