Planning a new project
How to select your next knitting project
How do you choose your next knitting project when there are so many beautiful patterns and yarns?
Sometimes I get decision fatigue and pick the first pattern I see that I like. So in January I found myself knitting Camisole No.9 from My Favourite Things Knitwear. Camisole No.9 is a small top knitted with silk. Living in northern Europe, that means I won't be able to wear it for another three or four months. On the one hand this is great because it prolongs the "newness" of the project. On the other hand, I sometimes forget that I have it at the back of my wardrobe.
Now that I am nearing the end of my current project, I want to be a bit more intentional about choosing my next one. Mostly, I want to knit something that I can wear as soon as it comes off the needles.
Here is what I will consider:
1. What are my wardrobe needs?
2. Do I want to relax or challenge myself?
3. How much time and effort am I prepared to invest?
4. What kind of yarn do I want to use?
What are my wardrobe needs?
When choosing your next knitting project, it can be helpful to think about the gaps in your wardrobe. I like to think about the items that are missing but would make it easier to get dressed in the morning. I try to take note of it in the moments when I stand in front of my wardrobe and think “I have nothing to wear”. This could be an everyday basic, such as a warm hat or scarf. It could be something for a specific season or occasion, such as a light jumper for autumn or a nice evening top. You can also think about colour and style gaps. If you usually gravitate towards one colour, your next project could be a great opportunity to make a change.
Sometimes a piece can look great on its own, but can be quite difficult to integrate with the clothes you already have. Last year I made a lot of collages of outfits I imagined with my knitting projects. It really helped me to make sure that the project I chose suited my personal style and was a great addition to my wardrobe.
Do I want to relax or challenge myself?
Once you have decided what item you want to knit, you can consider whether you want a relaxing project or something to push your skills and learn something new. Sometimes I find that the best thing to do after a long day is to knit a stockinette project in the round. Other times I prefer to knit with cables or different colours. A nice way to add some variety without necessarily choosing a challenging project is to knit something you've never knitted before. I heard sock are actually quite easy to knit, but so far I haven’t dared to knit a pair.
It might help to think about what your life will be like over the next few weeks. If you have other commitments, it might be nice to do a simple stockinette project that doesn't require much attention. But, this could also be a great case for having multiple projects going on a once. One for the weekday evenings that meditative and relaxing and one for the weekend when you have more time to sit down and digest a complicated knitting chart.
How much time and effort am I willing to invest?
Another consideration is whether or not you have a deadline. If you have a special occasion coming up, such as a birthday or a holiday, a simpler project that's quicker to knit might be a better choice. Unless, of course, you are very good at long-term planning. Once I got up at half past five in the morning for a full week to finish a sweater that I desperately wanted to wear on my holiday. Sometimes, especially when the seasons change, I want a quick knit to fill a gap in my wardrobe.
What yarn do I want to use?
Although this is the last question, it can also be a starting point. You could go to your local yarn shop and see if anything catches your eye. Or you might already know that you want to knit with linen, silk or mohair and choose a pattern that will work with the yarn you've chosen. Even if you are knitting a simple stockinette project, choosing a new type of fibre can change the knitting experience.
How do you select your knitting projects? Are there any aspects that I missed?
See you next week and until then: happy knitting!
xx Sophie