Everyone should have sorted out the Chistmas knitting and have an idea of what they are up against.
Next you need to take your list and make a guess of how long it will take you to make it and it's difficulty rating. I use this scale for difficulty:
0 - Plain Sock Level - I can walk, talk, and knit at the same time. Does not take any looking at.
1 - Simple Shawlette Level - I can talk and knit at the same and only takes looking at on occasion.
2 - Mitten Level - Has parts that need dedication to, but there are parts that rank a 0.
3 - Simple Blanket - The hardest part is the dedication
4 - Patterned Shawlette - The lace pattern can be memorized, but you still have to check the directions on occasion.
5 - Simple Sweater - Will take dedication and lots of pattern reading, but still parts I can read a book at.
6 - Patterned Scarf - A scarf with chart that needs looking at for the first 5 repeats. The other 20 repeats are made up of dedication
7 - Cowl - Repeats that stack and are worked in the round.
8 - Sweater with Pattern - It might be form fitting, or have a pattern worked in.
9 - Lace - There are some repeats, but every row needs reading
10 - Fair Isle - There are no repeats. Tension is a bitch. My chart is my constant companion
Rating your projects is a good way to tell how long it will take to knit and what you can and cannot do while knitting it.
| Who | Pattern | Rating | Hours | Can Do While Kit |
| Dad | Basic Socks | 0 | 12 | Walk, Ride Stationary Bike, Read |
| Grandma P | Basic Socks | 0 | 12 | Walk, Ride Stationary Bike, Read |
| Jim | Basic Boot Socks | 0 | 6 | Walk, Ride Stationary Bike, Read |
| Jim | Basic Boot Socks | 0 | 6 | Walk, Ride Stationary Bike, Read |
| Aunt Lynn | Lazy Daisy Shawlette | 1 | 10 | Walk, Ride Stationary Bike, Read |
| 4 Beanies | 1 | 16 | Walk, Ride Stationary Bike, Read | |
| Mom | Linen Scarf | 1 | 10 | Walk, Ride Stationary Bike, Read |
| Mom | Basic Four Needle Mittens | 2.5 | 12 | Walk, Ride Stationary Bike, Read |
| JM | Basic Four Needle Mittens | 2.5 | 12 | Walk, Ride Stationary Bike, Read |
| Grandma Jane | Dropped Stitch Scarf | 3 | 10 | Watch Movies, Ride Stationary Bike, Girl Time |
| Aunt Bobby | Wound Up Cowl | 3 | 4 | Watch Movies, Ride Stationary Bike, Girl Time |
| 12 Washcloths | 3 | 12 | Watch Movies, Ride Stationary Bike, Girl Time | |
| Court | Botanical Cowl | 3 | 10 | Watch Movies, Ride Stationary Bike, Girl Time |
| Aunt Lee | Grandma's Checker Lace | 6 | 10 | Watch Movies, Ride Stationary Bike, Girl Time |
| Stina | Hydrangea Neckwarmer | 7 | 10 | Watch Movies, Ride Stationary Bike, Girl Time |
| Grandma Jane | Leaves of Grass | 9 | 40 | Grave Shift, Rewatch Movies, Books on Tape |
| Aunt Lee | Girasole | 9 | 40 | Grave Shift, Rewatch Movies, Books on Tape |
| Anna | Love at the Opera | 9 | 20 | Grave Shift, Rewatch Movies, Books on Tape |
If my estimates are correct I have 252 hours of knitting. That averages to about 2.5 hours of knitting a day between now and Christmas.
I know I might not be able to do 2.5 hours of dedicated Christmas knitting between now and the big day, I do have my own sweater and my Dad's to finish right now, but if I plan things right I can chisel a few hours here and there without realizing it.
My trick is to always have a project ready for each activity I can do while knitting. I have a plain sock in a carrying bag that lives in my purse, a sweater in a box for grave shift, the washcloth yarn with pattern all in another carrying bag in the car for social visits, scarf next to my recumbent bike, and back up projects ready in a basket in my room. Every time I leave the house I take stock of what projects I have on me and if I can knit them during my day.
If I'm really smart then I can avoid the Christmas weight gain and spend most of my time at home on my bike since as of this weekend there will be no more running for a bit.
No comments:
Post a Comment