Sunday, October 30, 2011

I Just Discovered Some UFOs

I was searching for a needle this morning and spied a box on the top shelf of my bedroom closet here in Lethbridge that I thought might contain one.  It did.  But it also contained some UFOs ....some from as long ago as 2000 and others only four or five years ago.  No, they were not little alien space ships...although that would have been fun.  They were projects from my cross-stitching and knitting days before I discovered the world of scrapbooking.  UnFinished Objects.

I had been a cross-stitch fanatic for years.  I always had a project on the go - Christmas ornaments, pictures large and small, samplers, etc.  I've often thought of the last project I was working on and wondered whatever happened to it...an unfinished casualty of scrapbooking.  Today I found it.


I loved the colors in this one, and the wolf.  It's stitched on linen so
is a bit harder on the eyes to work than if it had been done on Aida
cloth.  All I have left to do are the angel's wings and some backstitch
outlining.  I stopped working on this around 2002.  If my eyes are up
to it, maybe I'll make an effort to complete it sometime this winter.

When I was a teenager I used to spend a lot of evenings babysitting and to pass the time I started knitting baby layettes.  By the time I got married when I was 22, I had no fewer than 13 complete baby sets - sweaters, bonnets and bootees - in my hope-to-God chest.  They all eventually got used and when the time came I started knitting the sets for my grandchildren.  Of course by then I had lots of other things on my hands and mind and only two of the babies received hand-knitted layettes from their Grammie.  Not that I didn't want to knit for them, but I just never finished them.  By that time cross-stitching had taken over from knitting.  It seems I can only concentrate on one craft at a time.  Here are a couple of UFOs in the knitting department that I came across this morning in my search for a needle.

This is the front and back of a sweet little cable knit sweater.  All it needs are
the sleeves and finishing touches.  Unfortunately the pattern wasn't in the
box with the finished portion of the set so I'll have to wait till I locate it
before I can finish it.  I remember making this pattern in blue for my very
first nephew - way back in 1971.

This is the back, sleeve and partially finished second sleeve of the
Quaker set.  It's an extremely simple pattern - maybe that's why I
never finished it - too boring.  I still have the pattern though so maybe
it'll get finished this winter too.

These are some odds and sods of very pretty yarn that was in the box with
the UFOs.  A few years ago I made all the girls hats and scarves for
Christmas with some of this yarn.
I know at home in Edmonton I have a partially finished sweater I started for my 35-year old daughter back when she was 16.  Maybe I'll finish it in time for her 7-year old daughter to wear when she's a teenager!  Also, sitting by my chair in the livingroom at home is a knitting basket containing a partically finished sweater I started making for my 4-year old granddaughter when she was 2.  Do you see a pattern here???

The weather forecasters are predicting a long, cold, snowy winter this year.  Guess I'll just have to sit by my fireside (television) and complete some of these UFOs.

Pat

16 comments:

Southhamsdarling said...

Gosh, it must have been quite a large box to contain all those UFO's!! You've got some lovely work to get finished there. You'll have to report back in the spring to let us know if you did finish any of it!

Magpie said...

I was a cross stitch fanatic also, until my eyes said "no more". What a beautiful piece! All these UFO's are lovely and I hope they get completed.

Are you enjoying the Jonathan Maberry books?

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

You name it and I've got it too...UFO's all over the place. So little time and so much to do. I've even got a baby quilt that I started to embroider when my oldest was born...he's 40 now. It wasn't turning out like I thought it should so in a box it went. I just can't bring myself to throw it out though. Winter is a good time for getting those projects completed. I knit a lot while watching tv.
Hope your Sunday is a wonderful one.

RoeH said...

I should get into cross stitch. However I can't do it without the pattern cheating part. I'm not that smart. Oh...and in answer to your question about the bugs at the Botanical Garden in Phoenix, they will be there through Jan 1, 2012.

TARYTERRE said...

I couldn't imagine what you meant when you said UFO's. How sweet to rediscover all these unfinished projects. Love the Angel and the wolf. The colors are so vibrant. Good luck finishing it. Take care.

Bev said...

Hmmm good for you keeping those UFO's... At least you won't be bored!

Anonymous said...

Don't worry Pat, we all have UFOs! I have partially completed cross stitch and embroidery projects from years ago, and too many quilting projects to count (and lots of kits that haven't even been started!!

Granny Annie said...

Every time I come across more of my UFO's it is my goal to get rid of them because it is doubtful they will ever be finished. Many I have even forgotten how to do. But still it seems a waste to get rid of them, so back they go into UFO storage until the next encounter.

Haf Dozen Reasons....... said...

I too have UFOs!! Not knitting or cross stitch tho. Crafts and quilts. Gave the quilts to my mom....she only finished one yet.
I do seem to finish my painting projects so I do dare start on those. :)
Love the cross stitched angel. very beautiful. Tessa's mother-in-law just made a layette for lil Addie.

BB said...

Thank you for making me feel that I'm not the only one now! I started a couple of cross stitch projects and they are still unfinished. I started crocheting a blanket, that's still unfinished, and even my book is still unfinished. There is a pattern!!! Great post.

Ellie said...

I've got so many UFO's hiding away. I also used to do cross stitch and knitting.
That is what cold winter night is for - sitting by the fire and knitting etc. Have fun.

mickey said...

Oh do I ever relate!
I also have so many UFOs! And know honestly I will never finish them! Don't you wish there were knitting angels who would come to finish them for you?

mickey said...

Oh do I ever relate!
I also have so many UFOs! And know honestly I will never finish them! Don't you wish there were knitting angels who would come to finish them for you?

Raindrops and Daisies said...

Glad I am not the only one !!!

Your knitting looks great.

I start so many things but never seem to finish.....

ah well!!!!

Have a good week Pat

x Fiona

Sara said...

Love the cross stitch! Your knitted sets are lovely too. It's always hard to find time to do everything we want to do!

Desiree said...

I think it's amazing that you still have these UFO's of yours. I used to eventually secretly discard all of the projects I'd started and not completed. That way, I could feel a lot less guilty. I do so hope you'll get to finishing these. They come with so much history :)
That alone entitles their preservation. Altogether, a charming post, Pat.