Results are still coming in, but as of this morning, those of us who answered the Knitting Daily UnFinished Objects Poll (sorry, voting now closed!) have a combined total of nearly 65,000 UFOs.
That's a lot of unfinished knitting sitting around in workbaskets and
closets and ziplock bags; it works out to an average of about 7 UFOs
per knitter-who-answered.
Only 2% of you said that you have no UFOs, as you finish each
project completely before starting a new one. As the owner of
double-digit UFOs, I admire that kind of self-discipline and
well-behaved, orderly knitting. I really do.
However, I (and my 18 UFOs) have plenty of company: 4% of you have
15-20 unfinished projects laying about; an additional 6% have more than
20.
Here's the breakdown:
| 0 — 2% |
|
7 — 7% |
| 1 — 4% |
|
8 — 6% |
| 2 — 8% |
|
9 — 4% |
| 3 — 12% |
|
10 — 6% |
| 4 — 12% |
|
11 to 14 — 7% |
| 5 — 13% |
|
15 to 20 — 4% |
| 6 — 10% |
|
More than 20 — 6% |
I
would also like to point out that every UFO represents at least one
pair of knitting needles (the circulars and the dpns probably cancel
each other out, so let's just say "one pair per project")...that means
that the above data represents 130,000 knitting needles.
We shall not even begin to think about how many stitch markers, lost
tape measures, and tiny pairs of scissors fallen down under sofa
cushions this represents.
On Monday, we'll have the results of the second poll: Why
UFOs Become UFOs (voting is now closed for this one, too!). This is to
give everyone a bit more time to respond to the second one, now that
the shock of counting your UFOs has worn off a bit.
However, for now, I'd like to share some of the things you wrote, because I know not everyone has time to read all the comments, and some of these shouldn't be missed!
Carol J: I think the UFO's are a sign of creative genius and
should not be a source of guilt or shame. That's my story and I'm
sticking to IT!!!!!!!
Caseyst: I make no excuses for my
UFO's. Instead I like to think of them like this: Leonardo da Vinci
once said, "Art is never finished, only abandoned."
Rosemary C:
All my UFOS are "works in progress". The really "ugly a**" ones are
re-balled or given to my local yarn shop for charity knitting. Of
course, I have to drop it off under cover of darkness, so they don't
know it's from me.
Waving Lace Socks...almost
Mary Lynn J:
When my Mom moved, my darlin' hubby was setting up her book cases and
cabinets in her sewing room. He came across 3 mittens and 4 socks . . .
none finished and none matching the others . . . with a weird look, he
wandered into the kitchen with the various projects in hand and said
"Why?" and she said "because . . ." and he raised an eyebrow and she
finished "because I am an adult and if I don't want to finish
something, I don't have to."
Noel H: I come by UFOs naturally. When my father was overseas
during WWII, my mother sent him 1 finished sock with a label "A Lick
and a Promise." 56 years later, when he passed away, there was still
only a lick. The first time I actually saw my mother knit was when I
was 21; she picked up something she'd started when I was born, to give
to her first grandchild. He's now 30 -- and it's still not done. So why
should I worry about MY UFOs???
Lacy Arrow Socks from Socks
My 13-year-old UFO socks are the Lacy Arrow-Patterned Socks by Jean Sherman, from Socks: A Spin-Off Special Publication For Knitters and Spinners. And yes, I do intend to finish them...especially now that I have all of you to encourage me, right?
Check back next week, when we'll talk more about our beloved UFOs and I will share progress on some of my own pesky projects.
Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.
What's on Sandi's needles? Apparently, a great deal more than
I thought was on my needles! I am proud to report that as of Monday
night, I now have ONE LESS UFO! I finished one of the pairs of socks
(not the fancy lace ones shown above, the easier ones). So now I am
down to 18 UFOs! Hooray!