Somewhere in southern Nevada there is a highly secret military base known to many as Area 51. It is rumored to have many highly classified military secrets including proof of the existence of UFOs. The airspace around Area 51 is also highly restricted and is known as The Box. Well, it is a well known fact that all knitters have an Area 51 which they call The Stash! It holds many secrets including the proof of UFOs as well. Except that to a knitter, a UFO is an UnFinished Object. It is rumored that you are not a true knitter unless you have at least 3 UFOs in your stash. Of course, everybody’s stash is different in size and the number of UFOs vary. Personally, I stopped counting my UFOs at 10. I mean, we all know they exist, right? So why bother trying to deny it? For me they’re an oddity that shows an interest in a particular facet of knitting at a particular time in my knitting development. At some point some of them will get completed while others will just sit there amidst all the others.
You might ask why would someone have a UFO in their stash to begin with. I mean isn’t the reason to start something so that it can be finished? Well, not necessarily. For me (and I can only speak for myself), I start things for a variety of reasons. When I peruse the various knitting magazines that come out monthly, there is quite often something that catches my eye. Being a male however, that something is usually made for a female. Since I truly enjoy the process of knitting, I will start to make it anyway. I gain knowledge and insight and usually experience in making a new texture. Once I have done enough of it to get the feel for it, I decide whether or not I am going to finish it. If I happen to know someone who would fit the particular item I am working on and whom it would fit, I usually finish it. If not, it becomes a UFO until such a person appears.
Sometimes I try a new technique I see in a knitting magazine or online or wherever. These quite often lead to UFOs – sometimes without even knowing what the finished item may be. I also have access to knitting machines. When I first discovered the marvel of a machine, I tried to make a coat with a yarn I had bought. Since it was a single bed machine, the knitted fabric was in stocking stitch which was great because it suited the yarn perfectly and I would never have knit it by hand in stocking stitch! So now I have a woman’s coat almost done in stocking stitch. Funnily enough, I belong to a knitting group and one of the founding members fits the coat perfectly. I have told her I will finish it and give it to her. By reiterating it here, it will actually become a reality. Here is a picture of it …
Anne’s Coat – UFO.
I will keep you updated as to the progress of this. Another reason I have UFOs is boredom – well, maybe not boredom, more like complacency. I love challenges and usually tackle projects that require a bit of concentration. At least, they do in the beginning. Once I get the pattern in my head though, it becomes a bit repetitious for me. So I start a new one. And another. right now I am in the process of knitting 5 sweaters that I am designing. I switch back and forth regularly to keep it interesting. It keeps my Area 51 interesting as well. And while my Area 51 is quite large, The Box isn’t. You are welcome to come by anytime and I will show it to you … I love to share. Unlike the military … perhaps that’s why there really aren’t any UFOs in their Area 51. Or is there?
Hugzzz 😎