What Type of Knitter are You?

I joined Ravelry several months back and enjoy it immensely!  When describing Ravelry to folks, I say, "It's my version of Facebook... Facebook for people who like to knit and crochet like me!"  I tried Facebook a few years back; it was not my cup of tea.  But Ravelry... that's my place.  One of the things I like about Ravelry is how I pick up on some of the "lingo" others use when discussing their hobbies.  Works in Progress are "WIPs".  Your local yarn shop is "LYS".  Undoing a project is called "frogging"... I guess when you rip out row after row, you "rip it, rip it" (ribbet, ribbet).  On Ravelry, I've been looking at more and more discussions on group forums.  You can join all kinds of groups.  My favorite group is a collection of folks whose goal is make two chemo caps a month for a total of 24 hats by the end of the year.  There's another group I joined and all these folks are trying "knit down" their stashes of yarn in 2011.  I was so silly when I was making my New Year's Knitting Resolutions this year... to think I was the only person setting a goal to NOT buy new yarn this year and to JUST knit with the beautiful yarn I already have on hand.  Apparently this is a popular resolution.

I was recently reading on Ravelry about the knitting habits of some folks.  And reading about the habits of others made me stop and think about how I approach knitting.  I stumbled across a profile of a knitter who described herself as a "monogamous knitter" (funny, huh?).  That is, she knits just ONE project at a time.  What self control!  This seems to be a rare sort of person because the trend I see is that most people tend to have a gob of projects (WIPs) all going at the same time.  I am the latter sort of person.  There's some thing tremendously exciting about starting a new project; selecting the pattern, picking out the yarn, gathering the necessary materials.  And just when I get to the point in the project where I realize I have the pattern figured out, it looks great in the yarn I've selected, and I am happy with how it's coming along...  I start to day dream about what's next.  So you see, the notion of being a "monogamous" knitter is UNBELIEVABLE to me!  I just can't wait to start whatever is next.  If a person likes to have lots of WIPs all going at the same time, does that make such a person a "promiscuous knitter"? (Just kidding!)

I was reading the profile of another knitter and she discussed the notion being a "product" knitter versus a "process" knitter.  I had never heard of this concept before but I understood what the lady meant when she described her approach to knitting.  I found this description of "process versus product" knitters via a Google search:

Many people are interested to know if a knitter falls into the 'process' or 'product' category. In simple terms, a process knitter is one who relishes the act of making a project, usually wanting to have their skills challenged and stretched, and yet is not as focused on the end product. A 'product' knitter is an individual who cannot wait to see their latest project finished, who measures their success by the number of completed garments and happy recipients around them.

So this week, I have learned that I am a "promiscuous knitter" (as opposed to a monogamous knitter) who approaches projects for the enjoyment of the process (as opposed to the final product).  How 'bout that!? 

I am ashamed to admit how many WIPs I have right now, but the scary thing is that I have even MORE projects lined up in my queue to make next.  I have to tell you that, between my WIPs, the partially completed projects "hibernating" in my closet, and the projects listed below, there are few with intended recipients... I just don't know what I am going to do with them when I am done.  But I can tell you this:  I am excited about the projects in progress and, as for the projects I have planned, I want to start them ALL right NOW!  Here's a "sneak peek":

A scarf/shawl/wrap called "Clapotis" in Noro (Sock) Silk Garden.

A cabled sweater called "Point Gammon Pullover"
from Interweave Knits Fall 2010 Issue
to be made in Berroco Weekend in this nice oat color.

A throw called "Hemlock Ring Throw"
(based on a doily pattern)
to be made in Cascade Ecological Wool. 
The wool is undyed but does
not look nearly as yellow in person
as it does in this photo.



An asymmetrical cardigan called "Pismo"
to be made in this pretty lavender
 Cascade 220 Superwash.



And finally...  a shawl called "Calais",
this time in Knit Picks Essential Sock Yarn.

What kind of knitter are you?