A confession and a finished object

So, years ago, while I was taking a sweater knitting class, the teacher told us a funny thing. It was a tidbit she shared with us that she knew many sweater knitters who never finished anything. To them knitting was just that. To them it was all about buying yarn and knitting something up, only to move on to the next project. Hence, they had pieces of sweaters tucked away that they had no intention of finishing.

At the time, I thought this was, well, just a little crazy. Why, oh why, would someone take all that time to knit an entire sweater, and never take those last steps so that they could wear it?

Well, now I know better. I understand the lure of casting on for a new project, rather than blocking and seaming the old one. I understand that I can easily continue performing the knit stitch in a variety of situations: talking with friends over martinis, flopped on the couch watching a movie late at night, and even while stopped at a red light. On the other hand, washing, blocking and seaming require a highly unavailable (at least in my house) combination of factors: a clean flat surface and some quiet, uninterrupted time in which to concentrate. In fact, I paused in writing this post just now because my son was showing me how he can do a handstand, and one of our cats was sitting on the mouse-pad, shedding on the computer and drooling on my hand. It's a happy-enough state of affairs, but not one I find conducive to finishing sweaters.

So, my confession is that I have become one of those people with sweaters tucked away, waiting only for a couple of seams and a zipper, or a bind-off and a few buttons. I'm not sure if even my closest knitting friends know just how many UFOs I have lurking around the house. I'm listing them below starting in order by the c.o. date:

Jan 2006 - Ballet Wrap Cardigan (IK Winter 2005)

Mar 2006 - Ribby Cardi (Chic Knits)

Jun 2006 - Tweedy Vest (Knitscene Fall/Winter 2005)

? 2007 - Equinox Yoke Pullover (IK Fall 2006)

Jan 2009 - T-Shirt Sweater (Ella Rae Book One)

Feb 2009 - Loppem (Berroco: Norah Gaughan Vol. 3)

Mar 2009 - Roam (Knitty Fall 2007)

I'm not sure what happened in 2008. I must have knit only items without set-in sleeves.

Anyway, my plan is to work my way back up the list, starting with the most recent item, and clear them from my queue one way or another.

To show my determination, I've included the photo above of my most recent FO, Assemblage. I cast on for this sweater this past June, and finished it last week. I'm counting it as the first finished item checked off in my new plan.

The relevant info:

Pattern: Assemblage

Source: Berroco, Norah Gaughan Vol. 3

Yarn: Berroco Inca Gold in color 6423 Granate

Do you think I can get through my list in time for Stitches West 2010?