A Case of Mistaken Identity

Yes, I deluded myself into thinking I could pull off a "Marina".  Silly of me.  In promising to complete Rona by Thanksgiving I forgot several key facts:

1. I had a lot more to knit than I admitted to myself:  being done with the body is less than half the battle.  Sleeves are a big job and no matter how you slice it, knitting narrow tubes with color changes is fiddly.
   
2. I lost three or four days to Thanksgiving prep between cooking and shopping.  The food was quite tasty though. 
   
3. I wasted time finishing another sweater, but as a result I've been warmer while knitting Rona.
   
4. I don't knit on weekends, at least not much, the family feels neglected when I do.
   
5. I don't knit as fast as I like to imagine I do.  I knit fast compared to the run of the mill knitter, but next to many an experienced knitter I'm a piker. I would claim it is a result of daydreaming and admiring the fabric every few rows or so, but I think my raw speed just isn't that good.

Marina was good enough to give me several extensions and each time I swore up and down that I would make it.  I am an optimist at heart, so it wasn't hard to delude myself.  I swear each promise was honestly made.  But, here I am, facing the final deadline, 9 pm and I'm nowhere close.

The left sleeve is done:

The right sleeve is done:

The neckline is done, but where are the front bands?  Where are the buttons?
Alas, they are still to come.  Soon, over the next day or so I will finish this.  I want to wear it.  I want to get the monkey off my back.

I want to knit something else.

Marina, you've earned your stash enhancement and I've learned I can't be you.

Comments

[Marina]

#3 was what I was afraid off. Hence, the "ransom" note!

Promise me, no queueing, no favouriting, no more #3s and I'll think about letting you keep your stash ;-)

By the way, good job! I'm proud of you and Rona expects to be at the dinner table on Christmas since she missed out on Thanksgiving.

[june]

I'm hoping Rona will make it to dinner on Saturday!

[meg]

It's marvelous, no matter how much time it took! Or, er... will take...
The sweater will look great at Christmas.

[Wanda]

Bummer that you didn't make your deadline, but you are making wonderful progress on the sweater. You're really close to getting 'er done!

[Anne]

It's not how long it takes you to finish, it's that you finish it!!! Those front button bands will be easy, and you'll be wearing this sweater soon -- can't wait to see a photo of you modelling it!!!

[Chris]

Dang, you are really close! Don't give up now!!

[Lorraine]

Anmiryam- Once you've done the sleeves, you're home free. Looks terrific.

[Ilana]

If you are a piker, I am a piker squared, an uber-piker, the pikers have named a queen and I am she. Sigh.

Your piker pal,

Ilana (who is trying to remember that it's not a race, this knitting thing.)

[Courtney]

Pretty! That dog can really knit :)