A Four WIP Kinda Guy
Having a project to work on when I’m in the living room and a second to work on when I’m watching television is something I like. I also like having a complex and a simple knit project. And I don’t want to leave my sock knitting machine and my spinning wheels to go unused for too long.
Four WsIP It Is
First of all, I hate knitting forum acronyms like WIP (work in progress). Most of them were stolen by the KnitList from the QuiltList years ago (or some other crafting list). Second, they’re too exclusive. Unless you’re ITK (in the know), you’re excluded from the club. Finally, they’re ridiculous to pluralize or put in the present continuous tense. Works in Progress…is it WIP’s? Or W’sIP. I go with WsIP. It’s not possessive, so you don’t need an apostrophe. Honestly, there should be no fucking plural for acronyms It would be the same for one WIP as multiple WIP. And just to be clear, I won’t be KAL’ing anytime soon. KingAL?
WTF?!?!
Second, it’s dreadfully boring to have just one project to be working on for me. I’ve mentioned it before, but I have ADHD when it comes to knitting projects. I get bored with a complex stranded knitting project. It requires too much ongoing attention sometimes. Or it’s difficult to work whilst watching a sub-titled movie. So I can move to the simpler garter-stitch project.
And there are only certain times I can sit and spin. Or focus on my circular sock knitting machine. But as a retired person, I can find time to dedicate to both of these too.
With the recent completion of the beer mug socks. And then the subsequent finishing of the Black & Blue Garter Stole. It was necessary to re-expand my works in progress. So…
Current Knitting
In addition to the Tilt Cardigan and the Tommy’s Preferred Blend spinning project, I’ve added a new simple knitting project, and a circular sock knitting machine project.
The simple project is another garter stitch stole knit in one big zig-zag. It will have multiple stripes in two contrasting colors (similar to the stoles/scarves I knit back in 2016).
The sock came out spectacularly well. I found some gorgeous sock yarn in my stash (Saki Bamboo by Wisdom Yarns) and decided to make a quick pair on the sock machine. They are 1×1 rib at the top, moving into 3×1 rib which continues onto the top of the foot. I also used a contrasting yarn for heel and toe.
And lest you think I stopped after the first one.
The second sock is already up to the heel turning (both ribbing sections of the leg are complete).
It’s not often I bang out a pair of socks in three days…hopefully I’ll model them for you on my next blog entry.
I thought the plural of WIP was WIPs.
WIP is a singular noun, yes? “Work in Progress”.
So the plural would be WIPs. Or, I suppose, WIPS.
I was ready to this topic slip by without comment, but I must agree with Ted. I also equivocately agree with Joe.
To my way of thinking, people talking about AGs are all too likely to mistakenly refer to “Attorney Generals”, rather than the more proper “Attorneys General”. (Mea culpa.) I wondered if the shortened “AGs” could actually be acceptable. I present 2 internet references to support its use.
https://twitter.com/democraticags
https://iapp.org/news/a/state-ags-the-most-important-regulators-in-the-us/
Now noone is going to accidentally say “Work in Progresses”—are they?—where they mean “Works in Progress”. And it should be acceptable usage to shorten it to “WIPs”.
Before my soapbox is taken away, what is wrong with borrowing terms from another community, like the Quiltlist? Isn’t the fact that multiple communities (e.g. quilting, knitting, crocheting, spinning, weaving, etc.) now use that term negate the argument that it is too exclusive? Finally, isn’t it acceptable to include new people into our community by clueing them in?