Help me doctor, it's a bad case of "finishitis"

What is it about New Year turns my brain into some kind of butterfly?





Some of the magazine editors have sent through their themes for future issues, so that's got the grey cells whirring and designs have been popping up left, right and centre.





I am a truly appalling artist, so when submitting an idea to an editor, I put together a sketch (which is little more than a schematic, to be honest), and a photograph of a stitch sample, so that the poor recipient can have some vague idea what I'm trying to show them.





So, at the moment, I'm all over the place with part finished samples, as well as the things that I'm was already working on.





Part of the problem is that I have this panic that if I don't "get in quick" with an idea, someone will beat me to it. This has happened to me in the last week, so the anxiety isn't entirely unfounded.





But a collection of part finished samples is definitely not going to get accepted, so I need to pull my finger out, and finish at least some of the following:

This little collection contains:

• Part finished scrap "blankie" and the next ball of scraps (the round grey boucle)
• A pair of handwarmers for my nephew's girlfriend (the pink/variegated)
• A sample for a crochet idea (the white)
• A sample for a knit idea (the turquoise)
• A sleeveless sweater for me in "Reflections" (the other grey/black/white yarn)
• An experiment using "jelly"yarn (possibly for a mag, but as it's such an unfamiliar yarn, I thought I'd better make the thing first).

And, on top of this, I've got another idea for something crocheted in cotton, but one thing at a time, methinks.

Must get one and finish one of these, at least.

Loose ends?

I've finished the BSJ, which I'm fairly pleased with.

I will probably make an Adult Surprise Jacket at some point (seems like a good way to use the stash).

I've also been using up some yarn in my stash which is ridiculously thick. I'm making my sister a rather un-glamourous "body warmer" for when she's out walking her dog. I offered to make the dog something matching, but if it's possible to show panic in an email, that's what she did!

The yarn (Sirdar Country, 100% wool) is recommended for 9mm needles, which means that this item is knitting up in no time, but I've had to put in a large stripe of some recycled dark lilac yarn, otherwise I would have run out half way up the back!

So, Wips at the moment are:

Dad dog coat (so called, because I speak to my dad nearly every day, and I knit this while we're chatting).

Brenda's cinammon bark - I'm beginning to dislike the pattern intensely (although I think it would make good socks), but I feel committed now.

Red socks, made with yarn bought on hols.

No pic, but let's be honest, not much of a pattern, either!

Lace shawl - I think I'm going to frog it, and use some nicer quality yarn instead. The red nylon I've started could always be put in with other acrylics for more dog coats.

Not too bad then?

I've just written another article for Suite 101 (brewpubs in Victoria, BC), but I've got to pull my finger out next week - I'm meant to do 10 every 3 months - I've got 2 1/5 weeks to write 5 articles.

Muse - come to me now!