Wool pants in summer, tops in winter: why do knits always finish at the wrong time?

Last August, I nearly finished a long striped skirt, with only the hem left. I was certain I’d have it ready long before this summer. Spring would have been the perfect time to wrap it up, but why rush? I figured there was still plenty of time until summer. Now August is here again—and that same hem is still waiting.

The skirt is just one of many. Over the years, I’ve amassed a bag full of garments and totes I started in the middle of summer. I usually picture an idyllic vacation day: the sun blazing, a gentle breeze on my skin, and me in a new, handmade piece. But for that dream to come true, the knitting would practically need to make itself. In my mind, I’m knitting on seaside rocks, on my home balcony, and during longer trips.

In reality, though, it’s a different story. I underestimate how long knitting takes and overestimate how motivated I’ll be. A heatwave makes my palms sweat and the yarn stick to my fingers. Even on a bus or train, I just want to look out the window and enjoy the scenery. The piece grows in tiny increments, even though I planned to finish it in a week or two.

By the time the knit finally comes together, I’m once again hopelessly late. Summer is winding down, and warm days run out before I can wear my new garment even once. This summer, my “quick” project was a top crocheted from squares, which no one will see until next summer—if then. Of roughly 60 squares, I managed just over 40.

It’s not limited to just summer knits. The snow often melts before hats and mittens get cast off the needles. Once, I knitted wool pants intending to wear them that same winter, but they were finished in July—right in the middle of the hottest weather.

I’m sure many of you have similar stories. Knits don’t always come off the needles when they’re supposed to. We work on them when we have the energy, time, and interest. They might crawl along and appear at the wrong time. We set them aside when life intervenes or when another project sparks more excitement (the latter happens surprisingly often).

Knitting is part of life, and it doesn’t always go as planned. Sometimes I’m a bit behind schedule or even slightly ahead, depending on your perspective. But in the end, it does get done—some year or another.

A striped skirt that was supposed to be finished last summer. There’s only a bit of the hem left, but as many knitters know, wrapping up a project can be surprisingly slow.

I started crocheting a top from squares in June, but only managed to produce a thick stack of squares and a small portion of the finished piece. You can crochet similar squares using the sunflower granny square pattern.