Second sock syndrome

There is an illness among crafters. It is the unending pile of unfinished projects.  These symptoms of the disease can be caused by a difficult pattern or project, boredom, and life. We hide them too, all to forget about our defeat. All artists in this right are left forever working on their PhDs (Projects half done). For sock makers we call this disease Second Sock Syndrome.  You see when making socks, or mittens there is a trick the project plays on your mind. You finish one and you go yippy, finished, next project. Then you look at your feet and you think evil words. This happens after a very tedious pattern.  When I started knitting socks 3 years ago, I made myself a promise, I shall not suffer from second sock syndrome.

It isn't that socks are tricky. Once you figure out the math, designing and altering patterns is easier then other knitting projects. In fact the last 14 pairs of socks I made were patterns I designed. I actually find them my knitting candy. They fit perfectly in my purse so I can knit during my lunch break at work, on the train, at the doctors, and you get the idea. Sweaters, blankets,  some hats, and (once you get past a point) scarves don't fit in your purse as nice.

Today you can knit anything but at one point socks, hats, mittens and sweaters were the most common knitted items. They are also the most documented. We still find unfinished projects on the needles. Of the finished garments found the oldest item is believed to be socks. Who made them, we may never know. You see  knitting is a strange art, it has been seen as something only women do in the last two hundred years (that is changing again, as more men knit including Ryan Gossling, Christpher Walken and more). During times of war women were asked to knit socks for soldiers At that time of the American Civil War it was thought they made about ten socks a year. By the end of the war the average went up to three a week.  Before that it was seen as a task for the poor and mentality disabled. Fine lace knitting was a task for the weathy. At one time it was a man's trade in the cities. While in the country many could be found at the task from age five to ninty-five. Shepherds were even known to keep a knitting project at their side as they watch over the flock. I wonder if any of these people suffered from second sock syndrom or thier PhD.

So do you suffer from PhD syndrome? Was finishing them your New Years resolution? If so tell us what you are working on in the comments.