Well, friends, it’s that time of the year again: The Outfit Along: WIP Cleanout, hosted by myself and Andi Satterlund of Untangling Knots!
This year, we are shaking things up a little bit and focusing on those works-in-progress languishing in your sewing space. You know the ones I’m talking about – everything has been planned and purchased, and perhaps you even started (or nearly finished!) the project, but *something* has caused it to be doomed to the UFO (unfinished-object) bin. Well, this year, let’s do something about that!
After 5 years of Outfit Alongs, it is likely that some of us have projects we haven’t finished (including me, and I’m a host! Hey, shit happens y’all. Don’t judge me). This year is a great opportunity to pull those out and give them the attention they’ve been waiting for.
As with every OAL theme, the only requirements are to knit a piece and to sew a piece. Either one (or both!) should be a WIP – other than that, the rules are quite lax! Your WIP can be any that you have, whether it was for a previous OAL or something that’s been languishing in your stash for a different reason. Did you plan your project and just stall at the cutting or swatching stage? Did you reach a point the instructions that left you stuck and frustrated? Were you nearly finished and realized there is a major fitting problem that you didn’t have the energy to address? Did you just get bored and burnt out? This year, we want you to dig deep and bust that stash, so we are getting veeeery flexible with our definition of WIP! So pull those bad boys out of purgatory and let’s get them finished so we can clear the space for other fun things!
In addition, all previous OAL knitting patterns (including Myrna, Vianne, Zinone, Anaheim, and Waters) are 20% off through June 1st using the coupon code OAL2019 on Untangling Knots or Ravelry.
We will kick off on June 1st and run through July 31st as our official parameters. Participants will need to have one sewn and one knit garment (either one or both being a WIP) that work together to form an outfit, and will need to post their finished outfit on the Finished OAL 2019 Outfits thread in the Untangling Knots group on Ravelry to be eligible for prizes. We will have 3 randomly selected winners this year, each receiving 3 Untangling Knots patterns of their choice as well as a $25 gift certificate to Indie Sew. Winners will be announced on the Finished Outfits Thread on Ravelry as well as the Untangling Knots instagram!
Join the conversation in the Untangling Knots group on Ravelry, or you can use the hashtag #OutfitAlong2019 if you’re more into the ‘gram these days! Both Andi & myself will be posting our progress + tips on our blogs and Instagrams – you can follow me @LLADYBIRD and Andi @Untangling.Knots.
For more info, as well as some frequently asked questions, be sure to check out Andi’s announcement post on her blog.
Even if you are not officially participating, I HIGHLY encourage you to use this opportunity to clear up the ol’ WIP drawer along with us this summer! This is a great excuse to dig out those old makes that have been languishing and taking up room in your subconscious (ok I’m sorry to sound a little woo-woo but SERIOUSLY I do think they take up mental energy even if we aren’t aware of it!), and give them the finish they deserve!
So!! Who will be joining in this year? 🙂
LLADYBIRD 
Glad to see you back. Have missed your posts. Does purchase of fabric and all notions and pattern but not started count for the Outfit Along?
Yes! Any work in progress – even if the only progress is purchasing the materials and planning – counts 🙂
So happy about the theme of the OAL this year. I have a little sweater that I started, ripped and started again, that’s been sitting for ages. Just the kick in the butt I needed!
Can’t wait to get started…again!
Yay! I can’t wait!!
Does finishing a lace shawl count for your knitted item? Or is that too much in the “scarf” category to be considered part of an outfit?
Hi! For a garment to count, it has to be a substantial piece – like something that can be worn without an additional layer (such as a shirt, sweater, pants, skirt, etc). Items such as socks and shawls don’t exactly function as standalone pieces, so they don’t count as a completed garment.
Gotcha, thanks for the reply! 🙂
I should do this. I have a skirt that has been cut and ready to sew for years! I just didn’t have an occasion to wear it. I really need a new lady sweater.
You should definitely join us! Even if you don’t currently have an occasion, at least once you sew it you will be ready when one pops up!
I love this idea! I never have enough mental space for the OAL since I usually have a bunch of WIPs already. This may also be the kick in the pants I need to finish a color work knitted vest that I started back in 2015. And start projects for a lot of fabric I picked up yet never got down to sewing. Looking forward to it!
Yay! Looking forward to having you 😀
Oh man. So…I don’t knit, have always wanted to learn (and someone tried to teach me!), just haven’t gotten the hang of it yet.
Any chance to sub in hand-sewing for knitting? Like could I hand-sew a cardigan to go with the dress? I seriously have always wanted to participate in this!
Unfortunately, to be eligible for prizes, you do need to have one garment that is hand knit or crocheted. There’s not really a workaround for that, I’m sorry! HOWEVER, you can absolutely 100% still join in even if you aren’t knitting anything! We (well, at least me anyway lol) encourage everyone to participate and use that hashtag even if you aren’t going to submit your finished make in the Ravelry thread! The more the merrier 🙂 🙂 🙂
Ooo! This might be my year! This could help me finish my Soldotna Crop and my jeans I have cut out, but not started!
Oh man that is gonna be so good! Yes you gotta finish that crop!
WIPs definitely suck energy – I feel so wasteful to have half made items languishing, like it is symptomatic of having Too Much.
I don’t knit but I will unofficially participate and hereby commit to finishing:
Green floral wrap dress (cut out last year using fabric and pattern I have had around 10 years)
Matching slip for wrap dress if I have enough fabric (can’t remember!)
Quarter-circle skirt in goldfish print, hopefully a wearable muslin (cut out last year)
If goldfish skirt is successful, and I have enough gifted tartan wool, then at least cut that out and buy lining for it.
Thanks for the accountability!
Yay!! So glad you will be joining us (even if unofficially) and getting some WIPs done and completed! ❤
Hi! This sounds so helpful and fun! I don’t know what WIP means, though. Work in Progress, by any chance? Just a guess.
Yep, that’s what it stands for 🙂
I have a basket full of UFOs, great opportunity to get some of those finished. I am wondering what your UFOs will be, thought you never produce some 🙂
haha I wouldn’t use the word never. While I do try to finish all my projects, I do have a few floating around that were either fully cut (but not sewn), fully sewn but need some changes to be wearable for me, and also lots of projects that were planned and never executed!