A Finish-A-Long Contest

I was catching up on my friend Knittymuggins' blog when I saw her latest entry.  Well, you know that I had to read all about the details, so I clicked the link and was transported to Knitting Up North.  I was pleased to be able to pick up and start reading about Jess and I realized how much I had missed her old blog since I had gotten the new computer and started the new life.  I first "met" Jess in the "Sock It To Me" KAL in 2007.

So after I was happy to have found her again I started reading the post about the Finish-A-Long.  Here is the actual entry (Jess - I was too lazy to type it myself):

A Contest

It's a Finish-a-Long!
Gather up all of your unfinished projects and let's get them done together.  I want to be able to free up some of my needles.  And let's face it, I want to be able to free up some of the mental capacity that's stuck keeping track of ALL of my unfinished projects.  My goal is to get this done by the time Sitches Midwest rolls around.  That's right, I'm going to Stitches!!
So here's what we're going to do:

1. Gather up all of your projects and figure out what's reasonable to get done in the next month or so.  I think you'll be surprised at how little there is left to do on some projects.  There's no reason this has to be only knitting.  If you have sewing projects that need to get done or spinning that's be languishing on the bobbins, by all means those count too. 
2. Send me an email (jposkozim at duluthnews dot com) saying that you want in on this contest and what you will be completing.  OR leave a comment on the blog with your name (user name is fine) and what you will be completing. 
3. Tell me when you are done. 
4. Contest starts July 6 and runs until August 13.  All projects must be finished by the 13th to be counted as a prize winner. 

The best part?  We will have prizes!!  I am donating a skein from my stash for the oldest unfinished object that gets completed by August 13th.  Barb from Fabric Works is donating something yarny for the person that gets the most projects completed.  I'd love to give out another skein or 2 for participants in the contest.  If anyone else would like to donate a prize, please email me at the above address and we'll add you to the list of sponsors.

So, after looking over Knittymuggins' entries and her claim that she had the oldest UFO's I knew I had to participate.  I'm older than she is and I have LOTS of old UFO's that really need to be finished so I can use the storage bins for stash and stuff.  So, per Jess' instructions, I have looked over the lingering UFO's and chosen a few and then added one more just because I wanted to see if I could stretch.  They are listed below in no particular order:

• Red Robin - This was started in 1985 for a friend who knew she was having a baby boy.  As you can see from the notes on the Ravelry entry I have only completed the front piece.  I still have the back, both sleeves and the collar/neck placket plus the bottoms.  It is for a baby, so it should be a fast finish.  The Unger Plantation is easy to work with and I will be sad when I am done, as this yarn is no longer available.
• Jamie Circus Print Afghan - This too was started in 1985.  I have no notes, so I am at a total loss as to who I was making it for and why on earth I chose a moss stitch on TINY needles.  I have two full skeins plus one half ball and I'll be finished.  This one will be a challenge due to the needle size and the horrid moss stitch over such an expanse.  I will most likely drink HEAVILY when I am done with this one.  Mostly due to the fact that the Moss Stitch will have seriously damaged my mojo. - COMPLETED
• Diagonal Granny - This one is from the September 1983 issue of Woman's Day Granny Squares and Needlework, page 34.  Yes, you read that correctly.  I started this beauty in 1983 for the same friends that were having the baby boy in 1985 (Red Robin).  They wanted a throw for their living room.  She picked the colors Yellow (butter color), Wine, White, Beige, Mellon and Navy for the border.  I need to add this one to Ravelry.  I am SO close to having this one finished.  Unfortunately, the couple has long since parted ways and I have lost track with the wife.  I doubt that her ex-husband, who graduated from the same high school as me, who I once dated (he was a Marine) and who introduced my ex-husband to me, would want it now even though we still speak occasionally.  I will probably donate it to the local Woman's Shelter. - COMPLETED
• Bonus Piece - I started a third Hot Damn Afghan while I was still with SWCNLBN.  It is Blue, Medium Blue and Navy.  I am about to the half-way mark.  It is on US Size 32 needles so it goes FAST.  Lucky for me, I love the colors and they fit in perfectly with the decor that SF and I share.  Bonus for me is that SWCNLBN never knew anything about it so it is not an issue for me to make it and keep it since there is no emotional attachment that would linger.  I need to get this one on Ravelry as well.  I think I started it in 2006, so this would be the "youngest" UFO in the contest for me.

There is one other UFO still lingering in the closet.  It is a self-designed cable throw.  I am only about a third of the way with this one and I know that there is NO possible way that I can get it into the contest.  I need to add it to Ravelry as well.  It is actually an item that I started in 1981 when I was pregnant with what would be my second miscarriage.  I think that may be why I never did go back to it.  However, I looked at it and decided that enough time had passed and that it was indeed to lovely to rip.  I want to finish it and place it in the guest room, as the rust color will go beautifully with the Moroccan theme that the room is being transformed with.

So, what do you have lingering that you could finish in this contest?  Think about it and drop Jess a note and join us.