Have I mentioned that I’m working on a new book? I’m absolutely psyched about it, although I’m not psyched about having to keep all my recent design work under wraps. It’s so hard not to share!
But it occurred to me this morning that I can share my failures! Actually, that theme goes quite nicely with my post yesterday about being a beginner at a new craft—even though I’m far from a beginner at knitting, I still have plenty of false starts with my new designs. And for the first time I’m collecting all of those “rejects” in one place. It’s the reject bag!
I know, such a small bag. I’m going to need a bigger bag soon. This is where I’m putting all of my samples that didn’t work out for whatever reason. Sometimes it’s because the design didn’t turn out how I wanted, and sometimes it’s just because I decided to use different colors for the final design. Would you like a peek inside?
It strikes me as strange that I never put all of these seconds in one place before. Until recently, they were just scattered everywhere and shoved into random drawers. But I think it will be helpful to have them all collected together—I’m sure I’ll be referring back to these guys occasionally. And it’s just kind of nice to have a place to put the stuff that isn’t trash, and isn’t perfect either.
This makes me wonder what other people do with their failed projects. Do you collect yours somewhere, or just frog them as soon as possible?
I give mine to a local comedy showcase. They give away prizes during the show – which include all my rejects. Hurrah!
That’s so cool, Rosalie!
And what exactly is wrong with that flamingo in the bottom right corner? It looks too precious for words! I demand a rescue.
Awww, having eyes instantly brings them to life, even if they’re not perfect! If you run out of space, maybe you could put them up for adoption – let people give good homes to imperfect but still loveable Mochis!
I too have a pile of rejects. I work with clay and make little monsters. Sometimes they get off balance and won’t stand up, sometimes they get damaged traveling between shows, sometimes nobody likes them and I keep them. They just hang out on a bottom shelf in my studio keeping me company. I’m not quite sure what to do with them either.
I collect them too (in a shoe box)! But I save them for trading with other artists for their seconds. Artist seconds make good trades. That way everyone gets a good home.
Maybe you could do a charity fundraiser with them, “Seconds for ________” and auction them off …. just a thought! I usually frog things that don’t work out the way I want. I’m an experienced knitter, but not a confident designer! lol
I agree with Karin. Please rescue the flamingo. It doesn’t look like she needs much, if any, tweaking to be a very popular pattern.
I see a flamingo! I’m not sure why it’s in there but I’d love to see it come out! <3
Love this idea. I tend to give them to my fifth grade students who love them not matter how imperfect.
Boy I really didn’t notice how prominent the flamingo was! He’s not really a reject, so you can expect to see him again in the future… It’s sweet how you all want to save him!
I vote also for a flamingo rescue! It’s So. Cute.
Maybe that could lead to a mochimochi zoo? :)
Hi Anna,
I agree about the beautiful flamingo. Save him! The rest look cute too, at least what we can see. I have thrown out a couple of things and tried again.
How about letting your I kids (if you have some) or nieces and nephews play with the “rejects.
Can you make a gnome lady sometime?
Karen
I agree, the flamingo’s amazing…but look at all of the other totally adorable creations!!!
Your “reject” bag puts me and all of my knitting projects to shame XD
Love the flamingo and donut. Stick them in a huge glass jar.
Wow! I’m really surprised at how complete your rejects look. All of mine are in a shoebox and it is mostly filled with pieces of projects. I tend to restart something just as soon as I realize it isn’t going as planned… was thinking about joining them all together someday to make a chimera/frankenstein/monster. :)
I’ll gladly take your rejects, give them a good home we’re they’ll be accepted by the rest of the stuffies.
Rescue all of them! How could you reject that adorable dounut! He must have his own pattern or I will start a protest!
I think I support your rejects, BUT if that broccoli-like thing is in fact a broccoli, I would love to get a better look at him!
My experiments this far have all been wearables. Baby items that are wrong, especially mittens and booties, become Christmas ornaments. Things I just don’t like or don’t suit the intended recipient are donated. The rest go into WIP timeout until I figure out the issue or give up and rip out.
Some items have been in timeout for a number of years ;)
OHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSH that big donut is THE. CUTEST. THING. I. HAVE. SEEN. ALL. DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (^_______^) <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!! Why oh WHY is he in the reject bag?!?!? He'd be welcomed without a second thought into my cozy home – reject or not!!!!!! ;D SOOOOO DARLING!!! I LOOOVE him!!! (If you can't already tell from all the caps lock… Heehee!) ***SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!*** You make the most ADORABLE knits on the web, Anna!!! \(^｡^)/
Please do a book with more tiny mochis! Nothing has ever been better than Teeny Tiny Mochimochi! :).
THERE’S A TINY ONE, TOO!! Oh my gosh, those rejects are the most adorable things that I have ever seen! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
I had a doughnut a week ago that looked like that. A friend was moving and since I couldn’t loan him my pickup truck (don’t have one) I offered to help him load and unload stuff. There was a box of doughnuts on the front porch that contained (for a little while) a twin of the one in your reject bag. It was really tasty! Keep up the good work!
I probably should frog instead of leaving projects tying up needles.
My rejects get frogged and reknit f the yarn is still usable otherwise they get binned. I’m very critical of my work and don’t like hoarding so if it’s wrong it doesn’t last long!
OH. MY. GOODNESS.
Donuts…clouds…a little upside-down chef…flamingo…corn…more little people…a face that reminds me of Humpty-Dumpty…please oh please let me take them!! Oh, they are ADORABLE!!!
It is my personal opinion that you should auction them of for a fundraiser like Varina mentioned OR let the winner of the next photo contest keep them!
I’m sure that they would be appreciated wherever you put them.
I…guess I’m too afraid to experiment to have rejects.
I have frogged a few projects but it’s been hard for me to push myself to do more than really simple designing.
That said…the yellow guy in the bag? Makes me think of Lemongrab from Adventure Time. Which makes me sad and excited and weirded out all at once. (The way I feel about that character….it’s complicated)
oh the possibilities with the reject bag! I keep my rejects…they make great cat toys! speaking of, I cannot find my fairyfly… :-|
It’s the Island of Misfit Toys!