For the last two years I've been dabbling. A scarf here, a scarf there...that's pretty much all I made to begin with. Small, quick projects that invited completion. This year for some reason knitting has completely taken over from everything else. No stitching, no patchwork and very little sewing. I'm all about knitting. With a small side of sewing. But knitting. I'm compelled to knit like never before. It helps that these days there is a wonderful array of delicious yarn available and pattern creators are experimenting with techniques like I've not seen. And all of a sudden knitwear is a coveted fashion item as well as a more acceptable gift item.
Why do I knit? My first response is because I'm lazy and knitting can be done sitting any where at any time. Sewing clothing generally does not allow for sitting in a comfy seat for any length of time - and can get very noisy. Knitting is peaceful, contemplative. I feel calmer if I can spend some part of my day knitting in silence. It's also portable for the most part. These days I have at least one project that can fit in a small drawstring bag - currently I have three of those and one bigger project I'm putting off completing. I must finish any two of these before I will allow myself to begin my next big project. And that doesn't include the crochet doll I keep forgetting about - probably for my neice's upcoming birthday if I remember.
I take my knitting everywhere. It used to be I had a stitching project in my bag - there are a few too many incomplete stitcheries lying discarded around this house. I keep telling myself I'll finish them one day. I use my iPod and the 'Docs to go' paid app. Every pattern is downloaded to my laptop, emailed to myself (I added a 'Knitting' tag in Gmail recently to keep all my patterns in one handy place just in case I need to redownload at any stage) and saved in the app. Easy. No more paper to lose or crumple or rip or get torn up by the cat. I think the same can be done using the 'Evernote' app as well...and probably there's more apps out there doing the same. Also on my iPod I have a couple of row counting apps but the swapping between apps is clunky and gets irritating after a bit so if it's a pattern I need to keep an eye on I tend to use an old fashioned row counter dangling off my needles.
I used to think I know quite a bit about knitting. Well, of course I've been knitting for most of my life - off and on. I was knitting my own jumpers as a teen. I remember way back in the late 80s, a guy who worked at the same place I did was also a model. I found out he modelled for a few knitting patterns, promptly bought the ones I could find and embarked on a 10ply fair-aisle type jumper. I had no idea about fashion in those days, but me wearing an over-sized guys jumper and a long denim skirt with pleats at hip level was not attractive. I still remember the photo from when I joined Jenny Craig. I don't think I wore either piece again, seperately or together.
I'm looking forward to what I can learn for as long as this compulsion lasts. As a rule I obsess over something for a period of time before moving on to the next obsession. At least this time around I feel I'm being productive and making things that people are using and enjoying. And my knitting is only getting better. It also makes my job ever so slightly more bearable, bareable? One of the two I think.
My goal for now is to master the sock. Then perhaps some lace. One day I'd like to design my own pattern for something but that's a while off, there is still much to learn - things I don't even know I need to know as yet - 'tis always the way!
Why do I knit? My first response is because I'm lazy and knitting can be done sitting any where at any time. Sewing clothing generally does not allow for sitting in a comfy seat for any length of time - and can get very noisy. Knitting is peaceful, contemplative. I feel calmer if I can spend some part of my day knitting in silence. It's also portable for the most part. These days I have at least one project that can fit in a small drawstring bag - currently I have three of those and one bigger project I'm putting off completing. I must finish any two of these before I will allow myself to begin my next big project. And that doesn't include the crochet doll I keep forgetting about - probably for my neice's upcoming birthday if I remember.
I take my knitting everywhere. It used to be I had a stitching project in my bag - there are a few too many incomplete stitcheries lying discarded around this house. I keep telling myself I'll finish them one day. I use my iPod and the 'Docs to go' paid app. Every pattern is downloaded to my laptop, emailed to myself (I added a 'Knitting' tag in Gmail recently to keep all my patterns in one handy place just in case I need to redownload at any stage) and saved in the app. Easy. No more paper to lose or crumple or rip or get torn up by the cat. I think the same can be done using the 'Evernote' app as well...and probably there's more apps out there doing the same. Also on my iPod I have a couple of row counting apps but the swapping between apps is clunky and gets irritating after a bit so if it's a pattern I need to keep an eye on I tend to use an old fashioned row counter dangling off my needles.
I used to think I know quite a bit about knitting. Well, of course I've been knitting for most of my life - off and on. I was knitting my own jumpers as a teen. I remember way back in the late 80s, a guy who worked at the same place I did was also a model. I found out he modelled for a few knitting patterns, promptly bought the ones I could find and embarked on a 10ply fair-aisle type jumper. I had no idea about fashion in those days, but me wearing an over-sized guys jumper and a long denim skirt with pleats at hip level was not attractive. I still remember the photo from when I joined Jenny Craig. I don't think I wore either piece again, seperately or together.
I'm looking forward to what I can learn for as long as this compulsion lasts. As a rule I obsess over something for a period of time before moving on to the next obsession. At least this time around I feel I'm being productive and making things that people are using and enjoying. And my knitting is only getting better. It also makes my job ever so slightly more bearable, bareable? One of the two I think.
My goal for now is to master the sock. Then perhaps some lace. One day I'd like to design my own pattern for something but that's a while off, there is still much to learn - things I don't even know I need to know as yet - 'tis always the way!
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