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Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Why Knit?

True story: I was on the phone with my mother, and commented to her that I was almost done the sweater. She replied that, after all, I had a family reputation to uphold. And I said "so I should stop knitting immediately?" I think she thought our rep was different than it actually is...

Anyway, the front is fixed and done. A method for fixing the back has been planned. The second sleeve is one-third done.

And Tuesday afternoon, as I sat down to slam out that second sleeve, planning on finishing it that day, then block everything overnight, then sew it up this morning, and knit the collar on tonight, I realized I just didn't want to be stressing over the sweater.

Most of the time I wasn't stressing, and I enjoyed the process of the front and the back immensely. I was able to laugh over all the mistakes (and there were a ridiculous amount of them - really, I'm a much better knitter than I've been these past two weeks) I think it's a beautiful sweater, and I chose it because it's one of the only designs I've ever seen that I wouldn't make a major change of my own to the pattern.

But I realized these last few hours I had other things I would rather have been doing. This sweater is for me. Unlike everything else I've knit since March, it's not going to earn me money, it's not getting my name out, it's not an obligation. So I'll be damned if I make it one. I want to love that sweater when it's done, and I will, next week, when I come home and get settled and finish that last sleeve and fix things to my satisfaction on my own timeline.

I could have finished the sweater, but I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much. And I knit because I love it, not because I have to.

So I'm off to the Knitter's Review Retreat where I'll come home with two other projects started that I've been looking forward to for a while, and I've also got a super fun sock pattern that I'm going to be putting out by the end of the month, I hope.

Have a great week!

4 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

Oh, I really understand what you're saying. It's why I don't adore my Olympic sweater (it has all that urgent energy, still). Can't wait to see you, hon!*


*And that's a Maryland hon, too!

8:51 PM  
Blogger tammy said...

Atta girl. Knitting should be enjoyable, not work.

11:53 PM  
Blogger Coleen said...

I hope you have a great time on your retreat and I agree- knitting should not be stressful! So, you should knit something for me! :) kidding... have a great time!

11:57 PM  
Blogger dragon knitter said...

have fun, and i'm so jealous!

1:12 PM  

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