Posted under meanderings
There hasn’t been much progress on any of my projects this week so far. Sure, I’m about done with Chart 8 on the Hidcote Garden Shawl. I’m almost to the heel of the second Pomatomus sock and all I have to do for the We Call Them Pirates hat is sew the lining to the body of that hat.
But none of this is really any type of progress that I’d like to show off and take pretty picures of. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I wasn’t feeling some pressure. I mean this is a knit blog and I’ve been spitting out some finished objects at a pretty rapid pace for awhile now.
“Produce! Produce! Produce!”, cried this voice inside my head.
“Whoa there. Slow down,” said another voice inside my busy head.
Slow down. Now those are words that I’m pretty sure I’ve read that on some kind of motivational poster somewhere with a cute little puppy on it or something. Yet, they’re pretty much on target. Sometimes you have got to listen to those silly voices! Maybe a little soul searching is in order.
So I’m not knitting like a fiend these days. Who says I have to? (Well, besides one of the annoying voice in my head.) What do I really need right now? What is really satisfying me right now?
The answer to that is simple. It’s the process of knitting. Right now all I really want to do is knit and not think of the finished product. Yes, the Hidocte will be lovely when it’s completed. So the Pomatomus socks will be great on the feet when they’re done. In the here and now, it’s each stitch that is making me really happy.
When I work on the shawl, the feel of the Zephyr is divine. The lace is challenging and relaxing all at the very same time. That in itself is wondrous. Another wonder is the way the stitches align themselves like pieces of a puzzle and turn themselves into a beautiful design.
When I work on the sock, I find that I love the way the metal needles glide together. I love the way the wool is a little sticky and springy at the same time. I love that I know the stitch pattern backwards and forwards. I love the colours of the yarn and how it makes the gorgeous geometric pattern just pop out.
So right now is the time for me to just sit back and enjoy the process and not let the lack of progress bother me too much. In fact, I’m enjoying the process so much that I’m resenting any little chore that takes me away from it. My spinning has taken a backseat to the knitting. The sewing of the lining has been put off time and time again. The winding of the skeins into usable balls has even been relegated to the rear of things to do.
As for the housework? Bah. Who needs a clean house when you have knitting to focus the spotlight on?
Dee on 23 Feb 2007 at 5:05 am #
Eventually the “process” produces product. So, really we do get both ways at the same time.
I’m starting a new sock today and I’m going to sit back and enjoy the process.
Alison on 23 Feb 2007 at 5:38 am #
I’m both process and product. I love the process of it, but I’m doing it for the pretty thing at the end. But it is the process ultimately that keeps me going on very long projects :)
(Oh, and the clean house thing - try telling that to my DH ;-)
Alison on 23 Feb 2007 at 5:39 am #
Trying again:
I’m both process and product. I love the process of it, but I’m doing it for the pretty thing at the end. But it is the process ultimately that keeps me going on very long projects :)
(Oh, and the clean house thing - try telling that to my DH ;-)
spinjenny on 23 Feb 2007 at 6:00 am #
I’m with you on that. Real knitaholics don’t knit primarily for the product, that is just the justification we give to others for why we spend so much time knitting. The fact that process leads to products, as Dee said, is wonderful, whether we keep them for ourselves or delight in giving them away, but enjoyment of the process is our main motivation.
Meredith on 23 Feb 2007 at 7:36 am #
Ahhhhhhhhh…a woman after my own heart. My mother always told me that there is ALWAYS something more interesting to do than housework. I am definitely my mother’s daughter. Knit on!
lobstah on 23 Feb 2007 at 8:48 am #
That is one thing I don’t like about blogging, that it sometimes makes you feel pressured have something, anything to show. Sometimes I need to remember that the blog isn’t for other people, it’s for ME! :)
Jeanne on 24 Feb 2007 at 3:07 am #
I have been feeling the same way lately - I’ve really just enjoyed knitting, but sometimes feel the pressure to finish things so I can blog them. Glad you are just slowing down and enjoying the process!
Roseann on 26 Feb 2007 at 5:40 am #
You bring up some very good points about knitting under pressure. I find when I do that I dread my knitting and that is just wrong. One of my problems is starting too many projects and then I feel overwhelmed. Thank you for a thought-provoking post!
Kate on 26 Feb 2007 at 9:03 am #
Housework, what is that….
I’m knitting socks so the dust is weaving all over me, he he.
And knitting is enjoyment, not pressure. So knit on.
Sue Johnson on 27 Feb 2007 at 2:01 am #
I’m pretty much about the process, too. I just love to feel the needles in my hands and watch the yarn turn into something amazing. And housework? Phooey! I’d rather knit anytime. Miss you too, kiddo.
Jane on 27 Feb 2007 at 3:41 am #
Dear Opal,
I have to agree with you that it’s all about the process not always about progress. That’s one of the reason I won’t knit “on demand” for anyone and hated knitting scarves last year for my friend, JS since she had a deadline. In 2006 I finished absolutely none of the projects. This year they are starting to be finished but that’s a long time for someone to wait if it was about product rather than process:-) I love to knit and I thought you already knew about the hirearchy of knitting. Housework is always the last on the list! Enjoy your process. You deserve it!