Sunday, April 22, 2012

Multiknitter

Dear Blog, 

Experts tell us that multitasking reduces our productivity. For some of us, that just sounds like common sense, but for others, we know it's just silly.
Knitters know that when their project is going slowly, one of the best ways to speed things up (barring an all-day TV marathon ), is to start another project. We don't really know why. Maybe the project you were working on was boring, and you just needed some space from it? Maybe you made a mistake and needed a confidence booster before going back and fixing it. Maybe knitting cables on size 1 DPNS isn't something you should do exclusively for two months straight. Whatever the reason, we can feel confidant that rather than detracting from our progress, starting something new can improve it.





When you hit a dead end, it's OK to back track and go around the problem. Forward motion is always better than standing still doing nothing.


Until Next
Cheers!

Friday, April 13, 2012

Stripes and the ways I loath them

Dear Blog,



This is the scarf I started. A month ago. Notice how it's barely a third of the way done. Normally in this kind of situation, I'd complain about how busy I am, how I just can't seem to find enough time to knit, or I'm so exhausted that I fall asleep at the needles. But no. This time, I'm the only one to blame. This time, because I should have seen this coming.

You see blog. I had this idea. I graduate soon and I want to knit something nice for some of my teachers. I saw this sock yarn and thought that it would be perfect, and I could get started right away without having to go to a speciality store that sells lace-weight. I noticed that it was variegated self-striping yarn, and I briefly remembered that I absolutely hate stripy scarves. But I reminded myself that striped scarves are a classic accessory and most people like them.




Then, you know what I did? I looked for a pattern. I really really felt like knitting lace, and so even thought I don't like variegated lace, I continued. "It's not for me, and lots of people like variegated lace"
The pattern I picked had a combination of lace and cables. I love lace and cables combos. I think they are neat.
I think vertical cables with horizontal stripes are kind of retarded, and that only a blind confused drunk knitter in a dark movie theatre would ever think that those two things should mix, (Not that I'm judging you, if that happens to be your thing.)
But I thought, no biggie, I'm not knitting it for myself, right?



I think we all know the moral of this story. If a knitter isn't thrilled with it, she isn't going to be thrilled to knit it. Part of me feels like I should keep going, since I've already come this far, and lets face it, what else would I do with this yarn?
And part of me feels guilty that I'd be willing to knit something for someone else that I have such clear personal objections to.

So blog, I leave it to you. Forward or Frog?