slow down, you think too fast

I'm constantly attempting to balance my need to "keep on schedule" and "get things done" with the very real anxiety that comes with that kind of drive.  These are self-imposed deadlines, most of the time.  Even when I knit a gift, I am aware that I have the means (time, money) to purchase an equally appropriate gift for the recipient.  These deadlines loom, on top of the very real deadlines at work and the equally demanding time limits imposed on my life as I get my children to school, sports, activities, and social opportunities.

I picked up a copy of Slow Knitting at Indigo Books last week.  I almost put it back as it was close to $40 with taxes.  But then I thought - I want to change my perspective and focus on enjoying what I make instead of starting things that become deadline-driven.

The book focuses on knowing where your wool comes from, how your materials turn into finished objects, and the connection between paying attention to these farm-to-sweater details helps you enjoy the process as much as the product.  The designs also focus on texture, stitch details, and shape - things that slow down the knitting.  Moves you away from choosing projects that will finish quickly and toward projects that give the knitter a sense of connection to the product.  By having to count rows, stitches, charts, patterns, the knitter becomes more aware of the process of making.

This makes sense.... but also means I may finish fewer things.  I don't knit just to have things, but I do like to plan, browse through patterns and books, shop for yarn, and cast on.  This part leaves me with many items in the queue that I want to knit but don't have time for.  This feeling of wanting to make more will be hard to let go.

With that in mind, I'm finishing some shawls:
Girl from the Grocery Store (just needs ends woven in):

Goldfinch:  about a third of the way done (more than in the photo):

When these are done, I hope to cast on a project from the book.  Not sure which one yet, but I'm leaning toward the cabled pullover by Norah Gaughan.  It's an unusual construction, of course, but in a worsted weight yarn that will give me a break from finer gauge shawls that seem to have taken over my knitting plans.

All of this will, I hope, lead to more joy in the process.  I do love to knit, to see the fabric grow beneath the stitches on the needle.  Fall and Winter seem perfect seasons for slowing down as the demands of life continue to pick up.

dead calm

June was a month of stillness in my knitting world.  Other events took over my time and, more importantly, my energy.  I spent most of the month feeling like a ship stranded in the ocean with no wind to move me forward.  I had enough energy to do the essentials (barely) and sadly, knitting did not make it to the list of essential tasks.

Not scary like the movie (I'm not Nicole Kidman!) but more exhausting like trying to paddle in the ocean with a table tennis racket.

Still, I did sew up and finish my vest - finally!  Unfortunately it is not vest weather any more so it's in my closet until fall.  I like how it turned out though, and will definitely wear it when the weather cools down.

I'm slowly moving back to things that require energy and an attention span.  This will include finishing my Rory shawl, and casting on a new project from my stash.

Musing about - planning for the weather

The weather at this time of year is an unpredictable mistress, dictating the need for wardrobe changes at a moment's notice.  Layers are key but I admit that because I am always so cold I inevitably dress for the chill of the morning rather than for the warmth of the afternoon.  The need for wardrobe flexibility results also from the sudden change from snow to sun after a much-talked-about lengthy winter.  Case in point:

 The photo on the left is today, the one on the right is a week ago.  To plan for the fickle weather, I'm knitting a cape, inspired by the cape on http://hollyknits.com/ found as a free pattern on the Vogue Knitting   Mine will be in black, using the Wool Ease Thick and Quick yarn listed in the pattern.  I hope it will allow me to transition from cold to warm and back to cold with ease this spring. 

 

 

Original pattern is Charming! Cape (Ravelry), mine is Storybrooke Cape (on Ravelry) named after the television show Once Upon a Time.  Knit most of this while watching episodes of the show set in fictitious Storybrooke, Maine.