Finally A Little Inspiration
During my daily blog reading I came across a mention of the Yarn Harlot’s knitting olympics. I know, I know, you’d have to be living under a rock not to hear about a movement started by the queen of knitting blogdom. But it intrigued me so I swung by just to see what the deal was. I read a bit. And then a bit more. And then a bit more. I got that familiar feeling. You know, the one where your mind does this weird fluttery thing and your pupils get a little wide. Usually you can’t blink or tear your eyes away from the screen and your brain starts racing at a mile a minute with all the…possibilities. Yes, it was excitement. Something about this excited me! In January! Me, excited about knitting, in January.
I don’t care much for sports (hockey is a whole different category), but I have always loved the Olympics, particularly the Winter Olympics. Or at least I did. It is becoming a little too slick for my tastes and the endless manufactured tugging of our heart strings is a bit much. Once upon a time it was about amateur competition. No professionals. Right? Now there are steroid controversies and people freaking out because some skier is so good he can win competitions while drunk. Oh, and advertising. Don’t forget the advertising. Still, despite all this, it still does something for me. All these men and women from around the world gathering together and having this moment, which they have spent years and lifetimes training for. I can push all that other stuff aside and focus on these people who know what pushing themselves means. What striving to be the best costs. Yeah, I love the Olympics.
So, this knitting challenge seemed like just the excuse I needed to sit and watch endless hours of the Olympics perfect thing for me. I will admit that challenges such as this one can be a bit of a double-edged sword with me. Sometimes they are just what I need to get me going and inspired — like a work deadline. And sometimes they are the unrealistic expectation which I will later use to punish myself for being such a great big failure. But, thanks to a good therapist and a lot of hardwork on my part, I think my days of self-punishing behavior are behind me. So, I have decided to take the plunge.
I realized immediately that my main obstacle was going to be finding the right project. Since I have been so clearly uninspired (as has much of the knitting blogworld I have come to realize — must be a cyclical/seasonal sort of thing), I think my chances of finding a satisfying pattern in existence that is also challenging are not very likely. So what’s my answer? Design, design, design!
I have a little less than a month, starting today, to come up with a pattern of my own. Friday is library day, so I will attack their shelves with a vengence and pull in every knitting reference book I can find. I will utilize the vast world of the Internet. I will put my brain and inherent creativity to work to create… well… something, but it will be mine and it will be original. That is my pledge.
In the midst of my fervor and excitement, I dashed of a mad e-mail to my dear friend K– (who I have briefly mentioned a few times on the blog) asking her if she wanted to join me in this insanity, despite the fact that she has every reason in the world not to join — including the most busy time of the year at work, starting a lace shawl knitting class and various other projects in the works. First she said no, then she said yes, and even more than that, she decided for her project she is going to be altering a pattern for the first time. I also managed to talk her into doing a little guest blogging, which, lucky you, because she is one of the smartest, wittiest, most interesting, intelligent and humorous people I know. (Don’t worry, Kai, no expectations or anything).
Let the isanity begin!
January 19th, 2006 at 12:47 pm
Heh. No expectations taken, Rach! I’ve come to terms with the possibility of public humiliation on this thing (given all the constraints on my time and, er, knitting abilities.) I mean, what the hey: my fear of failure can always use a sharp poke to the ribs.
January 19th, 2006 at 1:29 pm
Besides, look at it this way, failure is always a lot funnier than success.
Interesting side note — the Natalya’s were the first pattern I ever altered as well. It was a fairly easy thing to do and I felt infinitely proud of myself when I figured it out.
January 19th, 2006 at 1:54 pm
You are certifiable. This knitting olympics thing is the kind of thing people think of when they’ve been smoking too much or drinking too much or something. the fact that so many folks (many of them otherwise sensible, like yourself) are joining in is astounding.
But designing something beforehand?! Are you nuts?!
Seriously, I think designing something you want to knit and then knitting it is an absolutely fabulous idea. and I’m genuinely glad that you have been inspired to go out and get some books and get started. But is that crazy deadline really going to help? Are the processes (designing and then knitting) going to be enjoyable? This is the important thing.
Maybe like the stash acquisition thing in your next post (the joys of not checking for a couple of days) could be applied to this. Why are you thinking of imposing this deadline?
Apologies if I sound shrill, judgemental, or bossy. But I am baffled.
January 19th, 2006 at 2:15 pm
JoVE, good questions all.
First, sometimes I get stuck in this weird loop of indecision that I don’t know how to get out of. A deadline is sometimes just the thing to get me off a circular path. It is like the point at which I look up, realize I have just ridden past my station for the umpteenth time and say, “Oh, and get off at the next stop.”
I’ve been whining for months about how I want to design something, but feeling like there is this thing (who knows what) standing between me and it. So, an event such as this provides some much needed structure (I’m currently working on a post about structure and its role in my creative process and life in general, so look for more on its importance at a latter date) around that goal.
Also, I haven’t said what I am going to design. Having become far more realistic (albeit still not quite entirely 100% realistic) about my own limitations and abilities, I hope to set a goal for myself that isn’t insane. I’m not talking about designing a sweater or an elaborate lace project here. I’m talking simple. I’m talking about using the things I know. I’m talking about making something practical. I have some ideas in mind, I’ll keep you posted as I go.
Your comment doesn’t sound shrill, judgement or bossy, just concerned and I think that’s really nice. What is this fiber community for if not to provide a little support and perspective every now and again! So, to assuage your worries a little let me just tell you the few notes I jotted down about my intentions with this project only this morning:
Criteria:
Interesting to knit
Not overly complicated
Good use of texture, color and function
Must be useable and practical
I don’t want to be bored while knitting it, but I don’t want it to require so much thought that I won’t be able to actually watch the olympics, which is the whole point anyway!
Does that make sense?
January 19th, 2006 at 8:37 pm
Yep. That makes sense. I really hate knitting to deadlines though I recognize the value of a deadline for getting some things done (writing comes to mind). And I have absolutely no interest in watching the Olympics though for some reason I might consider the curling. How Canadian is that, eh?
January 20th, 2006 at 2:30 pm
JoVE: I’m just watching for the curling, too. It’s my favorite sport in the world, mostly because its origins are so plain to see: “We’ve got to get out of this cabin and do something, or I will kill someone.” “Well, the pond’s frozen over, let’s skate.” “Skating’s boring.” “Well, I’ve got this, uh, heavy, smooth rock, and…hrm…a broom! Let’s see who can slide the rock across the pond the farthest!” “You’re on!”
I’m interested in the ice skating, too, but I’m sort of a NASCAR-ghoul about it: I’m just watching for the crashes. And the outfits. (So…I’m a gay NASCAR ghoul. Nice.)