Recommitting to the joys of knitting
Lessons learned from my design work, new designs, upcoming pattern etc.
Around here, fall has definitely set in after its customary hide-and-seek for the past several weeks. 🍂🍁 I haven’t quite put away all of my summer clothing yet, but it is time to bring out some mitts and handknit socks🧦 for those chilly evenings and mornings.
Currently, I am putting a few finishing touches on my projects for the classes I am teaching in the upcoming Lambtown Festival as well as in my LYS.
I am also getting ready to cast on new designs and work on new classes. I have my vision for these projects and broad details worked out. I have also wound my yarn and started swatching, and I am pretty excited to be starting new things.🧶
But as knitters, we may all agree that starting a project is the easiest thing to do. At the very beginning stages, the possibilities offered by a project idea are so high, and it is such a great fuel to keep me going.
Once I cast on my first stitches onto the needles, though, my imagined possibilities are diminished, and the project begins to take a specific course.
Like art flowing out of the first mark of the artist on the canvas,
like writing taking direction after the first sentence the writer lays down,
my stitches slowly build on my needles to become fabric.
At this stage, my knitting invariably gives me feedback that I cannot ignore. Maybe about the feasibility of yarn choice, or the chosen stitch pattern, or placement of a design element, color combinations—it could be anything. From then on, things become more specific than a mere imagined potential. More often than not, this might mean that I slow down and course correct.
Over the years, I have been learning these lessons my knitting is trying to teach me. Slowing down in my design work means:
I am making some mistakes that others can possibly avoid in the future.
I am gaining more perspective for my original idea.
I begin to move more and more in the right direction to realize the best version of my idea.
I am staying true to my creative process and not falling for the false norms dictated by external factors, like social media.
This process is not just about eliminating unnecessary things, but also figuring out the absolute must for the given design.
I’d love to know what are some of the most valuable lessons your knitting has taught you. Let me know in comments!
This season, I am not letting myself be overwhelmed by these apparent setbacks. Instead, I am recommitting to the joys of knitting. I am reminding myself that this is just the most natural way ideas get realized into something finished and useful.
Things take time to make, especially good things. It will take so long to cook a meal; for a plant to mature; for birthing a baby; for writing a book; for knitting something.
All creativity takes time.
UPCOMING PATTERN
Shirin Shawl is getting tested right now and it will be ready for release around second week of October.
FEATURED PATTERN
I want to feature one of my earlier patterns, Kavya Shawl, this week. I think I can say that my love for shallow and longer shawls began with Kavya. I love how this shawl sits on my shoulders comfortably and wraps around generously.
This pattern is available for download from Ravelry, Payhip and Lovecrafts.
I thought you might like these..
Jodie Morgan (writes The Art of Fiber) shares her tips for staying committed to one knitting project at a time.
I love Patricia J.L. ’s (writes Twisting the Myths) idea of Maker Mondays. Will you join in?
Until next time,
Kavitha. ♡
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I so enjoy learning about your design process Kavitha. It's so interesting that you've found slowing down benefits your creativity in so many ways. I'm sure your test knitters are enjoying your Shirin Shawl pattern. Your Kayva Shawl speaks to my knitting heart :) Thanks so much for the shout out.
I love the reminder that creativity takes time. I can resist that reality as both a writer and a knitter.
Recently knitting has been reaching me to slow down and enjoy the process. To let things simply be as and where they are. It's been a way to practice patience creatively.