Good one! the right amount of 'whelm' is what I am experiencing currently with my Tunisian hexagons. As for your thoughts on worsted and fingering, I love working with fingering. I think for me heavier yarns do not have much use in the place where I live. Basically I am a crocheter and heavier yarns when crocheted feel very heavy. Even fingering wt yarns when crocheted I feel they not only consume more yarn, but also feel heavy. Whereas, fingering yarn feels light and soft to knit. Complex and simple knit/crochet totally depends on the current mood for me. Also I think I love working with thinner yarns more as I started crocheting with the thinnest of thread before venturing into yarns.
I agree with you on the thinner yarns. Once you get comfortable with fingering weight, and get used to its drape, it is hard to go back to heavier yarns. :) Vidya btw, your Tunisian hexagons have been such a treat to watch.
Absolutely agree! Love the concept of the right amount of whelm! It’s interesting, I have found my preference for what I wear being shaped by what I like to knit more and more! I like to wear simple cardi’s but so boring to knit! Now, needing more complex fun things to knits has helped me expand my wardrobe!
Thank you Alexa! How interesting you mention that. It's true, at least to some extent, what I wear has been influenced by what I like to knit. I am so excited to see what garment projects you'll be doing. For boring knits, my only tip is to have your audiobook or Netflix show picked and ready. 😂
I so agree with everything you say, I often switch between design work during the day and then a simple shawl or socks in the evening to relax. I knitted the find your fade shawl too, but find it difficult to wear due to its size. I love your colour choices, very pretty. Really looking forward to your reworked Nasha Shawl.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Heike! I find it essential to switch between design and other projects too. Sometimes I have a hard time figuring out the next step in a design, unless I have recharged in some way.
I love the idea of "right amount of whelm" - I'm currently knitting a scarf, and it's simple enough though I do need to keep track of the rows so it requires a bit of thought; not ideal for mindless working. I am also crocheting a mandala blanket, and each round is simple enough it's the perfect amount of whelm for keeping my hands busy but letting my brain rest in the rhythm of making without thought also.
Your projects sound lovely. 🥰 Especially the mandala. I think intentionally seeking the right amount of whelm in projects would be good for us in the long run. 🩷
Love the pullover!! Great article- right amount of 'whelm' is right! I need something that is not so crazy that I need to put all my attention to it, but something that isn't boring and will make me not want to keep repeating the pattern. right now I'm working on a fun cable knit sweater that isn't too complicated but has the right amount of whelm :)
Thank you so much for your kind comment. It is indeed so satisfying to find the right amount of whelm. And you make a good point - it should be inviting enough to come back and repeat it if need be.
A fantastic post Kavitha! I resonate with your concept of the "right amount of whelm" It's so satisfying when a challenging part of a pattern is figured out. It feels like such an achievement. I love the meme that gets around "Knitting is my super power!" :)
Simple lace patterns are my jam right now. Working my way throw scrappy projects using up sock yarn remnants. I have made purchases that turned out to be bad choices as in wrong yarn, really don’t like the stitch, pattern doesn’t look like the pictures. You get the idea…whelm is a concept I struggle with getting right for my brain and my hands.
I hear you, 'Whelm' is elusive to begin with. It helps to take breaks and reflect on our choices and course correct things. And you already seem to be doing the right things - simple projects, scrappy projects etc. ❤️
True! Another way I look at it is where is all that complexity leading to? Is the FO irresistible to me? Then probably it is worthwhile to power through it all. 🫶
Definitely so true! I've learned that there's a balance between restful knitting (simple but with some small variations) and mindless (plain stockinette or garter). Likewise, there are times when I'm stressed where challenging patterns are great because they force me to be in the moment and times when I simply can't handle the frustration of messing up. It's about finding the balance for the moment
Nice post Kavitha! Love the little 😨emoji! It so depicts what I sometimes feel when I need to do my taxes. 🤣 Nice job of describing how we knitters get over the hurdles of learning our craft! Like a lot of life, Nike got it right ..... Just do it! .... One caveat might be to pick your best time to approach a project with a big learning curve. IE Avoid learning to do a complex or complicated detail for a gift due next week! When learning to do something like color change, watch some online videos, sign-up for a class at a local yarn shop, or ask a friend who knows how, for a little time sharing her skill. Most knitters would be happy to do this!
I like your Niyat pullover! Being short waisted and a little broad at the hip, it might suit me. Never would have guessed that it was done on fingering weight! I am thinking it might be fun to try knitting just the torso for a summer top, in something ... like a cotton/linen thread? Interesting construction. I appreciated the info at Ravelry.
The pretty knit pattern might also work with one of those 2 panel short ponchos. The ones that form a diagonal knit. These little ponchos have gone out of style, but I like to dress in layers and the little ponchos and vests and boleros work well with cotton turtlenecks which I am fond of wearing. I also like being able to carry a small over the shoulder purse under a poncho when shopping. It feels safer.
Interesting thoughts on getting a comfortable amount of whelm! And the ideas about fear of change and 'the new' in our lives. When we are little kids, it is all new! Most of us survive and then somewhere along the line, we become less inclined to take a different route or try a new flavor. Next thing you know, we are moving to the end of the twig and wishing we had tried a few more new things and gone a few more new places!
Aww, thank you so much Sandy! He he, I love that this is 😨 your taxpayer-mood emoji. Spot on!! :)) Thank you for sharing that tip here. You are right, most of the overwhelm can be managed with a little planning.
You pretty much summed it up. Only very few of us seem to recognize the fleeting nature of our lives early enough to try and get the most out of it.
Thank you so much for your kind words about Niyat. If you are comfortable knitting garments in cotton/linen, it should work. If your yarn is known to lengthen on washing, it might be better to do a couple inches shorter in anticipation. The lace panels would absolutely work for a poncho, it's a lovely idea indeed.
Good one! the right amount of 'whelm' is what I am experiencing currently with my Tunisian hexagons. As for your thoughts on worsted and fingering, I love working with fingering. I think for me heavier yarns do not have much use in the place where I live. Basically I am a crocheter and heavier yarns when crocheted feel very heavy. Even fingering wt yarns when crocheted I feel they not only consume more yarn, but also feel heavy. Whereas, fingering yarn feels light and soft to knit. Complex and simple knit/crochet totally depends on the current mood for me. Also I think I love working with thinner yarns more as I started crocheting with the thinnest of thread before venturing into yarns.
I agree with you on the thinner yarns. Once you get comfortable with fingering weight, and get used to its drape, it is hard to go back to heavier yarns. :) Vidya btw, your Tunisian hexagons have been such a treat to watch.
Absolutely agree! Love the concept of the right amount of whelm! It’s interesting, I have found my preference for what I wear being shaped by what I like to knit more and more! I like to wear simple cardi’s but so boring to knit! Now, needing more complex fun things to knits has helped me expand my wardrobe!
Thank you Alexa! How interesting you mention that. It's true, at least to some extent, what I wear has been influenced by what I like to knit. I am so excited to see what garment projects you'll be doing. For boring knits, my only tip is to have your audiobook or Netflix show picked and ready. 😂
I so agree with everything you say, I often switch between design work during the day and then a simple shawl or socks in the evening to relax. I knitted the find your fade shawl too, but find it difficult to wear due to its size. I love your colour choices, very pretty. Really looking forward to your reworked Nasha Shawl.
Happy weekend to you 🥰
Thank you so much for your kind words, Heike! I find it essential to switch between design and other projects too. Sometimes I have a hard time figuring out the next step in a design, unless I have recharged in some way.
I ended up giving my giant “find your fade” to my tall friend- it’s perfect for her.
I love the idea of "right amount of whelm" - I'm currently knitting a scarf, and it's simple enough though I do need to keep track of the rows so it requires a bit of thought; not ideal for mindless working. I am also crocheting a mandala blanket, and each round is simple enough it's the perfect amount of whelm for keeping my hands busy but letting my brain rest in the rhythm of making without thought also.
Your projects sound lovely. 🥰 Especially the mandala. I think intentionally seeking the right amount of whelm in projects would be good for us in the long run. 🩷
Love the pullover!! Great article- right amount of 'whelm' is right! I need something that is not so crazy that I need to put all my attention to it, but something that isn't boring and will make me not want to keep repeating the pattern. right now I'm working on a fun cable knit sweater that isn't too complicated but has the right amount of whelm :)
Thank you so much for your kind comment. It is indeed so satisfying to find the right amount of whelm. And you make a good point - it should be inviting enough to come back and repeat it if need be.
A fantastic post Kavitha! I resonate with your concept of the "right amount of whelm" It's so satisfying when a challenging part of a pattern is figured out. It feels like such an achievement. I love the meme that gets around "Knitting is my super power!" :)
Thank you Jodie! So glad it resonated with you. I agree, it is so satisfying to figure out something that's challenging. :)
Simple lace patterns are my jam right now. Working my way throw scrappy projects using up sock yarn remnants. I have made purchases that turned out to be bad choices as in wrong yarn, really don’t like the stitch, pattern doesn’t look like the pictures. You get the idea…whelm is a concept I struggle with getting right for my brain and my hands.
I hear you, 'Whelm' is elusive to begin with. It helps to take breaks and reflect on our choices and course correct things. And you already seem to be doing the right things - simple projects, scrappy projects etc. ❤️
Agree completely. I like a bit of complexity to keep me interested, but too much and I give up after a while. I don't have the patience anymore!
True! Another way I look at it is where is all that complexity leading to? Is the FO irresistible to me? Then probably it is worthwhile to power through it all. 🫶
Definitely so true! I've learned that there's a balance between restful knitting (simple but with some small variations) and mindless (plain stockinette or garter). Likewise, there are times when I'm stressed where challenging patterns are great because they force me to be in the moment and times when I simply can't handle the frustration of messing up. It's about finding the balance for the moment
Oh, I love your reasoning behind going for challenging projects, Tay! 💞
Nice post Kavitha! Love the little 😨emoji! It so depicts what I sometimes feel when I need to do my taxes. 🤣 Nice job of describing how we knitters get over the hurdles of learning our craft! Like a lot of life, Nike got it right ..... Just do it! .... One caveat might be to pick your best time to approach a project with a big learning curve. IE Avoid learning to do a complex or complicated detail for a gift due next week! When learning to do something like color change, watch some online videos, sign-up for a class at a local yarn shop, or ask a friend who knows how, for a little time sharing her skill. Most knitters would be happy to do this!
I like your Niyat pullover! Being short waisted and a little broad at the hip, it might suit me. Never would have guessed that it was done on fingering weight! I am thinking it might be fun to try knitting just the torso for a summer top, in something ... like a cotton/linen thread? Interesting construction. I appreciated the info at Ravelry.
The pretty knit pattern might also work with one of those 2 panel short ponchos. The ones that form a diagonal knit. These little ponchos have gone out of style, but I like to dress in layers and the little ponchos and vests and boleros work well with cotton turtlenecks which I am fond of wearing. I also like being able to carry a small over the shoulder purse under a poncho when shopping. It feels safer.
Interesting thoughts on getting a comfortable amount of whelm! And the ideas about fear of change and 'the new' in our lives. When we are little kids, it is all new! Most of us survive and then somewhere along the line, we become less inclined to take a different route or try a new flavor. Next thing you know, we are moving to the end of the twig and wishing we had tried a few more new things and gone a few more new places!
Aww, thank you so much Sandy! He he, I love that this is 😨 your taxpayer-mood emoji. Spot on!! :)) Thank you for sharing that tip here. You are right, most of the overwhelm can be managed with a little planning.
You pretty much summed it up. Only very few of us seem to recognize the fleeting nature of our lives early enough to try and get the most out of it.
Thank you so much for your kind words about Niyat. If you are comfortable knitting garments in cotton/linen, it should work. If your yarn is known to lengthen on washing, it might be better to do a couple inches shorter in anticipation. The lace panels would absolutely work for a poncho, it's a lovely idea indeed.