This will be my last post until after Dick's surgery. It has been postponed until Wednesday August 3 because of a nasty case of poison ivy. As Roseanna Roseanna Dana would say, "If it's not one thing, it's another." It's amazing how many things have to be undone and redone to change the date of a surgery. I will take my MacBook with me so I don't have to write "Knitting: A Love Story" on my iPhone like I did from Hawaii. I have so appreciated your comments and support. In the midst of all of this stress, knitting has kept me sane and strong. I probably have knit more in the past two months than I ever had in any two month period.
There it is; my wonderfuly, relaxing continental grip. (Wait a minute! Does grip only apply to golf or can it be applied to not only how you hold your club but how you hold your needles?) I believe this helps me relax and calm down. I've found myself on many days over the past several weeks picking up my knitting to slow my breathing, to loosen my chest, to calm my mind. It always works. Sometimes I pick up my knitting when I am stuck on a problem. Some where between K1, P1, ssk, ktbl I realize I have found the solution to my problem. I am sure the rhythm of knitting is magical.
Why would anybody want to mess with this powerful Zen? Last fall I was shocked to get my Vogue Knitting magazine and see an article called "25 Tips For Faster Knitting." Why would anybody want to do that!?!?!?!?!? Then I decided to explore farther and did a Google search. There was article after article. "Learn to knit in the round. Knitting in the round decreases the amount of time you would need to turn your knitting over and adjust your stitches on the needle." Oh, really! YouTube, Craftsy, The Craft Session, Knitted Bliss, Pinterest. They and more have articles on how you can knit faster. Did you know there is an international trophy for World's Fastest Knitter? I would like to be known as an elegant knitter, an amazing knitter, an adventurous knitter. I don't care to be known as a fast knitter. Once again, I think it is because I am a process knitter more than a product knitter.
One of the suggestions I found was to knit in the dark so you get used not looking at your knitting. Are you kidding? Another suggestion was to play fast music to increase your speed. Please! I love this suggestion, "If you want to knit faster, crochet." One suggestion was knit with heavier yarns while another was knit with finer yarns. I say knit with yarns you love and enjoy every minute.
For me knitting is about absolute enjoyment. It is about bringing me to my quiet, calm space. I love my yarn bowl which says "I knit so I don't kill people." What has made me a more efficient knitter is reading and understanding a pattern before I begin. Carefully swatch and practice any new techniques before you start. AND KNITTING, KNITTING AND MORE KNITTING.
I do have my hospital knitting ready. It is beautiful and I love it. I started it the day Dick had his heart cath and have been knitting it as we waited and waited and waited. It has gotten me through this stressful time. Not by being fast but by being rhythmic and soothing and beautiful. The need for fast has never entered my mind. While the need for calm has been present every day. My plan is to visit Spun while we are in Ann Arbor, maybe take a class at the Apple Store and KNIT, KNIT, KNIT. I will do my best to post at least once. Thoughts and prayers are welcome.
Why would anybody want to mess with this powerful Zen? Last fall I was shocked to get my Vogue Knitting magazine and see an article called "25 Tips For Faster Knitting." Why would anybody want to do that!?!?!?!?!? Then I decided to explore farther and did a Google search. There was article after article. "Learn to knit in the round. Knitting in the round decreases the amount of time you would need to turn your knitting over and adjust your stitches on the needle." Oh, really! YouTube, Craftsy, The Craft Session, Knitted Bliss, Pinterest. They and more have articles on how you can knit faster. Did you know there is an international trophy for World's Fastest Knitter? I would like to be known as an elegant knitter, an amazing knitter, an adventurous knitter. I don't care to be known as a fast knitter. Once again, I think it is because I am a process knitter more than a product knitter.
One of the suggestions I found was to knit in the dark so you get used not looking at your knitting. Are you kidding? Another suggestion was to play fast music to increase your speed. Please! I love this suggestion, "If you want to knit faster, crochet." One suggestion was knit with heavier yarns while another was knit with finer yarns. I say knit with yarns you love and enjoy every minute.
For me knitting is about absolute enjoyment. It is about bringing me to my quiet, calm space. I love my yarn bowl which says "I knit so I don't kill people." What has made me a more efficient knitter is reading and understanding a pattern before I begin. Carefully swatch and practice any new techniques before you start. AND KNITTING, KNITTING AND MORE KNITTING.
I do have my hospital knitting ready. It is beautiful and I love it. I started it the day Dick had his heart cath and have been knitting it as we waited and waited and waited. It has gotten me through this stressful time. Not by being fast but by being rhythmic and soothing and beautiful. The need for fast has never entered my mind. While the need for calm has been present every day. My plan is to visit Spun while we are in Ann Arbor, maybe take a class at the Apple Store and KNIT, KNIT, KNIT. I will do my best to post at least once. Thoughts and prayers are welcome.
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