Thursday, May 15, 2008

WIP it, WIP it good!

Yes, it’s time to get amongst the WIPs! The knitting on the Tahoe has finished (all except the bands), and it took nine and a half balls of Zara. Have I mentioned how much I love knitting with the Zara? I have also decided that ‘Lime green’ is not a good description of its colour, so I have decided it is ‘Wasabi’. The bands are knitted in a variegated Patonyle I bought from ACS at Wanagaratta (the Patomonster comes into its own) and the colour of that is medium and pale blue, spring green and white. I have to find some nice buttons, and do an enormous amount of sewing up (sides, inserting sleeves, shoulders, hems on bottom and sleeves and bands) and it will be mine!

Then, I am going to whip the WIPs into shape. I have 3 part pairs of socks which have been lurking, trying to attract my attention since the end of March, so the idea is that they will be finished before the end of the month. I am also around a third of the way up the body of the Gathered Pullover, so it would be good to make some progress on that. There are so many things I want to knit and to wear, that getting some finished would be good!

Somewhere in the last two years I have slipped from being a product knitter to being a process knitter. I have also become a capital ‘K’ Knitter in that time. Knitting has become a central plank of my identity. I see myself as a Knitter, Blogger, mother, cook and so on – but knitting is definitely one of the first things to come to mind if I think about myself. I still love the products of my hands (and just threw out another 2 manufactured jumpers to prove it), but the process of knitting – the learning, extending my knowledge, honing my craft – has become immeasurably important to me.

I’m enjoying the stash-busting cardigans. And to prove it I cast on a Juliet this morning! I have had some rather gorgeous bulky weight Jade marinating in my not-stash for a couple of years – and now was the time to use it – a short sleeved over-cardi, knit in the round from the top down, in bulky wool with a garter stitch yoke and a lace body – what could be nicer?

But I’m also enjoying socks, and felting, and knitted toys, and scarves, and shawls. I am enjoying the planning, the perusing of patterns, the stash-diving and finding the perfect yarn to match with the pattern. I have slipped from product to process knitting incrementally. I’m still not a complete process knitter, but I can see such a thing in my future. Maybe not all the time, or for every project, but it’s there – beckoning.

10 comments:

Rose Red said...

On these matters, as with many things, you and I are as one!!

Donyale said...

I hears ya sista

amanda j said...

Is it a curse or a calling?

Donna Lee said...

I am definitely a process knitter. Even if right now the process seems to be socks, I try to find some with a new stitch, pattern, technique so I can learn. I learned I don't like entrelac so much, and I love lace. My next obsession may very well be shawls. I have been gifted with a book of shawl patterns and they are looking mighty tempting.

knightlyknitter.wordpress.com said...

Tink, i just loved this post! It expressed some of my own feelings so well, and the last two paragraphs are just gorgeous!!!

Congrats on your fabulous cardi efforts, and I look forward to seeing them strutting their stuff :>

Amy Lane said...

I know what you mean--I was SUCH a product knitter, and then my time just went bye bye, and suddenly just holding the yarn in my hands and knitting and doing interesting things with it, THAT became so much more important!

Would love some pix, but as the worst photographer on the blog, I've got no place to complain:-)

kgirlknits said...

hee heee, knitter with a capital K! on your wavelength, sister!

Five Ferns Fibreholic said...

Pictures????? Where are the pictures???

Congrats on the capital K....and the stash busting. You're a woman after my own heart.

MadMad said...

I have so many things on the needles, I've stopped trying to understand it. In fact, every time I start to wonder... I just cast something else on. Oh well.

2paw said...

Neeeeed picture of the cardigan, though I am so far behind it may already have appeared!!!
I have enough wool set aside to knit 10 cardigans or jumpers!! I am making an effort to use it up. THis may not sound much to other people but it is a lot to me!!!