Then I married my movie obsessed husband and found myself slowly going crazy sitting in front of the TV every night. That's when I taught myself to knit so that I could keep him company without resorting to any kind of stabbing. I quickly became one of those people that are ALWAYS knitting and bought myself a yarn stash "overnight". It was the best hobby for the 2 hour train commute to work, with the benefit of being incredibly soothing.
I picked up sewing again after my son was born cause I'm in that weird no man's land of not skinny but not plus sized. Unless I wanted to spend most of my life in yoga pants I need to start making my own clothing again. Once I started sewing again knitting became my background hobby. Knitting just can't beat how fast a sewn garment comes together. When you're a product knitter/sewcialist like me that means sewing has more thrills.
But now I'm gonna let you in on my dirty secret...knitting usually makes me happy. (Unless a lot of slip stitches are involved and then those bastards can go straight to hell.) Sewing usually makes me want to throw things. Don't get me wrong buying fabric and patterns and pairing them up is super happy fun times times infinity. Wearing a garment that turned out well turns me into a smug little lady with a shit eating grin on my face. ("Yeah I made this. I MADE THIS! EVERYONE LOOK AT ME!!!")
But the actual process of sewing, tends to be more boring or rage inducing depending rather than fun. That's why I listen to podcasts while sewing, why I think hand sewing is my own personal cross to bear and why sewing for others is never gonna be on the top of my to do list. I should probably slap a selfish seamstress sticker on my sewing machine and call it a day.
Non-selfish knitting is a little different, I do knit things for other people a couple times a year. Since the process is more enjoyable I can get into making something for fun and then giving it away. Don't get me wrong I'm still happiest when I can take that finished item off the needles, call it "My precious", and then rub it all over my face. OK, now that I've admitted all of that for no reason let's look at some pretty pictures.
I get excited every time I cast on a center with Noro Silk Garden. How will the color gradient on this one knit up? Can I take some ends of two different balls and make them into a beautiful block? The white frames are knit out of Elsa Wool Cormo, the most deliciously thick and soft wool I've ever touched. Perfect for miles and miles of garter stitch, just talking about it makes me feel all zen. (I loooove you blanket.)
Needless to say my friend was thrilled. He sent me pictures of the blanket draped the back of his couch because he's cool like that.
I get what you mean about the rage inducing aspect of sewing--I get that when I am cutting out. I dread cutting, TBCH, so much that it takes me a lot longer between projects than most of my sewing sistahs.
ReplyDeleteAnd knitting seems like something I want to do, but when it comes down to it, I come up with so many excuses not to learn that I'll probably never try. But then I see things like that amazingly gorgeous blanket you made and I think "damn I wish I could knit!" at least right up until it comes time to actually purchase some of the supplies and get down with my math-y, more coordinated side...
Such a wonderful gift! It's a beautiful blanket! Lucky lucky friend!
ReplyDeleteI think I would find knitting rage inducing (I know I always like the complicated patterns best) but I've been sewing almost as long as I can remember. It seems to me that whatever you've been doing the longest is the most zen because you can zone out and just work on autopilot. I have tried to knit a couple times and it just seems too slow for me to latch onto - but I am jealous of knitting's portability!
I enjoyed this post. You confession of not enjoying actual sewing cheered me up. I have been reading your blogs for about 6 months and have been impressed with your creativity. I am teaching myself to crochet as I had a disastrous knitting experience despite years of experience. I am started a crochet blog but I am now thinking of changing the name to make it more general.
ReplyDeleteIt's a gorgeous blanket! I so admire people who knit because I really struggle to find the patience for it. I totally identify with you on the sewing rage, though. It's the sole reason I sew multiple projects and once and all in short bursts! haha!
ReplyDeleteWow...multi-talented lady! Fabulous blanket! I did not know you have a fashion design degree either! Luckyyyyyyyyyy! When I grow up.......
ReplyDeleteYou could think of knitting as one of those hobbies that you'd like to do but would take away from budget for your current hobbies. That's why I don't have a spinning wheel or loom. :)
ReplyDeleteWell, I've sewed a lot longer than knitted and it still makes me crazy. Could be that having a grade attached to it at one time still comes back to haunt me. Knitting is pretty slow so I'm not sure why I like knitting sweaters so much. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed my confession. Helen. :) I did just change the blog name to a more general one and it seemed to work out OK. Have fun learning to crochet, it's a nice hobby which I'm no good at but plenty of other people think is really easy.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, multiple project, just not too many is the way to go. Then when one pisses you off you can throw it in the corner and pick up a different one. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Margo! A pattern drafting class is always a good one to take if they have them available in your area. Its not hard once you get the basics.
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