It’s a rainy late summer day in New England. Maddie, recently aware of her twin and also somewhat naughty when I left the house for an hour (shhh…we put the stuffing back in the sofa. Don’t tell Neal.), is draped over my legs. All is right in my world.
I realized I have the yarn already for my Dream Sweater. There’s this pile of Manos in my stash that was first destined to be a cape. Then it was carried along in the Stripes are Stars v-neck that’s now in the frog pond. I added up yardage, and I only needed two more skeins. A perfect yarn, nearly enough yardage, and my LYS had the same color. I can handle different dye lots. I’ll alternate rows.
I’ll do a gauge swatch tonight (yes, Lauren, I’m going to make a swatch for a change!). Does anyone think there is a chance in Hades that the world’s slowest knitter, if she applies herself, could wear an actual sweater (collective gasp) to Rhinebeck?
While you ponder that question, I’m going to think about Lolly’s post today about the article in Publishers Weekly. My understanding is that the article asks the question "is knitting a trend that is going to go away?" and "What is the future for knitting books?"
I think that one of the reasons knitting (along with the related crafts such as spinning, crochet, needle felting…well, you know what they are) has become so popular is its appeal to a varied demographic. Age, income, educational background don’t matter too much when you knit. I’ve taught a five-year old to knit, as well as women in their 40s, and I was taught by women who were grandmothers. I learn from women of all ages, still. Get this, too: my neice, at 8, showed her mother how to cast off when she (her mother) wasn’t sure she knew how.
There are yarns and needles in all sorts of price ranges, too. When I’m broke, I can pick up a skein of Sugar and Cream and knit up a few bibs. When I’m flush, well. There’s that cashmere from Rome that I’m still glad I paid too much for!
As far as education? As Dave once wrote to me, our anscestors knit stuff and didn’t have patterns. You don’t need two graduate degrees to knit, although I will say that I’ve enjoyed the pleasure of some pretty smart and wise women while knitting.
Which brings me to the heart of it. Before I saw Scout’s sign for the Albuquerque SnB at Village Wools, I knit alone. Often, back when I first learned and was married to a musician, I would knit in clubs and coffeehouses, but I was the only knitter. As a writer, I spend enough time in isolation to make me crave good company, and upon moving to NM, I was eager to make some friends outside of the University.
So I went. I knit. And for the first time in my life, I had a different relationship with women. I don’t know if I can do it justice. I mean, sure, there are the friendships I’ve made throughout life that endure and are precious to me. But I don’t always get to see those friends often enough. Each week, our group of women met, laughed, shared stories, taught each other new techniques. They made me feel like I was supported, part of a sisterhood.
I think that’s why knitting will endure. I think that’s why there are so many knitting blogs. We humans crave community. There are lots of places to find it, but through knitting, not only can we express creativity, challenge ourselves (or not), do good, spread love, but we also just plain have fun. There’s a lot of dark bad things in the world. Knitting comforts me. Making stuff comforts me, and always has. Making stuff with other people keeps me hopeful and optimistic.
So what is the future of our craft? I’m amazed at the improvements I’ve made in my knitting in just one year. If Scout and Carole hadn’t insisted that I learn English knitting in order to have a chance at avoiding 0000’s for sock knitting, I don’t think I’d have the same pleasure in the things I’ve been creating. No matter how skilled a knitter is, there is always more to learn, which makes me suspect knitting will be around for a good long while.
Lolly mentions Handknit Holidays. It’s a beautiful book, and one of my favorite things about it is that I can select projects that are at my skill level, or I can challenge myself with something more complicated. I hope the more knitting books do the same. I like very much, too, Knitting Rules for its knitting "recipes", which allow me a strong base for any desire I have to experiment in my knitting or to explore design. That’s what I’d like more of in knitting books–options. Show me an item, then show me how to customize it. I’ll buy that book in a second.
What do you think about these questions? Visit Lolly, read the article, join the conversation. It’s a fascinating one.
I think you can do a sweater in time. Of course, I’m fuzzy on when Rhinebeck is since I’m on the wrong coast and all. *L*
I think knitting offers us a wonderful community. I mean, I got you, didn’t I? 😀 We get to meet and enjoy people we never would have met if we weren’t blogging about knitting or knitting in public. We get to share ourselves and what we know with people who really are interested and aren’t just nodding and smiling while wondering how to escape.
Knitting for others gives us a chance to help others while still doing what we love and improving our craft. With a side of meeting even more people.
Sandy posted about a knitting writer last week, how she didn’t have all of that woman’s books and that might make her a bad knitter. I told her I didn’t have a clue who that woman was. What’s more, I don’t care. No matter who are or how talented you are, we’re all just knitters. There is no queen… unless Dave’s in a mood. I like the equality of that. I love getting to learn from my friends and be inspired by what everyone is doing. Even if it’s something I wouldn’t make myself in a million years. I’m still curious and I’ll never know it all, so show me what you’ve got.
With a side of I’m short and if I want something to fit right, some times, I have to make it. *L*
/rambling
Ooh–what have you made from Handknit Holidays? I love looking through it, but am kind of intimidated by most of the projects. (And, of course, there’s that whole free time issue…)
I think knitting still has a long way to go. The communities that have developed and continue to develop are what helps being us together. In the past, “hobbies” or crafts would come into vogue and fade out, but the Internet has changed all that. We can now share this same interest, and help each other to perpetuate it. Over the last year, how many people have dropped from the knitting bloggerverse, versus how many new faces have appeared? That’s evidence in itself…
Beautifully said.
I think the Manos is a good choice for the sweater. Knitting definitely opens up a whole new community to share with but I also love the comfort it gives me to knit alone. Knitting can always quiet my mind when I’m worried or stressed.
Good thoughts there, PoMo!
You made me almost cry reading this……my little sign and look what it did.
xoxo
I want you to move back here dammit.
holy cow, I was just coming to say this post made me tear up & miss you extra, but j. beat me to it.
still true.
and no, I don’t think knitting is going anywhere. certain trends will pass (buhBYE novelty yarn!), but it has endured for centuries and now that we have this giant virtual community with which to share it, I only predict it will grow. My kids are counting on it, anyway.
And you have made it all the more fascinating with your well-thought out post, dear Bev! You are a great writer and synthesized the points so well. Thank you for adding to the original discussion, and giving me more food for thought. It is amazing – I had not thought of it that way before: I actually taught my mom how to knit, so it was kind of a backward tradition. Things like this will increase the longevity, and the fulfillment of our craft. It has a rich history – one that I am so interested in learning more about! – and a very bright future, indeed.
Best wishes, and thanks again,
Lolly
Well said! There is a special quality to the relationships you have with the people you meet through your craft. In my knitting group I enjoy the most wonderful, supportive non-competitive friendships I could imagine. When I read comments from my blog, or read e-mails from friends I have made through the blog, I am always smiling, often laughing.
It seems to me that this internet community is raising the bar, new books are constantly coming out by bloggers, with fresh innovative patterns. This medium is doing it’s part to keep knitting alive and well. I am sometimes startled when I go to a LYS that doesn’t keep up with what is happening in the knitblog community. They always seem to be a little behind the times with what they are offering to their customers.
Okay, as a Rhinebeck virgin myself, let me get this straight, I need a new project to wear!?! Yikes.
Excellent post.. well said..
and I have to shake my head at commenter Kirsten’s remark… poor, innocent girl.. ::laughing::
Well said :o)
Knitting has brought me great joy (as has spinning) and has also brought me great friends – in real life and in cyber-life (yourself included) :o)
Will I see you at the blogger’s meetup at Rhinebeck on Saturyday? Jenny might be visiting me that weekend, and we would make the trip – it would be nice to have a little ABQ reunion in NY!
A swatch! Really, a swatch? You really meant to say swatch? That is, you — you, Beverly, are swatching? Really, really a swatch? A SWATCH?! => Good for you girlfriend. I’ll chalk it up to your maturing process as a knitter. Ha!
Thank you for your words about knitting. Hear, hear. And my glass is lifted to you.