I’ve had a lot of time to think about everytime I casted on something. Not everything was the home run hit that I expected it to be. Some were complete flops and some were just full on mistakes. As a knitting, of course I’m going to take a rejection of my projects personally, especially if it was made as a gift for someone. So today, I’m going to give you my opinion on 5 reasons you should knit for the right reason.
1. Who Are We Crafting For
My answer today would be a completely different answer than when I first started. In the beginning when I first took up my hooks and needles, I felt that my craft had to beneficial to the family. I wanted to make sure what ever I made would be useful and had a purpose.
Also, for some strange reason that didn’t include myself. So in the beginning, my Instagram feed consisted of things I made for my kids or husband. Rarely did I make something for myself. I mean I had a plan, but it took me a few years to do it.
When I did get around to it, I made beautiful a cabled sweater that was in the perfect yarn that I loved.
Well, I ended up giving that sweater away to my daughter. It turns out that there was just too much going on for me in that lovely sweater. My feelings for it has changed, and yes it took me a while to complete, but I’ve learned that I have a style and that wasn’t it.
Mind you the sweater thought came from a sweater i had in my teen years that I loved, but for some reason I don’t remember the design. So, I’ll try to knit another sweater again but with a different yarn. Sometimes, it’s not even the design but the type of yarn that I used. I’m thinking I need something more saturated
2. If You Do Knit For Others, Be Sure They Appreciate Your Time
I’ve had some really hard conversations about my knitting with others. While my love language is quality time and gift giving, I made a project for someone who sadly, it didn’t fit them. I was upset, naturally, and I wanted to correct it, but there were a lot of things that was wrong with the project.
- It was the wrong weight of yarn
- All the sewing was visible because it was the wrong weight of yarn.
- Not only was it the wrong weight, it was the wrong type of yarn, that the sweater just grew longer the more you handled it.
Needles to say, the project was a disaster. I offered to remake the project for them, but in the meantime they got really nasty about it. Accusing me of making something subpar because I was making it for them. They compared my work for other individuals to theirs. Even after explaining that I was trying to make a project work with the yarn that they picked (bad idea), it didn’t work out the way either one of us intended it. Meanwhile, the sweater took me months to do because I had a shoulder injury. I was also trying to make it among all the other responsibilities that I take care of.
The desire to knit this project is out of the window now, and I’ll do it, just to get it off out of my stash (since I bought the correct yarn for the project). I now look at this project as a obligation but not as something that I’m pouring my heart into. However, I know I will not be doing this again. Not only have I used up a lot of my spare time to make something for someone (and failed), they accused me of messing up on purpose–and demanded I make them a new one right at at moment. Nope.
I’ve since learned that when I craft, I should do it because I want to do it. I don’t have an obligation to knit for others. If I want to make something for other people then I’ll do it, but I’m not pressured to. Having that insight really freed up my crafting bandwidth to focus on what I truly want to make.
Now does that mean I don’t make sweaters for the family…nope, I still do, but it’s more planning and I cast on when I’m ready to and if I really want to.
3. It’s Okay To Be a Selfish Knitter
I so wish someone drilled that into my head in the very beginning. After the horrible experience that I mentioned above, I really don’t want to knit for other people again. I’ve decided to become a selfish knitter. Well there is one other person I’ll knit for, she will appreciate it and wear it. However, no more from me. I was so hurt by that person’s behavior that I have looked at my stash in a whole new light. There are tons of projects that I thought would look nice for others, but now I’m looking at them for me.
I honestly can be more excited about that. To think that I’m going to focus on making my own wardrobe going forward. The truth of the matter is, no one appreciates or respects the time you put into your craft. You learn new skills, techniques, more efficient ways to be better at what you do. Unless the other person is in the same field, they will not understand it. Also, because this is what you decide to spend your free time on, why not spend it on yourself when you’re catering to everyone else’s needs.
No one is going to pamper you, no one is going to take care of you in the way you need while you’re giving yourself away to those in need. It’s 100% to be okay and craft for yourself.
4. It’s Okay to Like a Style of Knits and Yarn
When I first started knitting, I didn’t really know where to start. I didn’t know what yarn I should be using, I just picked up things because they were affordable and nice. These days it’s the affordable and nice still but there is a method to the madness of my stash.
In the very beginning, I didn’t know if I liked the complication of cables or if I liked simple stitches. I really didn’t have a preference, and I just didn’t know. Well, I know now. I personally love cables, but I won’t always wear them. I do like traveling or slipped stitches. I know you’ve seen this shawl so many times so far, but it has been my favorite so far. Not sure its the colors or the pattern, but I love the heavily saturated colors.
Looking at my stash, I can say that I gravitate to the more saturated colors. And that’s okay. I used to look at all the pastel colors and think, why can’t I just make things with those colors. Well, first of all, it doesn’t look good with my complection, so there’s that. If I’m going to go with pastel colors its going to be pink or orange if its close to my face. I can get away with far more colors on my nails.
If you like saturated colors, then that’s okay. If you like pastel colors, that’s also okay. Go for what makes you happy. Life is just too short to get hung up on different styles of yarn (acrylic or natural fibers, hand dyed vs manufacturer), at the end of the day, work with what you like. If you’re curious about natural fibers, then go for it, and if you able to–leave yarn snobbery at the door. Ain’t nobody one got time for that!
5. Don’t Let Perfectionism Hold You Back
Finally, when I first started watching youtube videos and learning how to knit, I was determined to do it the right way. Trying to copy other people’s style of handling the yarn and knitting ways.
To make a long story short, when I did look at youtube I was fighting with my perfectionism. I had a hard time trying to figure out what was the “right” way to do things. Increases, decreases, joining yarn. Everything became a struggle. It became so frustrating because I was trying to fit myself into someone else’s style.
In a way, I am so thankful that most of my knowledge has come from my library of books that I reference. When it doesn’t make sense, or it’s not clicking, I’ll refer to youtube. It didn’t stop the feeling, but I know I have a tendency to try to do things the “right way.” So if you didn’t know, I’m going to tell you this:
- There is no right way.
- Your way is the right way
There is no right way — Its sad that it has to be said, but this is an art, this is your art, you will do things that works for you in your own way. It could look unconventional, and it may look different than other people’s way, but its your way. Be proud of where you can and where you’re going. I’m so inspired by people who have overcome injuries and who decided to still carry on their craft. It may not be done the same way as before, but they are getting things done.
Be thankful where you are now, and look forward to the road a head to where you are going.
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