Tonight I did something that is entirely out my character, I allowed myself to quit a project after trying to get it right 3 times over the last 2 days. The project in question is the Barbara Scarf by Lion Brand Yarns. At first I thought my new yarn from The Knitting Room in San Jose, CA would be a beautiful compliment to the very different type of cabling found in this pattern. It's a hand-spun merino wool & acrylic yarn in a beautiful variegated blue, purple, pink, maroon, olive green, brown coloring. Soft and pretty. Well, it's also out of my character to admit when I'm wrong (who likes to be wrong?), but I was wrong in choosing this yarn for this project. Probably a beginners mistake. As much as I like to think I'm advanced, I truly am a beginner knitter. I just pick things up fairly easily.
After one of what would be many conferences with my grandmother about this project and where I was having issues, I decided to use a different yarn after 2 froggings with the former yarn. The new yarn worked well, but after my grandmother very patiently explained the workings of seed stitch to me; yes the pattern has instructions but it's slightly confusing in my opinion, I was off and running again. Then came the final blow, my grandmother in an attempt to help me find where I was going wrong was knitting the pattern with me- at least through the first few cables- and she sent me a photo of her progress.
It was bloody perfect. Ok, that was to be expected, she has a good 20 years of knitting experience on me. Fine, but after doing the seed stitch the way she told me, which was different from the way I had done it yesterday I noticed my 3rd attempt was coming out quite wrong. HOW HARD IS IT to get this stitch right?! Probably not very hard and I can do a mean cable like no one else and even that was coming out wrong.
That was my final straw, and I realized maybe, I had found a pattern that was beyond my abilities at the moment. Maybe it would just require some sitdown time with my wonderful grandma to get her to show me in person where I was going wrong. Maybe the pattern is just mocking me and my previous pride in being a knitting savant. Hah!
So here I am- knowing that if I try this pattern again anytime soon I may scream- allowing myself to quit, take a breather and try something else. The pattern will always be there for me to tackle at a later date, and what is the point of making something if you're frustrated and pissed off while making it? Everything you create should come from love, not a defiant state to master a pattern/project/stitch. I'm moving on to something beautiful (lets be honest, the scarf really can't be called "pretty") and something that interests me. When I start it I'll breathe freely and deeply and my love will shine through in the creation of this buttoned up cowl.
If you ever feel the need to push through a project that is driving you insane (and no one is paying you to do it) then maybe you should readjust your thinking, take a step back, and ask yourself "What am I getting out of this, other than stress?". We create things out of love, sure there may be the motive to make money at it, but most everyone I know that has a passion for creation, it blossoms out of pure love and satisfaction of making something and having other people enjoy it. Or keeping it and enjoying it for yourself. The money is purely a side benefit. Allow yourself to quit from time to time, it will keep you motivated on the projects you really enjoy, and you won't feel like you're working at your hobby.
There, I feel better already. ;-)
Now..... time to read my new directions and get a small dent into this project before I head to bed.
Happy Creating! <3
Quinn
You are very wise! It can be very therapeutic to rip the d-d thing apart.
ReplyDeleteOne of my pet peeves is a poorly written pattern, and this one qualifies IMHO!.