If you’re not a knitter, why not? No . . seriously, I understand not everyone likes to knit but for those who do . . this post is for you.
There are so many times that knitter write me saying something like “you do such hard patterns”. I don’t do anything that’s hard. I don’t make hard quilts. I don’t cook hard hard recipes. Everything I do is easy or I don’t do it. Another thing I’ve learned is that if there’s something you love to do, it’s easy but if there’s something you detest doing, even the simplest of tasks can be difficult.
As I was outside doing chicken chores, I was thinking about this. If you take a sticky note and write a quick one line note to you friend and stick it on her door, is that any easier than writing a long note to your best friend? What if you’re writing the note to a friend sending condolences for a loss? That’s harder than writing a note to your friend telling her about your fun vacation. What I’m trying to say is that “hard” or not totally depends on what you want to do .
For me cleaning the house is so hard. That’s what I say but I know it isn’t “hard” . . it’s just something I don’t want to do, have other things I’d rather be doing and it is torture for me to start and not stop til this house is clean. I’d rather do anything than clean so, when someone tells me knitting is hard, I fully understand what you’re saying.
Here’s the meat of this post: If you want to do it . . DO IT! If you love knitting and you would like to go to the next level, what’s stopping you? A skein of yarn? A pattern? A few beads? You’re never know what you can do til you try.
You’re not going to believe me but Anna Victoria’s patterns (beaded shawls) are so easy! They may look intimidating but you remember that knitting is totally knit stitches and purl stitches and how you combine them and dissect them and put them back together again.
Close Up
It’s all knits and purls with a few yarnovers thrown in. Anna’s patterns are so easy to read your knitting, especially if doing beads. If you get to a spot where you put a bead and that’s the wrong spot, you know something has happened. I always put stitch markers for every repeat and once I’ve done a repeat, I count. If I’m supposed to have 21 stitches and I have more or less, I can go back and fix the problem before I lose too much of my knitting. She includes a chart and at the end of EVERY right side row, you know what your stitch count should be. Almost all of her patterns (maybe all . . can’t remember) have patterns only on the right side row. The wrong side rows are just purl.
You really can do these patterns .. if that’s what you want to do but if it doesn’t thrill you to knit lace shawls . . that’s alright too. Just do what makes you happy but all I’m saying is . . don’t put off doing something you want to do because you think it’s too hard.
Barb Mikrut says
I just knitted my first pair of toe up socks. I did the fish lip heel. I am left handed so I have to figure it out my way. They turned out pretty good for first pair. I am looking forward to making more. I have been knittting for many years.
Carolyn says
I can do simple knitting, but binding off is a hurdle I don’t like. I’m one of those who would be happy doing anything but knitting. I’ve loved the dishcloths I made and would enjoy them if I could bind off.
Linda says
Beads is what scares me. I need to get on you tube and find some instructions. Love your shawl.
Madame Tut says
I’m curious how you discover new patterns on Ravelry. Do you search under ‘shawls’, ‘beaded shawls’ or have some other tactics to hone in? I’ve been diving into knitting more and like the Ravelry site but sometimes it seems so overwhelming to find things I might like.
montanaclarks says
As you know I was a failure at socks but I did knit some washcloths. I should try some other form of knitting as right now one of Nat’s caregivers is a master knitter–she could help me figure out how to fix my mistakes!!
April Reeves says
I’m right there with you on the cleaning! I’m debating hiring a cleaner but the cost, ouch! The freedom to focus on the things I do love doing might justify the cost. might.
For other things, so many people tell me I don’t know how you do it all. You are right and I never thought about it that way but if you like it, it is easy. I tell some people, well my house is messy. My kids eat too many spaghetti O’s. i work so I don’t volunteer at their school or get too involved there. My kids don’t play sports. Their activity is karate and part of their school aftercare. I also have my kids part time so that allows me to volunteer my time for scouts.
But also trying new things doesn’t intimidate me. I will have a dinner party and cook all new items cause that is what excites me. I like a challenge but I understand there are others that enjoy the comfort of making the same thing. To each their own.
Just Don’t let fear stop you!
Nelle Coursey says
I like challenges but some of the things I have tried have really tried my patience!
dezertsuz says
That is excellent advice, and an excellent analysis. I know there are things I don’t do, not because they are too hard, but because my interest is outweighed by something that might be termed too hard, but is really lack of interest. =)