There was a comment last night asking about how many knitted items I have and if I wear them a few seasons and discard them.
Obviously I have a lot of knitted items – completed plus a lot of not yet finished items. I had one pair of socks that developed some pretty big holes. I actually think Speck chewed on them because the holes were not any place that indicated wear. I threw those away. Otherwise, I don’t think I’ve ever thrown anything I knitted away. I finish shawls, friends say they love them, and I give them whatever they like. Same with socks. Sweaters, not so much because of sizing issues.
Here, since it doesn’t get cold often, I get a LOT of wear out of shawls and sweaters. We mostly never need a really heavy jacket and sweaters will suffice except on the coldest of days.
Here’s how I look at it.
- It’s cheaper than therapy. No explanation needed.
- We don’t have cable. Knitting is my entertainment. I have no idea what cable costs these days but I think it was around $60/month last time we had it and that was years ago.
- Have you ever known us to go on a vacation? I can’t remember the last time we did. Neither of us enjoy traveling. We have the chickens, the blind dog, the cats, the garden . . it’s easier to stay home.
No one has to justify to me how they spend their money but even if I never wore any of the things I knit (and, of course, I do!) the money I spend on yarn is way less than most people spend on vacations, entertainment, nails, hair color, eating out – the things I don’t buy.
But, for those who do those things, you see a “value” in it. I do not. For me, sitting and knitting on something after a long day of working in the garden, canning, cooking, laundry .. it’s worth every penny of whatever the yarn cost might have been.
I can’t imagine loving to knit, seeing a pattern I’d love to make, having the money to buy the yarn and not doing it because I don’t need another sweater. It’s a hobby! It’s something I do to relax. I enjoy the Facebook knitting groups I participate in.
It’s exactly like quilting. How many quilters make a quilt when they need a new one for their bed? How many quilters have more quilts than they’ll ever use? I’ve given away hundreds of quilts during my quilting years and I never ever saw a pattern I wanted to make and thought “ahh . .we don’t need another quilt.”
The reader making the comment was not being critical, and I know she wasn’t. It’s a legitimate question and I am not trying to be offense either. She asked if there was a secret I needed to share. Not really a secret but I believe in living life in a way that makes me happy and the real secret, that I feel too many never find, is knowing what makes us happy and acting on it. Sitting in a hair salon for an hour or two once a month to have my gray hair colored or highlighted would make me miserable. Staying in a hotel or eating in restaurants – I have to have a serious heart to heart with myself just to tolerate doing either.
For the lady writing the comment, my guess is having sweaters in a drawer that aren’t worn is a problem, so for her, knitting another one would not be fun. For me, it just isn’t a problem at all.
One more thing – this probably shows the crazy way I think but back in my younger years, my ex and I went to Vegas often. We could drive from Lake Charles to Houston, get a Thursday evening flight and be in Vegas in time for dinner. Stay Friday and Saturday and come home Sunday afternoon. This was before Chad and we had no chickens, blind dog or cats! 🙂
We had friends who were terribly opposed to gambling and kinda gave us a hard time about it. Neither of us had a gambling problem – we just enjoyed going there. Sometimes we’d see a show but mostly we just ate at inexpensive buffets and played the inexpensive slot machines.
I never understood why it was acceptable to go to Disneyworld (without kids) and spend $2,000 or more (this was a lot of years ago) on a trip, come back with nothing really to show for it and that was ok, but going to Vegas for a long weekend and spending maybe $1,200 was wrong.
Chad was born in December, and that year we had been to Vegas five times. That was 30+ years ago and I’ve never been back once.
I think, so long as you’re paying your bills, being charitable/helping others, living within your means, saving a little for retirement – it’s all ok. Just do whatever makes you happy and it’s ok to look at what other people do and think they’re crazy or wonder why they do the things they do. It’s ok to ask me why I do the things I do but we probably shouldn’t ask other people. 🙂
montanaclarks says
Great post Judy!
Stephani in N. TX says
Great post Judy. I don’t need any more quilts (and I have donated plenty) but I have decided I love making quilts, it makes me happy and I’m just making more for those reasons. I’m making fewer since Covid and doing things around the house take more effort, but my reward is to go play in the scraps. If I could knit as well as you, I would continue that too.
Cathi in Texas says
Agree wholeheartedly. I’m the same with quilting/sewing.
Elle says
Exactly! Although I do enjoy travel, all my “retirement year” trips were cancelled by Covid. I had planned to celebrate my first year with a visit with a friend in Nashville and a visit to my oldest sister’s plus hubster and I were going to 3 National Parks for our 40th anniversary later this month. BUT, it is not to be. Instead? I’m sewing and knitting up stash. I’m on quilt #36 so far this year. Some are gifts and most will go to local charities. Quilting is good for my soul. And yeah, look at all the $ I didn’t spend traveling 😉
I enjoy your blog every day. You keep it real. Thanks!
Tracy says
I was looking at a pile of handmade knit wear in my closet the other day. Like you, I live in a warn climate, with no real winter, maybe a few weeks of 40 degree days. Some of the sweaters are ten years old, one was made by my grandmother 40 years ago, all mean something to me, and I can’t part with them. I give lots of sweaters and shawls away to friends and family, and no one has ever said, “oh no – not another sweater!”. Granted, most live in the northeast, but I know that the sweaters will be used and loved. Ask my son how many hats he has LOL. Yarn, like fabric, is an investment, with the addition of my time and crafting talent it becomes a valuable asset.
Sara Fridley says
Well said – and I feel the same way about spending money on quilting and other hobbies. I do love to travel and eat out, but am married to a guy who has spent 40+ years traveling for work. He doesn’t enjoy traveling for fun or eating in restaurants. So we don’t take vacations – we do staycations mostly. We both refuse to feel guilty about spending money on golf, quilting, and other hobbies that hurt no one and keep us happy. And I’ve taken a couple of vacations with girlfriends in the last decade to help satisfy my love of travel.
Pat Peele says
Bloom with what makes you happy! This is a well written piece. i don’t do the high maintenance things that some friends and relatives enjoy…. nails,hair, expensive clothes. But we both love books (no tv) ! To each their own, it makes me happy. I do paper crafts and Randy collects plants. We go to NZ every 5or so years and stay with friends for months. Life is good! Enjoy what makes you happy!I enjoy the blog and share your adventures with Randy.
Joyce says
Since the “minimalism” trend is picking up steam right now, that may have been partly where the question came from. No one will ever accuse me of being a minimalist, and I have no issues at all with all of the hand knit sweaters, shawl, socks, and scarves I own. I do have a few sweaters made from inexpensive yarn, so if they started looking worn, I would not worry about donating or pitching them. A friend of mine always says that knitting is economical…if you go to a movie, you have spent the $$ and watched the movie and you’re done. If you knit something, you not only have the enjoyment of the knitting process, but you have something beautiful and useful to enjoy when you are finished. As long as I have the space to store everything, I don’t worry about how much I own. 🙂
Dottie says
Amen!
Nelle Coursey says
I think the same way you do. We have a friend who loves to travel to other countries and she can well afford it. She told me she was doing all she and her husband could do right now because there would come a time they couldn’t afford it. Besides, it is her money to do with as she pleases. I think as long as you are living within your means, paying your bills on time and following the 10 Commandments, then all is well. Your life is yours and I would never criticize you for doing what you do. I also give a lot of my knitting away. But as you say, just look at all the money we are saving by not going to therapy!!
Alison says
Hi Judy
thank you for taking my comment in the context it was meant to be. I am glad that you feel free to knit till the cows come home, and to enjoy each and every row.
Judy Laquidara says
Thank you (and you’re welcome!).
Melisa says
Love your perspective! I’m very much like you…no expensive travel, no nails, hair care (other than a regular cut!), etc. I mostly knit for myself because I’m super slow, but I have more quilts than even the most prolific quilter due to all of the shop samples I couldn’t bear to part with when I closed my quilt shop plus everything I make just because I enjoy it. I do have a monthly gym membership, which I use 5 days a week, and since I’m a runner I spend a good amount on race fees (pre COVID-19). I don’t apologize or feel guilty about anything I spend on my hobbies because I work 60+ hours most weeks and I deserve to enjoy the little spare time I do have!