Why Knitting?
When I wrote about my goals for this year of being 30, I made my December goal to knit (and finish) a Christmas present for a family member. I had a specific purpose in picking this. I’m not too concerned about the improvement of my knitting skills. If it happens, it happens. I’m not going to be making a career out of it any time soon, but I wanted to be disciplined enough that I would start and finish a project in a reasonable amount of time.
Having read my list of goals, you might guess that I don’t always finish what I start. I started a quilt for K over four years ago. I got about 80% of the way done, and I basically stopped. I’ve picked it up a few times over the years, but I haven’t made any significant progress on it since before K’s birth. I also own material to start a baby quilt for A which I no longer intend to make. The material is very pastel-y and only enough for a small quilt. I don’t think that is going to be very practical any more. I have a blanket I started crocheting when I was pregnant with A that is about 1/3 done. I also have several other crafting supplies that are waiting for me to finish several different projects. In our effort to get the house less cluttered and get rid of things we didn’t use, I gave away a full rubber stamp set with three colors of ink earlier this year. That was part of my big plan to make my own Christmas cards. I bought the stamps and ink in 2003. Never used. I didn’t even cut the stamps out to put them on the blocks! Not a great track record.
So, knitting. I had been hearing so much about knitting from friends that I decided to take a community ed class to learn. I also decided to stop leaving half finished projects all over the house, so I am committed to finishing this project in time to give it as a gift. I am doing alright. I have a decent start, but it’s definitely not ready to give yet.
How about you? Are any of you like me? Do you ever start a project get 40–60% of the way into it and decide it’s too hard/boring/expensive/time consuming to finish? Do you ever feel guilty about it or are you okay with that decision?
Um, yeah. Definitely. At the age of 15, I endured my first (record-breakingly cold) Minnesota winter by taking up cross-stitching. I made a full-size Monopoly board. After that year I bought supplies to make another project, but discovered I didn’t like cross-stitching anymore.
For the YEARS that I held onto the unfinished project, I felt guilty and wasteful looking at it. After I gave away all the supplies, it was a huge relief.
Our stuff shouldn’t make us feel bad, right?
I often leave projects in a half-finished state. Every time I see one I feel guilty and sometimes even angry with myself. On the other hand, whenever I do finish a project I feel incredibly proud. Even if the project didn’t come out so well, I’m happy that I at least finished.
On that note, sometimes I have to push myself to finish even though I’m not confident it will come out well. I have a tendency to let fear of imperfection keep me from even trying, sometimes even from starting.
So, yeah, I think it’s good and valuable to finish projects. Good for you for pushing yourself.
Something that I realized after I wrote this post is that I really want to find a crafty hobby. I really like the idea of crafting and creating something. However, I’m still looking for that hobby. I’m sure it’s not crocheting or painting terra cotta pots. I am willing to give stamping another try but not with an investment into an entire stamp set. I’d also be willing to give quilting another chance. I have enough stuff that all it would require is the time. In fact, I actually liked that quite a bit. It’s nice and math-y.
I am a knitter and I love it. I will say that it took me a few times to “get it” enough to feel good enough to really want to finish a project and that was this fall. I started late September and really finally understood what I was doing. I decided I would do Christmas presents too. So since late September I have completed 2 men’s hats, 1 childs hudson hat (started another the other day), 3 different patterns of scarves, a Christmas ornament, an ear warmer, and 3/4 of a pair of longies. As well as one sock. Once you find the right hobby and the right time you can do it! If you like math-y try the drop stitch scarf pattern on Ravelry, that is what finally really “taught” me how to knit and count at the same time.
Just want to add… While I think it is commendable to finish what you started, I think it is also commendable to realize “you’re just not that into” that hobby and give it up. Hobby clutter can be just as insidious and draining as any other sort of clutter. Getting rid of unwanted hobby clutter lets you make room in your life (and closets) for something you really love.
Leaving half-finished projects around the house is my specialty! I love to try everything once — or twice, maybe — but then I’m on to the next thing. I also think I will need everything again, especially papers, articles, and magazines. I was always OK with my organized piles, although I knew it drove my husband crazy (who never leaves a mess anywhere — how does he do it?). Over Thanksgiving, however, I saw myself and my half-finished projects reflected perfectly in my mother, who also had piles of projects scattered about. It was a wake-up call.
I am much more conscious of what it means to live with my projects/mess now, and I can tell you that my number resolution for the new year is to simplify. Let’s face it, I’m never going to get around to scrapbooking (unless it’s digital). And I agree with another commenter that our stuff shouldn’t make us feel bad. It’s time for it to go.
I keep meaning to write my will. And plant a garden. And put up shelves. Some of this must wait until my Dad or brother come over, because they’re better at leveling than I am.