“Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink”
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
It is Saturday, it is quiet, the weather is fairly grey, I have no obligations and nothing demanding my attention (other than cleaning and laundry, which don’t count). Today is a perfect day to sit and knit.
Furthermore, I am surrounded by knitting paraphernalia. There is no shortage in my house of yarn, needles, pattern books, and haberdashery of all kinds. Yet, despite being filled with a desire to knit, I cannot find any knitting project to work on now. I have spent hours pouring through options to no avail. I don’t feel like working on any project that I have on the needles already and can’t make up my mind about casting on something new.
I think that I am overwhelmed by choice. Yesterday, I had business in London and managed to stop by Loop. I actually spent an hour trying to find something to buy!!!! There I was in a fantastic yarn shop with two luscious floors of beautiful yarns and ideas galore, and nothing jumped out at me and said “Knit me now!” I finally picked out a lovely kit for a cowl (the Tuli Cowl by Fiona Alice in Peony and Cafe Latte, pictured below). However, I decided that I should wash the pink yarn before knitting so the colour doesn’t bleed, which means that this one is out of the running for something to knit today.
And to be very truthful, even if I hadn’t washed the pink yarn, I’m not sure I would be casting this on today. I am STALLED. I don’t know whether to blame ennui, the start of my busy time at work, a persistant headache, the changing weather, or the paradox of choice. I’m going to go with the last one, however, because it sounds cooler.
What are you working on this weekend? Let me know so that I can live vicariously…
I’m afraid I can’t offer any moral support (or knitting by proxy) here – had pretty much the same for ages. I think it’s the stressful lives we live, maybe?
Today I’m working on listing things I want to pass on (to reduce “surrounding noise ” and make space), as well as preparing for a small local sale I’m attending tomorrow. No mental space to knit, sadly.
I spent some time looking at things to cast on recently, but with no luck either – I’ll try and stick with the WIPs, whenever my mind is back on track 🙂
I can relate. Life has gotten very “noisy” of late. Sometimes even knitting doesn’t help. Here’s to getting back on track!
I can so relate! Started the Carol Feller Tabouli KAL in the spring when dealing with a parent passing; it hasn’t been touched since and I didn’t knit for weeks. I did finally start Heidi Kirrmaier’s Fine Sand cardi in Hempathy and ripped out more than I knit on this quite simple, lovely pattern; am happy to say that I did manage to finish. Currently on a tour of Spain and am knitting Riverine Shawl in 3 Shibui yarns that I purchased online and this is perfect, mindless travel knitting. Good luck with your knitting, Kelly!
I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. I’m glad that you are back to knitting as it can be very comforting. I didn’t know the Riverine pattern but just looked it up. It is lovely!
No knitting here do to “De Quervains syndrome” but I found that smal cross stitching work is duabel so I’m working on some Christmas cards. Miss my knitting but at least this keeps me from going nuts…
I have also suffered from De Quervaine’s in the past. It is better to rest your hands than to make things worse. I hope that you get better soon.
So do I 😊
I am trying to finish most of my WIPs before I cast on anything new. (OK, maybe I’ll make a deal with myself- finish 3 and then I will allow myself to cast on 1) Mostly scarves that I started to try out new stitches or yarn.
It’s a good plan, Jossie, if you can stick to it. Good luck!
I am stranded on sleeve island which is sapping my will to live, never mind knit. I have tried to flag down other WIPs as they taunt me from offshore, but they aren’t having it… This too shall pass for all of us.
Oh dear, I’ve been there. Nothing worse than being taunted by your WIPS. Except perhaps sleeves….
I have cast on this sweater: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/aran-pullover-3 . It’s from an out-of-print book and seems to be showcased with amateur photography on ravelry. In the book it’s really beautiful in the professional photo, with a few poses struck by the sea. When I get overwhelmed by choice as you have become I find people to go out and have a drink with. At least with me, this indecision stems from being at home too long and a need for fresh air and different scenery.
That’s a nice pullover. I like the title of the book it’s from: Knitting with Balls. Going out for a glass of wine with friends sounds like an admirable alternative. Thanks for the advice!
The book is really good and I’m surprised it went out of print. Maybe it was the title’s fault. My sister bought it for me for my birthday way back when. It has some very interesting sweaters as well as accessories, including a snazzy felted toiletry bag. I think I have already made one of the hats quite a few times.
I am trying to guilt myself into pushing on through a simple pullover (Paysage) that I just started before the yarn and Marie Wallin book I ordered arrives. I do find that cloudy blah weather always seems to sap my energy, leaving me rather vegetative. Best of luck with your knitting mojo.
Thanks, Leigh. “Vegetative” sums it up. Which Marie Wallin pattern are you planning on making?
You can definitely be paralysed by too much choice! I’m a strictly 1-wip-at-a-time person, partly because I can’t stand being surrounded by unfinished projects, and partly because I find multiple wips just saps my enthusiasm for all of them. I try to give myself a short project in-between longer projects to keep myself going, and right now I’m working on a stripey jumper (own pattern) as a Christmas present for my daughter and looking forward to a slew of baby-knits for said daughter’s first child, as a reward for the stripey monster. Sometimes, we all just need a break from knitting, so don’t feel bad about it – just clear your head and enjoy doing something else for a while. I have no doubt that inspiration and enthusiasm will return to you soon.
The crazy thing is that I WANT to knit, but am indeed paralysed by choice! I am forced to take a break from it for the week now as I have a super busy week at work. Hopefully by the time my schedule slows down I will have my mojo back.
I can totally relate. I often find that I am torn between starting something new and finishing a WIP, and so end up doing neither. I have also had that experience of spending ages in a yarn shop, wanting to buy something but not being able to choose. Loop always presents this kind of dilemma. At the moment, I am about two thirds of the way through a commission for a king-size crochet blanket. I am overall enjoying it, particularly as it is my own design. But I would really like also to pick up a different project too. I keep finding myself browsing through patterns – valuable time I could be spending on the blanket of course! Have you come across Knitsonik’s stranded knitting postcards by any chance – see https://www.knitsonik.com/2018/04/04/chapter-1-knitted-correspondence/ Might this be a way of giving yourself a different knitterly perspective for a while?
Liz, this is absolutely THE BEST link! I love it to pieces and feel totally inspired by it. I have often thought of buying KnitsoniK’s books but hadn’t done too much research. Thank you so much for bringing this to my attention, and at just the right time too! I have ordered the book and look forward to finding some inspiration.
Oh Kelly, I’m so pleased!!! I attended one of Felix’s Knitsonik workshops at the Edinburgh Yarn Fest a couple of years ago and have been hooked on her work ever since. I have both the Stranded Colourwork Sourcebook and the more recent Stranded Colourwork Playbook – both are excellent and I can’t wait to see what you do with it! 🙂
I have too many WIPs right now! I am knitting a second frieze cowl for a friend, and a shawl KAL “Down the road and back again” with some friends, Durrow languishes beside my chair, and I am spinning some yarn for a baby sweater. There are two sweaters in my head, itching to come out on the needles, but they must wait.
The two sweaters in your head sound intriguing. You should let Durrow sit until it starts talking to you again, and in the meantime keep spinning and indulging your inner designer.
Lol I might do that! Though it breaks all my wip rules…
holy cow – been there – it’s so frustrating and yet nothing to do but let it pass. i turned a stop in my lys from what to buy to just visiting and touching the yarn – kind of like visiting a pet shelter. hope it passes soon – it usually does.
I love this idea, Janet. It’s kind of like puppy therapy – pet the yarn and have your troubles float away!