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If you knit a sweater in 2014, but fail to weave in the ends, sew on buttons, and block it until 2015, does it add to the tally this year or last? Sounds a bit like splitting hairs to me. I had every intention of getting this sweater posted prior to 2015, but I'm lazy. And, I didn't get around to it.  If you've been reading these rambling for any amount of time, you know that there are several other pieces of unfinished business, in the form of sweaters and socks, sitting on a chair in the corner of my bedroom. The pile never gets smaller. It seems like it's one-in, one-out right now. Someday, I will catch-up with myself. *DREAMS*  It's a really stupid system I have going. I can't wear any of those sweaters, socks, etc.. until they're finished. Wearing those garments is the whole point of knitting them, right? For me, I think the wearing is only a portion of the equation.  I've often heard knitters toss around the idea of 'PROCESS' vs. 'PRODUCT'. I think members of the sewing community can relate, to a degree. There are those who like to plan more than they actually sew, for example, and, I think a lot of us associate a meditative element or stress release with sewing. Still, there is a level of instant gratification with sewing that cannot be achieved with knitting. If you knit sweaters, you know you're going to spend 40+ hours working on a single garment. You create Every. Single. Stitch. It's far more laborious and requires a different type of commitment.  For a lot of people, this act of creating, or the process of knitting is enough to fuel them through endless blankets and sweaters, socks, etc... The counting, the intricacy, the charts, these things are why they knit. There's ultimately an endpoint, but it's not the focus or purpose of knitting. The act of knitting, in and of itself is the whole point.  Then, there's the product knitter with her eye on the prize. Just. Keep. Knitting. The "I will suffer through miles of stockinette, because I get a sweater if I do" knitter. For this knitter, the high comes at the end of a project. The ultimate goal is an FO (finished object, for non-knitters).  I think I'm divided between these two camps. I love to have finished knitted garments and accessories to wear. I also really love knitting just to knit, because it does strange things to my brain. I'm sure my balance between these two camps shifts occasionally. Mostly, I think I'm down the middle. Where do you fall?  Pattern: Looking Back by Joji Locatelli
Joji doesn't disappoint. This is my third sweater from one of her patterns. They all stand on their own with unusual construction and techniques, interesting shapes, and beautiful stitch patterns. This is exactly the type of project that feeds both sides of my knitter brain.
40 Comments
That's a really lovely sweater. I have one of Joji's designs in my queue at the moment - Make a Wish - and I'm searching for the perfect yarn for it. 1/21/2015 04:18:36 am
The buttons down the back are such a beautiful detail! Knitting was made for winter winter evenings. It's very relaxing! I'm to the point now where I can modify most knitting patterns (sometimes I completely rewrite them on the fly) to suit me. But, I've been garment knitting for a while now. It's almost second nature. My sewing mods are not as complex or versatile. But, I'm not as qualified with sewing. She's one of my favorite designer, too!!!! Very very wearable knits! This one is really lovely. Me? Process all the way. The end result often isn't even something I'd like to own....just wanted to knit. (I'm trying to be a bit better about this one!) And I vote for this to be an FO in 2015....you haven't actually WORN it til now, right? 1/21/2015 05:00:16 am
What a wonderful garment, and a delicious colour. Love the buttons down the back! I think the reason why I haven't been able to get into knitting yet is because the process kills me. It just takes soooo long and I can't see where it's going. But, on the other hand, I adore the processes in sewing - especially the planning.
I love your sweater, the color and the details. It's a beautiful combination.
I think I'm right in the middle also. I feel quite at a loss if I don't have a knitting project to work on - on the commute, during my lunch break, at the doctor's office, etc. But I have so many projects that are completed except for blocking & weaving in ends - it's quite embarrassing at this point. This is a beautiful sweater! Will be adding that to my queue. :) I think I lean slightly towards being a process knitter. I love the finished products, but that's never what motivates me to knit. I'm also terrible about finishing my knits, I think if I was a product knitter I wouldn't procrastinate that part so much.
florapie
1/21/2015 08:30:20 am
You and the Yarn Harlot are discussing the exact same thing today-what a knitterly connection! 1/21/2015 09:39:27 am
What a beautiful sweater! That color is just fabulous on you.
LOL. Knitting is definitely a 'divide and conquer' sort of thing. The journey seems long, but you rest a lot along the way and you're there before you know it. 1/21/2015 10:36:15 pm
That color is so beautiful on you! I love all of the details like the back buttons and the front design. I'd say to count this as a 2015 make as you completed it this year!
Beautiful sweater - I love that back button detail.
What an awesome sweater. That back detail is so awesome! 1/22/2015 12:54:57 am
It takes me like a year to do finishing work. I intend to do finishing, like sewing on buttons, but I hate it. and I've accepted this about myself. Therefore, I knit mostly seamless things, which is why I stick to socks. I am a process knitter in that I love the feel of the yarn in my fingers and refuse to use more hardwearing yarns because they are not as soft and enjoyable to knit with. But, I thrive on that feeling when you finish an object. Which is another thing that leads me to socks because you get that feeling twice per pair. AND one never finishes a pair of socks and then decides the design is not flattering which can happen with other items of clothing.
I love the color you chose, and the pattern itself is beautiful! I'll have to add it to my queue. 2/20/2016 07:35:55 pm
I'm definitely in the middle... I love the finished object (obviously, otherwise I wouldn't be making it), but I love the process too. For me, knitting is relaxing, stress relief. I like to get into a mindless rhythm with it, and just forget everything else. Also, it gives me something to occupy my hands, so even if I'm doing something completely unproductive, like watching TV, I still feel like I am accomplishing something. Leave a Reply. |
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