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Sunday, 30. April 2006
There is magic in knitting.
knitting_keeps_me_sane, 01:56h
Now, I think we all know that there is magic in knitting - each in our way have we discovered the magic knitting holds for us, and the ones we love. Not trying to proclaim that knitting is "The One and Only", but...
In olden days, knitting could be a way of supporting ones family. Just this fact alone makes me stand in awe at anyone who knits, and loves it.
Knitting produces wearable objects of sticks, string and imagination - it creates art, hardworking clothing, irrestible lacework and soothing comfort all with just a change of material, mindset, and way of working stitches.
There is magic in the repetetive movement of the needles and yarn, from the back to the front and back again, round and round (or back and forth), hundreds of times, repeating the same movement infinitely. 4000 times for a hat, 13000 times for a sock, 60000 for a shawl, 80000 for a sweater. Imagine doing the same thing at work 4000 times one day, and the imagine knitting a simple hat. Now, will you believe me when I say that a knitter is almost unbearable patient? maybe you dont think of yourself that way, but think of all those stitches and tell me one other branch of handicraft, except for crocheters, who could stand doing the same motion again.. again... again... 4000 times one evening. Amazing.
Knitting is a ever-growing web of linked loops that will unravel easily if you find the right end, but is strong and flexible if you dont... and you very rarely will.
Much in the way of a family, or a friendship - everything can be unravelled, but even though it is unravelled it will never be the same again, the yarn will have kinks and show what it used to be - be it sweater or close friend.
There is magic in the talent displayed by the knitters - the unimaginable variety of different patterns created just by knitting, purling, making extra stitches and crossing stitches. Try to examine two garments knit by two different knitters, with the same yarn, the same needles and yarn - they will not be the same, nor could the ever be, which leads me to...
Knitting is magic because it is the act of someone weaving their caring and thinking into a garment which is a rare thing in our modern world - hundreds of years ago the making of an elaborate shirt or other article of clothing could mean en exclamation of love and affection, or even the promise of marriage. Still today knitting elaborate presents is linked to Love and affection, just think about the "Boyfriend Sweater Curse" - knitting a sweater for your sweetie as the sure way to scare him off? Maybe, or maybe as a sure way to show your affection and love for him in a way that may very well last forever if carefully stored and looked after.
I did alot of thinking about it while knitting the "White Stole" which has now been dubbed the "Bad-ass pattern from Hell", because the chart is not easy to knit from - Very small, very crowded, and has no help lines, as well as only numbers on one side of the row. I only got around 40 rows knit today, probably because I had to recheck every row at least 5 times to be sure I was doing it right.
I like this stole and will knit it because the yarn is un-rippable, and bestow magic also on this piece of knitting, bestow magic on the recipient and on myself, the giving and very capable knitter. I dont say that about myself a lot and really BELIEVE in it, but it MUST be true when I look at the things I have knit through the years.
I will wear my brown handspun alpaca stole tomorrow, publically, for the first time ever! I think it will look smashing over my light pink tee and denim shirt. Paired with black boots!
I think we all need a bit of black in our lives :-)
Have a nice day
Lene
In olden days, knitting could be a way of supporting ones family. Just this fact alone makes me stand in awe at anyone who knits, and loves it.
Knitting produces wearable objects of sticks, string and imagination - it creates art, hardworking clothing, irrestible lacework and soothing comfort all with just a change of material, mindset, and way of working stitches.
There is magic in the repetetive movement of the needles and yarn, from the back to the front and back again, round and round (or back and forth), hundreds of times, repeating the same movement infinitely. 4000 times for a hat, 13000 times for a sock, 60000 for a shawl, 80000 for a sweater. Imagine doing the same thing at work 4000 times one day, and the imagine knitting a simple hat. Now, will you believe me when I say that a knitter is almost unbearable patient? maybe you dont think of yourself that way, but think of all those stitches and tell me one other branch of handicraft, except for crocheters, who could stand doing the same motion again.. again... again... 4000 times one evening. Amazing.
Knitting is a ever-growing web of linked loops that will unravel easily if you find the right end, but is strong and flexible if you dont... and you very rarely will.
Much in the way of a family, or a friendship - everything can be unravelled, but even though it is unravelled it will never be the same again, the yarn will have kinks and show what it used to be - be it sweater or close friend.
There is magic in the talent displayed by the knitters - the unimaginable variety of different patterns created just by knitting, purling, making extra stitches and crossing stitches. Try to examine two garments knit by two different knitters, with the same yarn, the same needles and yarn - they will not be the same, nor could the ever be, which leads me to...
Knitting is magic because it is the act of someone weaving their caring and thinking into a garment which is a rare thing in our modern world - hundreds of years ago the making of an elaborate shirt or other article of clothing could mean en exclamation of love and affection, or even the promise of marriage. Still today knitting elaborate presents is linked to Love and affection, just think about the "Boyfriend Sweater Curse" - knitting a sweater for your sweetie as the sure way to scare him off? Maybe, or maybe as a sure way to show your affection and love for him in a way that may very well last forever if carefully stored and looked after.
I did alot of thinking about it while knitting the "White Stole" which has now been dubbed the "Bad-ass pattern from Hell", because the chart is not easy to knit from - Very small, very crowded, and has no help lines, as well as only numbers on one side of the row. I only got around 40 rows knit today, probably because I had to recheck every row at least 5 times to be sure I was doing it right.
I like this stole and will knit it because the yarn is un-rippable, and bestow magic also on this piece of knitting, bestow magic on the recipient and on myself, the giving and very capable knitter. I dont say that about myself a lot and really BELIEVE in it, but it MUST be true when I look at the things I have knit through the years.
I will wear my brown handspun alpaca stole tomorrow, publically, for the first time ever! I think it will look smashing over my light pink tee and denim shirt. Paired with black boots!
I think we all need a bit of black in our lives :-)
Have a nice day
Lene
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