be willing to knit poorly
Some knitting advice from Elizabeth for our knitting themed month of September.
In knitting, as in anything, there is one cardinal rule. Be willing to do it poorly. Whether it’s your first, uneven, thick-then-thin garter stitch scarf, or your first lumpy fair isle, it is imperative to go into the project with permission to fail.
We’ve all been there. I have the mohair sweater, my first, with a dropped stitch right in the center front that I noticed after I blocked and seamed. Regardless of how messy that sweater looked, I wore it for a solid two years before giving it up in lieu of other, better-knit sweaters.
There are the first socks, two different foot lengths. I blocked the dickens out of the smaller one in an attempt to make them the same strength. Alas, there is only so much steam, water, and a strong will can do with one sock.
You can’t miss my first lace scarf, when I discovered I had done the yarn-overs completely wrong for the beginning half. As I bemoaned at the time, why are they called yarn-overs when they go under?
When reflecting on knitting, non-knitters often say, “I tried that once. I wasn’t very good so I stopped.” My usual outward response is an understanding nod and a lame “everyone has different strengths,” or something else equally bland. Inside I am astounded. Trying something once isn’t a try. That’s not to say everyone should knit, because although it’s sometimes just an easy answer, everyone does have different strengths, or, more accurately, interests. So if what is meant is “I didn’t enjoy knitting,” then great. Never pick up the needles again. If, however, the literal is meant, please reconsider. We, mostly, do not succeed the first time we try something. Think about how long it takes you to learn to walk. Imagine a child of 18 months sitting down, shrugging her shoulders, and sticking with a crawl forever because she didn’t run at the first go.
Ultimately, knitters and potential knitters should find it freeing, not limiting, to have the almost certain knowledge of failure. So pick up those DPNs or that cable needle for the first time, and embrace the can’t-do attitude. Don’t promise anyone this first project, but do it anyway and embrace that can’t-do attitude
About the author: Beth Rodio is a full time employee of an academic publishing company, a part time knitter, and a full time knitting obsessive. She lives in the Bay Area of California, but hails from the smallest state with the longest name, the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
September 2nd, 2008 at 8:46 am
Thanks for reminding me of this, I needed to hear it again!
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I absolutely agree. I tried to pick up knitting several times and each time was convinced I was not a knitter, but there are so many great knitting projects out there that eventually I told myself that I was going to learn this. I’m now getting the hang of it and I’ve realised that the problem wasn’t the knitting, it was that I expected that I could just wave around two needles and some wool and it would all fit together. I’ve now accepted that I couldn’t be a knitter without a bit of hard work, but I’m now enjoying it and tackling more complex projects.
I think part of the reason for my high expectations of my skills was that I picked up crochet very quickly and so it was easy to go back to crochet once knitting got even slightly frustrating which initially led to me not really giving knitting a fair go.
September 2nd, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Thank you for your encouragement! I have attempted knitting, only to be disappointed. But having read so many blogs and seeing so many others knit, I have been thinking about attempting it again. Your encouraging words have given me the push I need!
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:37 pm
This made me smile! How true! Knitting, like most things in life are not really about perfection, they are about persistance. I think there should be a National Wear Your First Knitted Sweater Day!
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:10 am
i love this post. I started knitting a few weeks ago- My first project is super wonky looking. but I love it. And I can’t wait to learn more.
thanks for the encouragement!
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:55 am
So so true. I’ve got a picture up on my blog (actually it’s my avatar on everything from Etsy to Flickr- so it’s the picture of myself that I show the world) that is me holding up a giant headband that is almost the size of a tubetop. I love that picture because someone like Martha Stewart would probably never admit that she’d made something so atrocious.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:34 pm
thank you, sister! i get so intimidated by all these so-called ‘beginning’ knitters who are turning out cable knit sweaters by week two! i’ve retired my needles, but i’m going to pull them out this fall an knit my little heart out.
December 30th, 2008 at 10:07 am
What an encouragement! I’ve wanted to try knitting socks for some time–perhaps this will be the year!