Ok - you can directly blame this on my friend Kevin (unbeknownst to him)- I have been reading his blog recently and he recently posted about what he calls "The November Resolution"
So thanks to Kevin I now have "The Knitting Resolution" - well I just borrowed the name form from him.
I consider myself still a fairly new knitter even though I've been doing it for about 6 years now.
I have analyzed myself (ah Physcian, heal thyself) and I figured out why I have completed very few projects. I am a results kind of girl, and when I can't see the results of my labour quickly enough, I get easily put off. Couple that with the 98% social me - while knitting is usually a solitary activity, you can see how I tend not to participate all the time.
I am continually surprised with just how social I am. Just last night, I was late for my running group, and started out alone to catch-up with them. I couldn't run more than 3 minutes at a time, I stopped to walk frequently, and I was ripping myself a new one with my negative self talk - it went something like this "you're pathetic, who did you think you were kidding, you can't run, you can barely walk for 4 minutes straight, look at you, huffing and puffing all out of breath, you've only been out a few minutes - you belong on a couch, lazy and fat forever, just accept it" It was truly awful, I don't think I've talked to myself like that before. Then I catch-up to my running group - actually they caught up to me, because they turned around halfway. And I ran the rest of the way back - we even raced for the last 6 minutes, no problem. It was like a Jeckle and Hyde experience.
Anyways, back to our regularly scheduled programming, I have this Afghan I've been working on - it's my first. I've made sweaters, scarves, hats, dishtowels, and baby booties before, but this is my first blanket.
So I started it January of 2005 - that's right 2005! Which means that this January it will be 2 years, and I'm only 1/3 of the way through.
So I decided last week that I will endeavour to work on my blanket every day, every SINGLE day until December 31st and hopefully I will be almost done by then.
So far it's been 8 days, and I've managed to work on it for 7 of them. I even brought my bundle to work today to get my quota in.
So you can call me on it - hopefully I'll have a blanket to show you in January - Hopefully.
26 comments:
You know... knitting doesn't HAVE to be a solitary activity. If you've got other friends who knit or croceht or do other 'traditionally girlie', yet portable activities you can get together for what my mother-in-law lovingly calls a "stich 'n' bitch" session. There's a group at my work (that I keep meaning to join, but never quite seem to have the time) who meet on lunch hours and do one big project every 6 months. They make an afghan (each member makes x-number of squares of a pattern assigned by the organizer) and then raffle it off for charity... social AND craftily productive!
You MUST know someone else who knits/crochets/cross-stitchs/embroiders/hand-sews....
She knows several *ahem*. :)
It's okay, Miriam, I have an afghan on the go that I started in...get ready for it...1996. I pulled it out again this summer and had a plan for finishing it by the end of August. Didn't happen. Hmm, given the "stich-and-bitch" people are mentioning...maybe if I get out to Bible study tonight I'll bring the afghan with me. Thanks for the idea, ladies!
So anybody interested in a getting together for some good clean crafty fun?
I would almost kill for an excuse to bust out soemthing crafty (an excuse to NOT do the various things waiting for me at home? I'm all over that! *laugh*)... of course, you've only met me twice... *laugh* Perhaps I shouldn't crash the party ;)
I can pick up some yarn at Romni Wools for my annual knitting of the double-thick mittens...
I guess you don't want to hear that I ususally finish my Afghan's in a couple of months huh? But then that just shows how pathetic my social life is. I'm will to join your group. I'll need a new project though.
Emma - Watch your self-talk!
You finish your Afghan's because of your discipline and dedication. No flimsy excuse making for you - unlike me.
Ok ladies - I'm a little short on Free time for the next couple of weeks - and I gotta pass it by the Fam to have people over.
But how about once a month - say on a Tuesday of Friday night? (we could go another night at somebody else's house as well).
And Ruth, you are for sure welcome.
Why don't we rotate hosting? Or at least I'm willing to host some of the time
Sounds like fun!
(I'd offer to host, but my cats tend to hunt all things vaguely string-like with great devotion *laugh*... but if I can train them, I might reevaluate on that front)
I'd love to be able to do this stuff, but I don't know how, anyone willing to show me how to get started if I ask Leah to pick up some yarn for me? *please*
Oh and I'll offer up our place as a possible knitting joint. :)
Sure... it's teachable! Heck, if I could learn, anyone can ;) (not that I can do anything too fancy with knitting... and I can't crochet in a 'round'... but I learned from a book, it's GOT to be easier learning from real, live people! :) )
And now I'll stop hijacking Miriam's blog *laugh*
Hijack away :) - It's very exciting to get so many comments on an entry.
Ok I'm still in the plannign stages, but may have a proposed 1st meeting set for the Friday after next - I think that's Nov. 24th, just gotta swing it by the Fam.
Stay Tuned.
Ruth, Michelle can tell you where I live ('cause I aint posting that)
Understandable :) Indeed, we may even car-pool, since I only live about 10 minutes from her place ;)
I have no problems picking up yarn for Michelle, but I have a decent-sized stash of yarn here that I haven't used, so I can just bring that instead...
My kind old aunt gave me all of her knitting and crochet needles, too, so don't worry about buying equipment. I'll happily loan stuff out for the evening/project.
ok Ladies - Date change - December 1st - say 7:30pm at my place - we're a GO!!
this is exciting!!!!!!
Aw poop :( I can't make the 1st (prior engagement... tickets were purchased weeks ago) :( Now I'm bummed, 'cuz I was looking forward to this
If people don't mind boxes (because we're STILL not unpacked)... and cats who may or may not decided to be very social and/or annoying/playful (I don't know if there are allergy issues?), we might be able to do it at my place on the 24th... (there, I'm done being selfish now ;) )
sorry Ruth - I am not free on the 24th - but that's no reason why you guys can't get a head start on that day - Maybe you Michelle and Leah . Michelle can have a tag-team of instructors!
I can do Dec 1. Are we doing a group project or are we bringing our own? I guess for the first night those of use without a project can make those of us who don't know how to "stich-n-bitch" our project :P
I also have plans for the 24th (and, unfortunately, a cat allergy). :(
Can I vote against taking part in a group project? I *hate* feeling pressured into hobbying. I'll gladly share what limited knowledge I have of knitting/crochet, however.
Wow, I just checked back into this thread now, and it's huge...I can't make the 1st as that is hubby's b-day. Sounds like the 24th is generally out for people, and I do have tons of schoolwork to catch up on so I'll have to pass on that this time around as well. I'll just keep my eyes/ears open for dates/times I can make it.
P.S. I also vote against a group project...partly for Leah's reasons and partly because I have enough of my own crafting to catch up on ;).
ok so looks like we'll keep the 1st set for my house, 7:30pm.
I also would prefer not to do a group project - I still have an in-progress Afghan.
Ruth and Joy, we'll try and rotate houses it sounds like, and hopefully once a month sort of thing, so we'll catch you the next time around.
I have a couple of books and patterns People can peruse for project ideas.
I wasn't necessaryly advocating a group project I was just wondering. I came up with an idea for a new project in the early hours of this morning. So I'm good.
Sorry Mir, can't make it on the 1st, that's poker night with the guys... I gotta represent. ;)
Next time though! :)
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