Friday night I got a bee in my bonnet to knit something brand new for Rhinebeck. Sure, Clapotis is on my Project 333 list and was finished after Rhinebeck 2009, but I wanted something really new. At about 8:30 I cast on for the My Kind of Town Cowl, and at 12:30 it was done. Can't beat that for fast!
Tomorrow I'll post about my wonderful experience at the festival, but today I wanted to reflect a little on how my hand knits fit into the project. I left a space on my list for a sweater; I have several on the needles, and if I set my mind to it, I can probably finish one before December 31. I've been thinking though, about what I have chosen to knit in the past and why.
Usually I complete accessories: hats, mitts, shawls. I enjoy the process of knitting lace, and I sure love the product, too. I give a lot of what I knit away, but lately I've been wanting to knit more for myself. Maybe it is selfish of me, but I rarely feel like knits I've gifted (except those given to other knitters) are truly appreciated. They get tucked into drawers or meet hole-y fates at the claws of cats or get lost. Accidents happen, but my time is too precious to knit for the accident prone!
One of the things I'm learning through dressing with a minimal wardrobe is that the fit of everything I wear should be perfect. Those khakis that need to be hemmed...well, I haven't worn them once. That ill-fitting gray turtleneck is hanging all alone, unloved.
What does this tell me? Simply that if I'm going to knit garments for myself, I want to ensure that I do a fantastic job with fit. No more fudging. No more hoping for the best. I consider myself a fairly adventurous and unafraid knitter. Now it's time to develop my skills even more, especially in finishing items (I guess I mean both in completing them and in doing the finishing work such as seaming).
I wore the cowl on Saturday, but from now until December, I'll only wear it around the house or walking the dogs in the woods. One of the things Courtney tweeted last week was "Do what works best for you! #project333 is not a competition". I love that. I love it so much. Everyone participating has their own reasons, and it is silly to think the project will work the same way for each of us. So, now and again, wearing a new hand knit, just once, isn't going to make me feel like I've failed at the project. Instead, making each knit with care, knowing that it will become a staple (or giving it away if I don't feel the love) in my wardrobe...that's success.
If you're visiting from Be More with Less: welcome! I hope you'll swing by again on Friday and check out my outfits for the week!
And my fellow knitters...here's a question for you: what new knitting (or other crafting) skills would you like to develop?
I need to work on fit-for-me and seaming. So much so that I'm going to knit Sprossling as written (aka FLAT) and seam it. Even though I'm not officially on Project 333, I am taking a hard look at every item in the wardrobe, even the house/yard-work items and making a decision.
The hard part is shoes. I don't have many by any stretch of the imagination, but my size is hard to find so I tend to hang onto what I find. I have a few pairs I wear once every two years or so, and they are well made so while they don't get much attention, I'm hesitant to pass them on. Guess it's good I have tiny feet too... they don't take up much space. ;)
Posted by: penny | October 20, 2010 at 09:22 AM
My wardrobe is already minimalist which is why I didn't join 333, but I love following your progress. When I cleaned everything out, a few of months ago, I kept only what fits well and what I feel good wearing. At least I've learned something in my 60 years. lol
Posted by: margene | October 20, 2010 at 11:14 AM
Beautiful cowl - I definitely have to make at least one of these!! New techniques? Hmmm...I always need to improve my finishing skills, especially seaming. I've sworn off most knitted garments for the time being because they never seem to fit me right.
Posted by: Laurie | October 20, 2010 at 11:48 AM
I so agree about knitted items and owned items. It is one of the reasons that at the end of each season I go through my closet and clean out what I haven't worn. If I don't wear it, why do I own it? Someone else might love it.
Posted by: Christina Scovel | October 20, 2010 at 01:08 PM
Wow, that's one FAST knit! And it's cute, too. I think you are learning a lot about yourself through the Project333 process.
Posted by: Carole | October 20, 2010 at 02:25 PM
Love the cowl! And a super fast knit is always in vogue! As for knitting techniques, still working on the socks from the toe up. Then two at a time socks, both toe up and cuff down. And somewhere in there, I need to learn to finish things, period!
Posted by: Katie | October 20, 2010 at 05:53 PM
That is a great quickie pattern and it looks great on you! I could really use one of those to give me more shoulder coverage as that helps with my chronic pain.
Posted by: Kristi aka FiberFool | October 21, 2010 at 01:19 AM
New knitting skill I'd like to develop: starting AND finishing projects! ;o)
Love the cowl!
Posted by: JessaLu | October 21, 2010 at 02:12 PM