Ebbs and Flows
I have to be honest with you, I've been on a knitting creativity surge. For many months my knitting has been sparse, I'll blame it on the summer season. In the summer I knit the least amount. Maybe because I'm busy being outside, or maybe because knitting with wool isn't as much fun when I'm hot. Or maybe there is no reason. I'm learning that my creativity ebbs and flows.
I am floating at the edge of a wave enjoying where ever the wave takes me. Right now, the knitting urge is rampant. 'Strike while the iron is hot' is my mentality.
I've never been one to be upset when I start a bunch of projects. How lovely to see an array of project choices when I sit down to knit. My maximum amount of projects on the needles is five. Over five and then the fun seems to end in my mind.
I saw a lovely mitt pattern trending on Ravelry and quickly dug through my minimally processed, hand spun wools to make ME a pair of fingerless mitts. The earthy tweediness of the skein was delightful to wind up into a ball.
Thank you whoever you are mystery spinner who filled out a tag but didn't take any credit for creating this skein, you have beautiful skills.
Next up, I recalled that I had two skeins of superwash forest green wool somewhere in my closet. I was delighted to dig through the stash, walk down memory lane as I handled all of all the wools remembering the projects I have in my future knitting endeavors while unearthing the two skeins (which I did). This yarn will become a baby sweater using the February Baby sweater pattern by the ever so famous Elizabeth Zimmermann. (LOVE HER). This is my go to pattern using worsted weight wool on size five needles. I usually omit the gull pattern.
So while I herald the praises of casting on and being enthusiastic about my knitting (that's the flow part of the title). My woeful ebb is my art creativity.
When I returned from Cape May, I painted two 'horrible to me' pictures that broke my confidence. Yes, I tried to focus on 'what I learned' but even that was difficult. I've since painted some pictures that are wonderful but my forthright confidence has been shaken. When I sit to paint I question what I'm doing.
I'm overthinking everything and taking the fun out of creating. And so I'm allowing myself a break, I watch a lot of you tube videos and read some tutorials so the skill learning is in my mind. Allowing myself to take a break and be okay with the break relieves a lot of the self-imposed pressure.
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| silly Holly |
I'm meeting myself where I am.
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| thunderstorm worry |
The Holly/Frodo relationship ebbs and flows as well. Currently their paths rarely cross in the house, and both are harmoniously living together apart. I love them both and still believe that one day they might be friends, maybe.
My husband and I are nearly recovered from the city visit last weekend. I'm so used to the quiet that surrounds me and the ho-hum drumming of my days. I love living in the country and seeing my wilderness.
Lately I have noticed noise so much more - lawnmowers, leaf blowers, vacuums, power washers - life just feels so noisy. I need to find a quiet space so I can ponder knitting and sewing projects. Thanks for this lovely, quiet post.
ReplyDeleteEbb and flow are everywhere once you begin to notice! Have fun with all the projects and creativity in your array.
ReplyDeleteI'm liking your new projects. Our neighborhood has been very quiet recently. Except for a motorcycle going down or up the street once in awhile, it is quiet. Even the bird songs have quieted down. It is blissful. The weekend will be different, I'm sure - pool parties next door and the like. I think you are smart to *listen* to your ebbs and flows and just go with them.
ReplyDeleteThat yarn is gorgeous! I think it will be a lovely pair of mitts for you! Lots of signs of the change of seasons increasing daily here!
ReplyDeleteI love my woods and quiet too! Not having to go to Chicago frequently to visit Zach is such a joy. He's here for another 10 days or so. Chicago can be great but the traffic , congestion and overwhelming noise is too much for me these days. some of our cats don't even like to hang out together ! It will be ok if Holly and Fro are both happy independently , I think!
ReplyDeleteYou are wonderfully yarny productive. I need to finish my shawl!
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely, lovely read. I hear you on the not wanting to knit in the summer, funny I too am impaired to knit more at the moment and had not put it done to the season/time of year but you are so right. That mitten pattern is gorgeous I can see why it is trending on Ravelry right now, looking forward to seeing you works in progress. Happy knitting and hope you have a lovely weekend!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post! Since finding out I was going to be a grandma last week, I've been searching for my EZ Almanac book. I can't tell you how many times I've scanned my knitting books shelves looking for it. And suddenly today, while scanning again in the middle of reading your post and seeing your green yarn, it dawned on me that the cover is green, not the red I'd been looking for. And then the book suddenly jumped out at me. Thank you! Btw, I love that rustic gray yarn. Can't wait to see what you knit.
ReplyDeleteI think following the ebb and flow of creating and making is a good plan. After all there are enough "shoulds" and "musts" in our lives. Have fun riding the knitting wave.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading your ebb and flow news, I have so many craft things on the go that are languishing about waiting for me to finish. I like your idea of just focusing on a few. I agree more than 5 is too much. Cx
ReplyDeleteI am so thankful for this post, Karen, as I suffer from ebbs and flows as well. It comforts me to know I'm not alone! I am currently working on embroidering ornaments for Mary's wedding and in the back of my mind I have a wee worry that I will forget all the knitting skills I'd been gaining this year. Thankfully, she is having a small wedding and is making ornaments as well so by mid September I can get back to knitting!
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