Some of the comments yesterday were about being late knitting bloomers and feeling bad about not being as fast or as far along as others. You kind of feel like you’re at the starting line when others are rounding the bend. But it’s not a race. It truly is a community and everyone brings something into it.Â
I used to work with a woman who was much younger than I and a fellow knitter. I was so proud and excited to share my knitting projects with her. But she quickly surpassed me — working on gorgeous fair isle socks that I couldn’t believe and designing her own things.  My pride in my knitting was totally overshadowed by her talent, and I didn’t enjoy sharing my knitting with her anymore. She left to study the knitting arts and make a career of it. It has taken me many years to get to where she was back then.Â
If you are open to trying new things you will learn. Make sure every new project has something you’ve never done before: cables, buttonholes, colorwork, socks. Knit what you love out of beautiful yarn. Pick a pattern that challenges you a little bit, but not TOO much. Get some good reference books. Go to knit nights at local yarn shops. Start or join a knitting group.Â
I guess there is no substitute for time and a dose of talent or passion. Some people make that trip faster than others. I hope that the newbies in my knitting group never feel as bad as I did — they seem more mature than I was and have a willingness to learn from the other knitters in the group. That’s the greatest thing about our knitting group — everyone shares their projects with pride and we all learn from each other.
Good advice all, Susan. I find that knitters are such a helpful bunch and we always seem to be willing to enable.. erm … help someone come along in their skills.
Comment by Ann — October 24, 2006 @ 7:28 am
That’s great advice though you must be a mind reader! I was just thinking that except for a Fair Isle with body shaping, I’ve done most of the things you could do to a FI and it was time to move on.
Comment by Marina — October 24, 2006 @ 8:18 am
i taught one of my best friends to knit a couple of years ago. she has already knit a beautiful cable sweater, a fair isle vest, and is working on a fair isle sweater. let’s just say i’m in awe!
Comment by vanessa — October 24, 2006 @ 9:59 am
Knitting is a wonderful community! Last year, when I started, I used to think “All this wasted time, I could be great things by now), but ya know what? I get the pleasure of learning new things all the time. Making discoveries, learning from errors and gaining experience. Isn’t it the process that counts? You’re awesome Susan!
Comment by Carol — October 24, 2006 @ 10:28 am
You know, there’s always somebody, no matter what you do, that will surpass you. I try to be happy and encourage those people. But if there’s anything that’s annoying, it’s a smarmy attitude. And you’re right, the best way to learn is through others. I agree with Carol, it’s the process. And Marina will be the type of person who is successful at whatever she attempts. Not a hint of smarm!
Comment by Lorraine — October 24, 2006 @ 3:26 pm
From Susan — Lorraine, I agree with you 100%. I know smarmy and “know-it-all” when I see it; I’m not sure I know it when I DO it. I hope I am not “one of the smarmies.”
Comment by surly — October 24, 2006 @ 5:05 pm
Thanks for the inspring advice. When I really stop and think about it I have only been knitting
less than a year and have absorbed much in that time. In a way I am lucky because I have so much to learn and get excited about and to try. My knitting group is way advanced but they are patient and have turned out to
be new friends. I agree about finding the right balance though in projects- not too hard or too boring.
At first-being so far behind was a very humbling experience and frustrating.
Comment by katomliz — October 24, 2006 @ 6:45 pm