You see, earlier this summer I had the idea to knit a sweater for a very special gentleman in my life. I worked, in secret on this sweater waiting, until I could reveal it as the perfect, well thought out, and crafted with care present I envisioned it to be. As I was knitting it, I kept having the nagging feeling that something wasn't right. But I pushed those feelings down and kept blindly following the pattern. I've been known to go rouge on patterns at times, and I was determined to put my head down and follow the pattern to the t. All of this was going fine and dandy until the gentleman opened my gift, and prompltly drowned in my sweater.
You see, I had knit something large enough to fit not one but TWO adults. So, this sweater had to be ripped out and knit over again. I was able to save the sleeves and just rip back the shoulder caps but the entire body was a gonner. It languished for months until I mustered up the courage to start ripping that sucker out. Over Christmas I recast on. I'm hoping to finish it by end of February hoping that it can see some sweater weather this winter.
In frogging this sweater I started to think about some of the other projects I have that don't work for me. Although I loved knitting The Dollar and Half Cardigan. I've never actually worn it. It was the first sweater I made and there are some changes I would make (like remembering I have the worlds shortest arms EVER and I need to not knit the recommended lengths, ever.) Other sweaters like The February Lady, just really aren't my style anymore. So, I have made an executive decision. I need to be using, and loving the things that are in my life. 2012 is all about making what I have work for me. The February Lady has been frogged for good, and the dollar and half is in the process of being frogged to be re-knit. Sometimes it can be hard to re-do projects, or to let go of them all together but there's no use in keeping them in my life when they aren't working for me. This year is about doing more with what I have and one of the ways to do that is to re-purpose the things that are already in my life. Sometimes that means letting go of things to make space for something new and sometimes it means starting over, and trying again. The best part of re-doing a project is getting to use the experience of making it the first time around. Thanks to Allyson for being my co-model and here's to 2012.
Whoohoo! I love this resolution, which should be no surprise to you. Nothing feels better than actually using the things you own. That, and having a large closet in which to keep the many thing you own!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to be so jealous of your new LA closet. I'm going to be begging you to send me pictures. show me the shoes, the color blocking, the SPACE. Don't be surprised if you have some huggable hangers sent your way sometime.
ReplyDeleteThat enormous sweater is pretty cool, even if not functional. I like your resolution!
ReplyDeleteI love the every-three-to-six-months urge I get to purge. I go through my closet or fabric/yarn stash, or books, or whatever - and get rid of stuff, figure out how something can be re-used.
I think the biggest challenge for me is letting go of the things I am sure I'll use at some point, but haven't used yet. I don't want to let it go because what if I get rid of it and then finally get the time to do whatever to it, to make it useful, and then I don't have it? I'd have to go out and buy a replacement!
So after a few "Ok, I won't purge this YET" rounds, and it's still just sitting there? Time to go.
And then I must stop buying things at the thrift store, intending to use them in the same way.
Letting go is one of the hardest things for me! Especially when I know it's something I could use. Getting real with yourself is really hard, the question isn't whether I can use it, it's am I going to use it. I totally understand that challenge Ashley!
ReplyDeleteWell said! I recently began responding with, "that doesn't work for me right now," if it doesn't. I think I'm turning into a big girl.
ReplyDeleteI am going to find the too tiny 2nd sweater I started when I thought checking gauge was a sham and frog the sucker.
Anyhow, thanks for the motivation to frog and finish a project the right way.
Cheers
You are inspiring me to frog the medieval hat and make it something better. It taught me the value of knitting with a pattern, and I suppose that is a good lesson to learn. But I will never wear it, and so I should frog and re-use all that yarn for a better purpose.
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