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October 30, 2020 Leave a Comment

The Knitter You Want to Be? The Knitter You Want to Be.

Are you the knitter you want to be? What is that knitter and how could you support the knitter you want to be? Although I think about knitting all the time, I always have little challenges or ideas I want to add to be the knitter I want to be. One of the things that has revealed itself to me over the past few years is that I view knitting as a metaphor for life, as well as knitting being a large portion of my life.  Wow, that is way deeper than I ever expected when I started knitting seriously in 1993.Knitter You Want: Creating Paper stitches

The Knitter You Want to Be.

Knowing where you are is usually the best way to start sorting out where you are going. These are the questions I’m posing for kicking off the Second Studio Chat on Monday.  The cost is $5.  See below why I am charging for these.

  • What size project(s) do you prefer?
  • Do you need to get gauge in your projects?
  • Are you knitting for speed or do you enjoy every stitch?
  • Do you work from a device or paper?
  • Do you set goals within your projects?
  • Wool? Blends? Plant fiber? Washable? Special Care? Do you have a favorite fiber to knit?
  • Are you product driven?
  • Do you prefer to focus on the process?
    • Are both satisfying to you?
  • Do you listen to podcasts, books, etc. while knitting?
  • Do you watch TV, stream, etc?

As you may know, I am a purposeful knitter, but I actually care very little about the end product.  I am driven by the process, so I have to really focus to finish. Knowing that many knitters are product driven, I try to devise smaller projects that can be used as gauge swatches for larger projects. This is an example of that.Catena Quarter Scale Pullover The Knitter You Want to Be

The finishing process is entirely separate in my mind.  There are so many decisions to make, details to work out, etc. that things often sit for an inordinately long time while my brain sorts those things out.  I often forget about them (she says looking at the box of unfinished projects mocking her!).  I finished a sample this week (I think I meant to do a video and now will have to knit another something to do that) and have almost finished redoing the trim on a cardigan.  The pattern is almost ready, but I need a zillion charts and am considering adding two sizes.

The Knitter You Want to Be?

Queenstown Hats in 4 variationsAfter answering the questions above, let’s look at why you might need or want to be a different knitter than you currently are.

These are just my thoughts, and you may have a different perspective.

  1. Are you in a knitting rut?  Do you always select the same sort of project or do you have things you want to explore but aren’t sure where to start?
  2. Do you see things ahead that you really want to focus on?
  3. Are there challenges you want to undertake, but want a little support?
  4. Are you a chaotic knitter?  Jumping from one thing to the next without real purpose or plan?
  5. Do you need help, focus, direction, for getting things finished?
  6. Have your knitting needs changed?

Why I’m Charging for Studio Chats

One of the things I think most of us as women need to work on is how we value our craft(s). We seem to always be discounting the value of what we do (product, sanity), the amount of money we should dedicate to them without guilt, and as a result, discounting the product offerings around our crafts.  This is not about whether or not you can afford something, it is about whether or not the value you are getting is being acknowledged and supported.

difference the gauge makes: swatch ready for counting--in burlyYou may use videos to learn, or ask questions in groups, or use free patterns, or read blog posts.  Have you thought about the skill and knowledge required to answer those questions and to teach? Have you considered the number of skills deployed to create a pattern, dye beautiful yarn, or take fabulous photos? How long do blog posts take to put together? There are also costs like buttons (yes!), ribbons, shawl pins, paper, pens, pencils, printer ink, knitting needles, software, hardware, yarn.  What are the hidden inputs in products you pay for?  Did you know that my work helps others do their work?  I pay: tech editors, knitters, photographers, and virtual assistants who help with charts, uploading patterns, social media, bookkeeping.  Plus time.  Oh. My. So much time!

Years ago Mitch and I decided to buy hard cover books of those authors we particularly enjoy (this was before electronic or audio books) as a method of supporting them.  We often go to lectures and presentations they do as a secondary means of supporting authors. We do the same thing with audio and electronic books now as well. The point is, how is that writer expected to support themselves at their craft if they aren’t being supported in the market place?

Your five dollars (or you can still buy this package and get full value!) supports what I do.  I have worked daily since 1993 to become the professional I am today.  I have taught (and still do!) to support the non-profitable segments of my business, and to allow myself to enjoy continual growth.  At this point I know a lot. I am trying to write it down. That $5 won’t nearly cover what I spend, but it is a matter of principle that I should charge for what I have spent a lifetime learning.  Even a 3 minute video has a lot behind it!

Knitter You Want to Be: Paper stitches on paper needles

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Filed Under: Blog, Classes & Workshops Tagged With: enjoy, finished, focus, knitter, knitting, process, product, projects, questions, support, work

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