I'm curious. What is it that makes us choose the thing it is we're making? Is it a purely analytical excersise, or a gut feeling, or something which grows over time? I surprise myself at times with the reasons for choosing to make whatever it is I'm making. The times I've become instantly smitten and have to knit that certain something immediately, aren't always the best as far as customer satisfaction goes. I never really regret making something, but there's definite joy in some projects over others.
I like the projects where you slowly build up connections, symbiotic relationships between things, till suddenly you have something whole and unanimous within heart, soul and mind. I like a progression, a story that can be told about how it came to be, and why it became important. I've been thinking about this a lot this week, and this post is spurred on particularly by Sooz, who was the catalyst for a lot of this. So the story goes something like this::
I've felt like knitting again, having done a lot of sewing recently. It's been cold and wet here, and snuggling on the couch in front of the heater seems more appealing than sitting in the cold study (till it warms up) and getting sore from the hard seat I sit on while sewing. I prefer to sew during the day at the moment, because the sun shines through the windows - when it's sunny that is - and it's much more pleasant. Long knit projects aren't really on the cards at the moment, because apparently my brain has stopped functioning as well now. So small, quick, easyish.
My boxes of yarn are stacked up around me in the study, and they're in clear containers so they peek at me and I can look at them and think through things without getting them all out, and there's a few balls of yarn which I've been wanting to use, and have used some of, but have been waiting for the right project. They call to me repeatedly, and it's always nice to daydream about what they could become. I love the fact my stash is big enough, and broad enough that I can make projects from anything in there without necessarily having to go out and buy yarn specifically. I like the challenge of finding something in there which is just right. So one of the yarns which has been wooing me from the boxes is a Martas Yarns variegated 4 ply in sea greens and blues. The other is Kaalund 2 ply in guava colourway. And finally some of the Habu I bought in New York. So through the week I've been talking to Sooz about knitting, and she's been making trips to Martas. And so that got me thinking about the sea green again. The thought process originally took in another colour which compliments the sea green, which is chocolate colours. So the more I talked to Sooz, the more I wanted to start something too. With my own Martas stash. And then I started flicking through my knitting books, and one pattern has repeatedly jumped out at me since I got the book, but it never seemed right to make it. Till my brain functioned for a little moment and put a number of stash images together, and we had a project formulation moment. Then the new issue of Selvedge magazine arrived. And in it was a leaflet for the Knitting show in London, and an image of the new Rowan Yarn and patterns, which featured Fairaisle heavily in deep dark colours of richness. The pattern in the baby knits book had some fairaisle. Now always being one to look for an unusual slant to whatever I make, I had another moment of brain activity where the two fairaisle ideas came together, but done in variegated yarns. Snap. That's the moment it all makes sense. And you have to get home and find the wools you have to make this work. So it started out with sea green and chocolate and I threw in some dark charcoals, and it wasn't quite right, and then I settled on the combination above - fresh and pretty (did I just use that word?) and girly without being overtly so. The main body will be done in the green, with the fairaisle in the other colours. It's just a short band of fairaisle, so the colours will add life to it all without being dominating.
Now I must away and clean the house and start slow cooking lamb shanks for dinner guests. And think of something exciting and easy for desert Apple pie sounds like a winner to me on a cold dreary wet day. And train the child to pick up all his toys and leave them in the boxes, and see if I can't get the cats to sweep and vacuum. First I might have some fruit tart and a cup of tea.
I'm still curious about what your reasons for making things are, so let me know.
hmmm, reasons for making things... I deliberate A LOT on what to make, quite often deliberate so long that nothing gets made. I will often find something and love it straight away and have to make it straight away, and sometimes I enjoy those projects the most. other times I go back to a pattern i liked a couple of months ago and it doesn't appeal any more. Unlike you I usually have to buy yarn for the pattern, although lately I have been trying to find patterns for what I have (they usually have to be small projects thogh as I don't have 10 balls of any one thing lying about).
Oh and when you find the secret to making small boys pick up their toys, can you let me know?! I keep finding cars in the sink, in the couch, on the toilet...
Posted by: taryn | July 21, 2006 at 07:31 PM
For me, it's usually color...or a color combo...that first grabs me by the throat and won't let go. Toss in a beautiful pattern with simple lines? And the *real* obsessing begins. Then, let me discover that the yarn is soft, cozy and a joy to hold? And obsession becomes compulsion. "Must. Cast. On. NOW!!"
Posted by: therose | July 21, 2006 at 09:19 PM
Me? I don't make anything these days. I'd love a slice of apple pie though. And you said yarn instead of wool. Hanging out with too many Americans these days?
Posted by: cari | July 21, 2006 at 11:14 PM
I love this idea of fair isle with variegated yarns. I get the bug for fair isle every so often, just the yearn to tangle yarns and fiddle with color combinations - I think you might have triggered it again ...
Posted by: anne | July 22, 2006 at 12:07 AM
I seem to be most successful when I make things for fun. The minute I try to make them for profit it all turns to $%^&! re the apple pie thing, have you tried a whole apple, cored and then a Mars Bar stuffed inside, a little sherry drizzled over and then wrapped in foil. Bake in a hot oven for 20 minutes! decadent.
Posted by: Miss Dot | July 22, 2006 at 12:16 AM
I ussually find that if I need inspiration to create, the fabric department of my local Spotlight store is the place I go.
Posted by: Jo | July 22, 2006 at 12:35 AM
I choose what to knit based on many different things. Sometimes the pattern grabs me, sometimes the yarn, sometimes a new technique. Some projects get started as soon as the thought enters my head, others I think about for a while. I always have a lot of projects going on at a time so that I can grab whatever I am in the mood for be it something easy, soft, complicated, one color, two colors, lace...I've got a project for almost any mood!
Posted by: emily | July 22, 2006 at 03:25 AM
Gifting. I'm always inspired by what I know others will love. I truly enjoy putting together gifts -- especially those handmade.
Posted by: Kelli | July 22, 2006 at 03:49 AM
It's almost always a gut reaction - the "ooh!" that takes me by surprise when I see a garment, something in yarn choice, fit or design that really floats my boat. Thankfully, I restrain myself from making impulse purchases most of the time, so it's those crushes that keep resurfacing from the back of my mind over time that actually get made. Hopefully, I still love it just as much when I'm done!
Posted by: Donna | July 22, 2006 at 08:51 AM
I tend to quilt, and so it is usually a piece of fabric that jumps out at me and wants me to do something with it. Or a colour combo I've seen somewhere. Just some textile that makes my heart skip a beat - I don't know why I love fabric this way, but I do.
Posted by: Megan | July 22, 2006 at 12:11 PM
Hmm . . . what makes choose the things I create? That's a good question. Just off the top of my head, I think it's a gut reaction. When I love something, I feel energized. The problem is I usually don't have the time. The lightswitch plates on my blog are a perfect example. It's been on my to do list for about 8 years! If I'm lucky, I write and sketch my ideas down in a book. I just made a list of "to-do" projects and posted it too. I agree with you about when something just evolves into what it wants to be. Those moments are very few and far between for me. I cherish the process when that happens. I think those moments happen for me when I make the time to emerse myself in the project and not worry about what's happening around me - extrememly hard to do. Then from deep down and probably from up high things just flow and connect and it's a wonderful experience. Anyway, sorry, I didn't mean for this to be so long. Thanks for the great question to ponder!
Posted by: Stacey | July 22, 2006 at 08:09 PM
I've been thinking about why I make things in general quite a bit lately. For the most part, I make clothing and practical things. Like trousers, because sewing is much quicker and less odious to me than spending hours & hours shopping for some in good fabric, that fit properly and that I'll like. Often the act of making is pleasurable and I'm pleased if something turns out well, but that is a bonus. Although I like to dream about and design creative projects, I find it difficut to get around to actually making them!
Posted by: Janet | July 26, 2006 at 05:11 PM